Outdrive installation. Aligning?

[chriscraft254]

I know they make an alignment tool. I don't have the funds to buy one right now and want to get this outdrive back on. any hints on whats the best way to align without tool? I have two people available.
Its a 1990 omc cobra. Thanks

 

[boobie]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Pretty hard to do without the tool. Take it to a local shop or maybe they would rent you one with a deposit.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Pretty hard to do without the tool. Take it to a local shop or maybe they would rent you one with a deposit.

Yeah, wasn't easy, but its already done, when my friend showed up, I had him adjust the boat with the front trailer jack until it was pretty lined up. I had put a 8X8 block under the fin at the bottom of the outdrive to assist keeping it where I needed it to be.

Then took one of the ram rods and used it to turn the u joint area until it seated. Once it aligned, slid right in,no problem.

Glad I don't listen to people that tell me to go spend money. I do enough of that on my own.

Besides, getting a marina to lone you or rent one to you this time of year is slim to non because they are doing hundreds of summerizations.

 

[boobie]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Well it's your boat but with out the alignment being checked the worst you can do is take out the gimble bearing or the engine coupler.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Yeah, wasn't easy, but its already done, when my friend showed up, I had him adjust the boat with the front trailer jack until it was pretty lined up. I had put a 8X8 block under the fin at the bottom of the outdrive to assist keeping it where I needed it to be.

Then took one of the ram rods and used it to turn the u joint area until it seated. Once it aligned, slid right in,no problem.

Glad I don't listen to people that tell me to go spend money. I do enough of that on my own.

Besides, getting a marina to lone you or rent one to you this time of year is slim to non because they are doing hundreds of summerizations.

For what it's worth to ya, I've had my drive off and on seasonally, never used an alignment tool, She always slides right back home, still has the original gimble bearing and coupler from 1990.
Dealing with a rotton transom and or motor mounts and saturated stringers ect. is when you'll run into problems with gimble bearing wear and alignment.
I'm not arguing that alignment should be checked with the tool, but we all don't live in the perfect world.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Thanks for that. I just think that if advice can be given using the tools at hand, it is good for the do it yourselfers. I am simply short on cash and didn't have the money to give to someone else to do it. I have seen alot of people on this site lately that says take it to a marina. When all the people are trying to do is learn.

I may learn the hard way sometimes, but I always remember my mistakes so they don't happen again.

I was very careful when putting this back tgether. I didn't force anything. I do know a little about bearings and how easily they can be screwed up. If I decide to go forward on doing all my own winterizing and summerizing in the future, I will invest in an alignment tool..

I asked for hints on how to get it aligned without using a alignment tool. Then I was told to take it to a marina or rent an alignment tool. No big deal really, just think its off base when it can be done without.

I share detailed pictures and advice when I feel like I can help someone. Guess I was looking for the same.

I'm a carpenter, not a mechanic, but i do know how to use a wrench if need be.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

You can put a drive back on and it will still be out of alignment. If its out of alignmnet you will wear your coupler and, to replace it, you will have to remove your engine.

Your call...feel lucky?

For the price of the alignment tool on E-bay of around $60, hard to imagine one not buyng one.

Here is one that is a little over $50 after shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAVO-ALPHA..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item41564b4b02&vxp=mtr

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

For what it's worth to ya, I've had my drive off and on seasonally, never used an alignment tool, She always slides right back home, still has the original gimble bearing and coupler from 1990.
Dealing with a rotton transom and or motor mounts and saturated stringers ect. is when you'll run into problems with gimble bearing wear and alignment.
I'm not arguing that alignment should be checked with the tool, but we all don't live in the perfect world.

This is BAD advice! I have had a number of boats where the alignment needed to be adjusted. You ALWAYS check the alignment! It takes all of a couple minutes to check and probably another 20 or 30 to adjust if its out. Why on earth would you not do it when the risk of a coupler going out is the price of a coupler and having to pull an engine?

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

You can put a drive back on and it will still be out of alignment. If its out of alignmnet you will wear your coupler and, to replace it, you will have to remove your engine.

Your call...feel lucky?

For the price of the alignment tool on E-bay of around $60, hard to imagine one not buyng one.

Here is one that is a little over $50 after shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAVO-ALPHA..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item41564b4b02&vxp=mtr

Hey, thanks for the links, I was seeing them for like $140 bucks. I was feeling lucky until you said it can be mounted and still be out of alignment. In layman terms, what do you mean, it seems to me if the shaft slid in to the splines smooth, that would be installed correctly. What am I missing here? How can something be out of alignment if it is splined on both parts and those parts mesh? Willing to learn here, since I will probably be doing most the maintenance int he future.

This is BAD advice! I have had a number of boats where the alignment needed to be adjusted. You ALWAYS check the alignment! It takes all of a couple minutes to check and probably another 20 or 30 to adjust if its out. Why on earth would you not do it when the risk of a coupler going out is the price of a coupler and having to pull an engine?

Because I didn't know any better, lol Not trying to cut a corner here or try and screw things up worse. the good news is I did find that little backing plate for the screw that I shouldn't have removed on the side of the outdrive.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Because I didn't know any better, lol Not trying to cut a corner here or try and screw things up worse. the good news is I did find that little backing plate for the screw that I shouldn't have removed on the side of the outdrive.

Bad advice for A70 to say what he did. Alignment can be out for a number of reasons and it doesn't mean your stringers, motor mounts or stringers are failing.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Bad advice for A70 to say what he did. Alignment can be out for a number of reasons and it doesn't mean your stringers, motor mounts or stringers are failing.

Ok, so are you saying I should buy a alignment tool and de-install and reinstall using the alignment tool. The motor and drive were just finished last year, everything wasa fine until I pulled the damn drain plug that wasn't a drain plug. Only reason the drive came off was to get the retainer plate out. Appreciate the help. Got to get back to work but will check in later.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

If you don't know how long its been, I certainly would. Doesn't take much to pull the drive.

On my Cobra, I had a slight vibration once that aligning eleminated. All the parts will just last longer because they don't have sideways forces on them. It may be only a slight adjustment but will make a difference.

 

[boobie]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Thank You, bruceb58 !! Nice to hear that somebody with experience agrees with me.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

If you don't know how long its been, I certainly would. Doesn't take much to pull the drive.

On my Cobra, I had a slight vibration once that aligning eleminated. All the parts will just last longer because they don't have sideways forces on them. It may be only a slight adjustment but will make a difference.

Nobody is tellling me yet how a splined shaft when installed can be out of adjustment. If the motor and the drive was fiine before, won't it be now? I have never had a vibration and the motor is new. The outdrive had been gone through and checked when the motor was put in last season.

Again, the only reason it was pulled off was to get that little clip/plate out of there so it didn't damage anything.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Chris Craft did you ever find that captured nut retainer?
PS I wasn't advising you not to align your drive but simply sharing my past experience.
I guess if you were to whack a log, hit a stump, drag your skeg up a ramp, you know stuff like that could potentially knock the alignment out.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

I guess if you were to whack a log, hit a stump, drag your skeg up a ramp, you know stuff like that could potentially knock the alignment out.

Normal compression of the engine mounts and/or stringers...stuff that happens on every boat over time.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

The thing is, do you know if it was set right in the first place? When the engine was installed, did the guy who installed it align it? If so, then by now it should not have changed. But we don't know for sure. I think if you have an outdrive boat, and are doing your own work, having an alignment tool, is a good idea. I bought a Sierra one from a local shop for 80 bucks, not as cheap as the internet but I get stuff from local guys because I keep the relationship up when I need a hard to find part. Anyway I pull the drive each season and always check the alignment. A coupler is expensive and pulling the engine is a pain. The last time mine was done was in 2004, my OMC mechanic did it then and it's been fine ever since, I still check it, just like some people never pull the drive to check the bellows and then one day the Ujonts come apart on them. Or you cant' get the drive OFF.....

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

Chris Craft did you ever find that captured nut retainer?
PS I wasn't advising you not to align your drive but simply sharing my past experience.
I guess if you were to whack a log, hit a stump, drag your skeg up a ramp, you know stuff like that could potentially knock the alignment out.

I did find the retainer. And for those that have never seen it first hand, it is a backing plate kinda deal, not a retainer clip. Its a funny story on how it was found, if anyone is interested you can look on the last page of my refurb thread.

I can see what your talking about with the alignment coulld be knocked out.

Normal compression of the engine mounts and/or stringers...stuff that happens on every boat over time.

I can see that to, thanks man.

View attachment 141474The thing is, do you know if it was set right in the first place? When the engine was installed, did the guy who installed it align it? If so, then by now it should not have changed. But we don't know for sure. I think if you have an outdrive boat, and are doing your own work, having an alignment tool, is a good idea. I bought a Sierra one from a local shop for 80 bucks, not as cheap as the internet but I get stuff from local guys because I keep the relationship up when I need a hard to find part. Anyway I pull the drive each season and always check the alignment. A coupler is expensive and pulling the engine is a pain. The last time mine was done was in 2004, my OMC mechanic did it then and it's been fine ever since, I still check it, just like some people never pull the drive to check the bellows and then one day the Ujonts come apart on them. Or you cant' get the drive OFF.....

Lou, i was wondering when you would come along. I will buy a alignment tool for future outdrive installs, but I do think it is fine right now. I have had no mishaps in the last season and my mechanic is the best in this area. I did check things out like the bellows when I pulled the drive. Everything looked good.

Hoping to splash this weekend so I hope all goes well. I haven't even started the motor on the muffs yet.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

The alignment can be out even if you can match the splines. Although the splines mesh, a slight misalignment can put lateral pressure on the gimbal bearing resulting in premature wear.

With a properly aligned engine and gimbal, you should be able to push in the alignment tool with relatively slight pressure of one finger on the end of the tool. If you're mounting the drive, the mass of the drive can prevent you from gauging resistance as you insert the driveshaft into the coupler.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Outdrive installation. Aligning?

The alignment can be out even if you can match the splines. Although the splines mesh, a slight misalignment can put lateral pressure on the gimbal bearing resulting in premature wear.

With a properly aligned engine and gimbal, you should be able to push in the alignment tool with relatively slight pressure of one finger on the end of the tool. If you're mounting the drive, the mass of the drive can prevent you from gauging resistance as you insert the driveshaft into the coupler.

The way I re-installed the drive went like this. With a second set of hands and the drive sitting on the ground on its fin, my freind raised the bow using the trailer jack until i thought it looked like it was lined up. the shaft was already in untiil it wouldn't go anymore. I gently turned the u-joint until the drive literally slid in like butter. It couldn't have gone any smoother to be honest imo.

I was fighting with it by mtself before this and couldn't get it aligned. Once I had my buddy raise the bow so i could position the drive while it was balanced sitting on the ground the above went very easy and quik.

I get what everyone is saying about the alignment and will in the future use a alignment tool.