theblockhead
Cadet
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2013
- Messages
- 16
I have a 2001 Chaparral Bowrunner with a V8 Gen+ and Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive. I bought the boat at the end of the season and knew it had some mechanical issues but cosmetically and structurally it was totally sound and it was the right price. The bellows was leaking (not cut but installed wrong) so the gimbal bearing and yoke were rusted and worn and the u-joints were stuck. I replaced them and wanted to check the alignment. However, it is off to the point that I can't get the alignment tool to go in! I have the old yoke that I cleaned up and think I am close because it kind of goes in. It is as if the engine is off to the right a bit. Nowhere is there any mention of an adjustment to the side, only up and down. As I stated previously I have no confidence in the previous mechanic so I don't trust the initial setting. Here are some facts...
- the fiberglass under the front mounts is absolutely perfectly solid with not even a crack in the gelcoat around the bolts. Looks like it came out of the showroom yesterday.
- I can see the fiber washers under the rear mounts and they look good, no rust on the mounts or the bolts
- I can't see the rear mount rubber because it is under the washer but it feels like there is an equal amount on both sides of the spacer
- I took a photo of the coupler splines and they are completely whole and unworn.
- I rotated the engine 180 deg have exactly the same result (still off to the same side a bit).
- The end of the tool (while not oem) measures precisely 1.0095 with a micrometer which is perfect.
- Gimbal bearing is definitely seated all of the way.
I am at a loss. If I was a lot stronger and the boat was a lot lighter I may have thrown it down my driveway. I have adjusted and adjusted and still no go.
Please tell me what stupid thing I have overlooked, I am not proud.
- the fiberglass under the front mounts is absolutely perfectly solid with not even a crack in the gelcoat around the bolts. Looks like it came out of the showroom yesterday.
- I can see the fiber washers under the rear mounts and they look good, no rust on the mounts or the bolts
- I can't see the rear mount rubber because it is under the washer but it feels like there is an equal amount on both sides of the spacer
- I took a photo of the coupler splines and they are completely whole and unworn.
- I rotated the engine 180 deg have exactly the same result (still off to the same side a bit).
- The end of the tool (while not oem) measures precisely 1.0095 with a micrometer which is perfect.
- Gimbal bearing is definitely seated all of the way.
I am at a loss. If I was a lot stronger and the boat was a lot lighter I may have thrown it down my driveway. I have adjusted and adjusted and still no go.
Please tell me what stupid thing I have overlooked, I am not proud.
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