Engine Allignment

Have a 88 Blue Water with a 4.3L Mercruiser Alpha one, Gen. one. <br /><br />Just found out that my lower unit is trashed. Drive shaft bellows had lots of water in it, ujoint rusted and stiff, and gimble bearing is shot. After getting the gimble bearing out, I noticed the rubber seal in front of the gimble bearing was compressed on the top, didn't think much of it, untill I installed the New gimble bearing and inserted the engine alignment tool and the end of the tool was hitting low on the splines. Didn't matter how high or how low I adjusted the front motor mounts, I couldnt get the the engine coupler splines to come down. I greased the alignment tool and I can push it all the way in, but it puts the gimble bearing in some what of a bind. This alignment was probably off before by the looks of the compressed rubber seal.It's as if the fiber spacers between the rear mounts are to thick. <br /><br />I'm thinking that if I could lower the rear mounts a 1/16 to 1/8 inch. It would solve the problem, but thats about the thickness of the fiber washers.<br /><br />Anybody run into this???<br />Any ideas???

Re: Engine Allignment

I forgot to mention that I did turn the engine 90 degrease 4 times to see if the engine coupler was bad. This didn't change a thing.

Re: Engine Allignment

try raising the front mounts. the rear mounts are not adjustable. also take your tapping mallet , insert the alighnment bar and give it a couple raps down,up and left and right DO NOT drive it in, this will help align the gimbal bearing in the bearing carrier to the coupler. but its entirely possible that the mounts have been incorrectly installed in the past. its also possible the front mounts are collapsing causing the aft end to raise.

Re: Engine Allignment

Not sure I understand what you mean about where the bar is hitting the splines.<br />Cover the alignment bar with grease (on the end that goes in the coupler, not the whole bar) and see which side (Top or Bottom) has the deepest marks from the splines in the coupler.<br />It may be the rear mounts are dead and in need of replacement. They will allow the engine to drop down in the back and push hard on the top of the alignment bar if the alignment is correct, and not go all the way in if you are too high or too low on the front mounts.<br />You are trying to align the coupler to the gimbal bearing, not the gimbal bearing to the coupler.<br />Do tap all around the alignment bar like rodbolt mentioned, to make sure the bearing is centered.

Re: Engine Allignment

I've raised the front mounts allthe way up and all the way down and everywhere in between. Dosn't seem to make much differance. All the way up seems to be alittle harder to shove the alignment bar all the way in. When greasing the end of the alignment bar, the splines hit the bottom of the bar, indicating that the coupler is to high. Raising the front mounts does not bring it down.<br /><br />Could I put a smaller fiber washer between the rear mounts to bring the back of the engine and coupler down? I know that there is also a double ringed lock washer between the rear mounts also, would I have to get a one ringed lock washer if I was going to do it?<br /><br />thanks

Re: Engine Allignment

Just to let you know, I took out the front fiber washers (1/4 in. thick), and split one in half, and used one ringed lock washer in place of the double ringed lock washer. Put it all back together, and the alignment tool slid all the way in with out any binding at all. I wonder how many gimble barrings this boat has gone through?<br /><br />Now comes the tough part, all new baffles.<br /><br />Thanks