Suspicious outdrive

[dhammann]

I removed my Alpha-I drive to grease the U joints and coupler for the first time. When I went back on with it, it slid on freely until the last one inch of travel ( It came off easily )I suspected bad engine alignment so I raised the front motor support up a little bit to see if this would help but it had no effect. I pulled the drive up with the six bolts but it took 20 ft.lbs of torque to do this and now I am worried that I put to much thrust on the drive bearing, it seems to run fine though. The strange thing is that when it got tight I loosened it up and slid back faily easily. Call me a worry-wart.

 

[Trent]

Re: Suspicious outdrive

You better worry now. Get the alignment tool and check it. The main cause of coupler failure is mis-alignment.<br /><br />Doing what you said "forced" the coupler to move so the drive could go on. Have it aligned with the proper tool.

 

[dhammann]

Re: Suspicious outdrive

Thanks Trent, But why did it come off so easy? It practically fell off. I am going to remove it again and try to check the alignment. I don't have an alignment tool but I can turn down a piece of round stock so it will fit snug in the coupling and meausure the other end agaist the center point. Don't laugh, being innovative saves a dollar. Besides it is only a $1500 boat. I am more ashamed of my multiple posts, I guess I got a little impatient, sometimes I hate computers!

 

[dhammann]

Re: Suspicious outdrive

Well I pulled the drive and guess what? The square o_ring was mangled. I checked the alighnment. I cut off about a foot off a broom handle. Wife wasn't too happy-but what the hell she's short anyway. Stuck this thing-a-bob in the coupling and checked cleareance around gimble bearing. Tight at top, so raised motor until equal. Tommorrow I will make a shaft at work (thank god for government work) this should take the SWAG (scientific wild as guesses) out of it.