Anybody have an old alpha shaft to check my coupler?

[ringmaster72]

I changed my gimbal bearing the other day and I am afraid I might have bunged the coupler splines with the tool I used to install the bearing. I cant get the drive to engage into the coupler so I thing I might have messed up the coupler.

Anyway, does anybody know where I could get a shaft to check the splines? I need a dummy shaft, similar to one used to align a clutch in a car. I have an alignment tool, but it has no splines.

[Don S]

You don't need a shaft to check the splines. Just look through the gimbal bearing at the splines. If the width of the spline is about the same as the width of the gap between the splines, you are about right. If they come up to a point, then your coupler is almost gone and probably won't last long.

[Bt Doctur]

" I might have bunged the coupler splines with the tool I used to install the bearing. I cant get the drive"

The bearing seats atleast 2 inches away from the coupler, what tool did you use?

[dubs283]

I changed my gimbal bearing the other day and I am afraid I might have bunged the coupler splines with the tool I used to install the bearing. I cant get the drive to engage into the coupler so I thing I might have messed up the coupler.

it would be virtually impossible to reach the engine coupler with the bearing install tool while installing a gimbal bearing so i doubt you hurt the coupler splines that way

did you align the new bearing before installing the drive??

you will have a very difficult time installing the drive if you didn't

[ringmaster72]

I used the alignment tool, so it definitely can reach the coupler splines. I even pulled the gimbal bearing back out and tried to install the drive without the bearing just to eliminate the bearing as a problem. With the bearing out of the way, the drive shaft should install into the splines with no problem. This is why i can only think that I must have damaged the splines just enough to not allow the shaft to slide in. I just cannot get a real good look with it in the boat. That is why i wanted a shaft that I could handle and see to try and slide it into the coupler. I do not want to pull the engine if I dont need to.

[cr2k]

Your engine is out of alignment. A splined shaft will not help that due to the amount of play. You can only align properly with the correct alignment bar.

[ringmaster72]

Alignment would not be an issue if the gimbal bearing was not in there. I took the gimbal bearing out to check this and the drive will still not slide in. To me, that eliminates alignment, especially since I have not changed anything else. The motor has not been moved, i just swapped the gimbal bearing.

[45Auto]

Are you inside the boat holding the outdrive shaft up to the coupler when you're trying to install it without the gimbal bearing? Hard to imagine how you'd guide the shaft into the coupler from outside the boat. It doesn't engage the coupler until the last 4 or 5 inches of travel, the gimbal bearing guides it into engagement. The nose of the outdrive is pretty much inside the bellhousing by that time. No way to hold the shaft.

[ringmaster72]

I am supposed to get an old shaft after work today, so I should have a answer tonight.

[ringmaster72]

I got a used shaft to check it and it would not go in either, so I pulled the motor, took the coupler off and the drive shaft still would not go in. So, I bought a new coupler, reinstalled the motor today and it is fixed. I am good to go again. I guess I must have boogered up the splines just enough to not allow the shaft in, just like I thought.

[180shabah]

I know I am a little late to the game - glad you got it resolved.

Could you post a couple of pics of the damaged coupler splines?

[ringmaster72]

I chunked it into the scrap pile, but you would not be able to make it out in a picture anyway. The splines dont start for a few inches inside the coupler so you have to get light at the right angle to see the splines. I guess I could shine a light into the hole and take a pic, but again it is already in the scrap pile, LOL.