Trouble reinstalling pre-alpha drive

[Lou C]

Agree with all of the above and what really helps is to use an outdrive jack and get the bell housing and drive on the same plane with each other. You need to be able to hold the driveshaft as straight as possible as you guide the driveshaft into the bellows and then into the gimble bearing. Also lining the gimble bearing up with the alignment tool is necessary as well. On my Cobra I have also used a long thin screwdriver thru the u joints to turn the driveshaft so the splines line up with those in the coupler.

 

[todhunter]

Nice tool...and I'm a tool guy. But there's no way I could justify a drive jack, just being a weekend warrior type. That thing looks like it takes up a fair amount of space for only doing a single job. Maybe I'll change my tune in a few months after I try installing my drive for the first time.

 

[Lou C]

If you're over 40 and/or have a bad back and plan on owning I/O boats for some years this drive jack and the alignment tool are two things you MUST have. Because with out both there will be times where that drive will fight you trying to get it back on, both have paid for themselves many times in my opinion.
Yes you will change your mind lol.
PS I built a wood stand with casters, you can see part of it in the pic with the alignment tool but the drive jack works so much better. I have 2 Cobra drives, this one (original to the boat, 33 years old used in salt about 20 years) and a much cleaner spare freshwater used one I bought off of ebay. So now that sits on my old wood stand and I used the drive jack for the R+R. If I need the spare I got it ready! If you would store the drive in the garage for the winter it really doesn't take up much room.

 

[Campfire]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I borrowed my neighbors engine hoist. Since my drive has a loop that I can suspend it from, I just jacked it up, gave the prop a little whirl and she slid right in.

I think another option would be to modify a motorcycle jack if your drive does not have that loop on top.

I believe the ujoint was the culprit. With all of the weight suspended, I was able to feed the spline and ujoint in uniformly. I will hook up the muffs tomorrow to test everything out and make sure it shifts properly.