Re: Ready to go together
Originally posted by CTD:<br /> Got factory manual, and parts manual. Dosn't say what goes on first but I'll be putting the transom brackets on first, then the engine, then hopefully the driveshaft and out drive. By then I'll know for shure what I should have done.
You're on the right track. I've done a overhaul on several hulls that had Mercruisers but never a OMC.<br /><br />With the Mercruiser--- I figure they're similar--<br /><br /><br />1. You mount the brackets that clamp to the inside & outside of the transom.<br /><br />2. Set the engine.<br /><br />3. Adjust the engine's tilt with its mounts until a drive shaft tool* slides in and out through the gimbal bearing all the way into the adapter on your flywheel--(this adapter looks like a big rubber football with a splined hole in it for the driveshaft to fit in.) (20-30 trips in and out of the boat to check and adjust this fit is normal.)<br /><br />4. Instal the out-drive unit, and the driveshaft/U-joints will be properly alligned. <br /><br />*<br />Rather than paying about $300 for that special alignment tool,,,, I found a old dead outdrive and cut off its driveshaft at the U-joint yolk. I welded it onto a steel pipe. It fits exactly the same as the special tool, or the outdrive does, plus you can see around it to determine how to move your engine around for everything to align. Dunk the end of the tool in grease, try to push it in, pull it out and look at the grease pattern, adjust from there--- this will help alot.<br /><br />/////<br /><br /><br />The most critical part of putting it all back together is the alignment of the driveshaft as it goes into the ($150)hub on end of the engine's flywheel/crankshaft.<br /><br />If its out of whack,,,, you may be able to beat the outdrive onto its mounts, and run it a little while; but being out of alignment--- <br /><br />The pressure & strain will destroy your gimbal bearing, and possibly ruin that big giant rubber adapter on the end of the flywheel. <br /><br /><br />,,,, and the next bearing and/or adapter, and so on until its aligned properly.<br /><br /><br />Good luck, hope it helps.<br /><br /><br />Ed.
