Hi again to all ! I have a 1988 bayliner Trophy with the Cobra outdrive off for the last 3 years. The boat was professionally winterized and started right up and ran perfect, I shut it right back down.
A buddy and I attempted putting back the outdrive (shift in fwd position) and following the recommended procedues ,lube etc. We didn't however use the gimbal alignment tool because it seemed that the u-joint /shaft lined up and it all mostly went in. when it got to the point of the bellows it resisted so much no matter how we turned the u joint or tried to tap all around it would not go past the beginning of the bellows. The rubber seems that it was dry and some burred areas so I tried to sand all around the opening, heated it up wwith strong heat lamps , more soapy lube and still no luck. The bellows ,otherwise ,look to be in good shape and I know that the boat had been marina maintained from new. The guy who was helping me has a bit of experience installing outdrives and said he never had to use alignment tool before and the only thing he thinks is preventing the installation is the rubber on the bellows being to hard or not pliable enough for the u joint shaft to go in. Is there a big hose clamp that needs to be loosened there? Or should the thing slide in with just some elbow grease?. Once we get it in far enough I can get some nuts on the studs and evenly bring it in together. It just seems like it shoudln't be this difficult since some guys take theirs off and put it back on every year or 2.
I'm definitely going to use a hoist or dolly this time so that will make things easier. I just can't see beating the back of the outdrive too much before something cracks. If it does get to be out of my scope of ability a I'll bring it to the marine mechanic that knows the boat from day one, he's fair and will do the right job. For now I'm trying to save some money by doing it myself if I can. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bill, Miller Place L.I.
A buddy and I attempted putting back the outdrive (shift in fwd position) and following the recommended procedues ,lube etc. We didn't however use the gimbal alignment tool because it seemed that the u-joint /shaft lined up and it all mostly went in. when it got to the point of the bellows it resisted so much no matter how we turned the u joint or tried to tap all around it would not go past the beginning of the bellows. The rubber seems that it was dry and some burred areas so I tried to sand all around the opening, heated it up wwith strong heat lamps , more soapy lube and still no luck. The bellows ,otherwise ,look to be in good shape and I know that the boat had been marina maintained from new. The guy who was helping me has a bit of experience installing outdrives and said he never had to use alignment tool before and the only thing he thinks is preventing the installation is the rubber on the bellows being to hard or not pliable enough for the u joint shaft to go in. Is there a big hose clamp that needs to be loosened there? Or should the thing slide in with just some elbow grease?. Once we get it in far enough I can get some nuts on the studs and evenly bring it in together. It just seems like it shoudln't be this difficult since some guys take theirs off and put it back on every year or 2.
I'm definitely going to use a hoist or dolly this time so that will make things easier. I just can't see beating the back of the outdrive too much before something cracks. If it does get to be out of my scope of ability a I'll bring it to the marine mechanic that knows the boat from day one, he's fair and will do the right job. For now I'm trying to save some money by doing it myself if I can. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bill, Miller Place L.I.
