Aftermarket Alignment tool

[atomb]

Got the Heartland tool and yes it came with instructions.
Getting ready to pul the gimbal---reading directions about putting gimbal bearing back in and the heartland company that makes the alignment bar says to stick the bar in till it bottoms out to the coupler mark it and and drill hole in bar..
I took the engine out so i cant do this now. Do i wait till the engine is back in
what is the purpose of the hole being drilled in this specific spot? Just trying to understand the alignment bar directions...Thanks for any help..

 

[atomb]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

bump

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

Never heard of such a thing. Perhaps to show you visually when it has bottomed out?

 

[atomb]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

I think im just going to install the engine and wait to deal with the sterndrive work until im somewhat aligned.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

uhmm... you have to install the engine before you align it all. What your doing is aligning the engine to the drive, not vice versa.

 

[atomb]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

thanks Im aware of the chicken and egg scenario. My alignment bar/gimbal installer tool directions require the engine to be installed in order to bottom the alignment tool to the coupler and drill an approriate hole(in the alignment bar) for the gimbal accesory attachment tool. since i dont have the engine in now i cant follow the directions. So i guess ill wait to pull the GB until i have the engine in. Has anyone done this? question 2 threee accories that came with the tool are gimbal sealer install GB installer and bellows sleeve installer. On all of these fittings One side of each of the tools has been routered out a bit. Does it matter which side your using --any information from your experiences would help Thanks

 

[Grumman59]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

My aftermarket alignment tool is like that. The reason for bottoming it in your engine is so you can mark it and then drill the hole for the mandrel 1/4" forward from there, so that you will will be able to fully seat the gimbal before the bar bottoms on the coupler.

You'd use the machined side of the mandrel towards the bearing, not the flat side. Don't drill the threads out of the mandrel when you drill the bar, either.The seal is easier to install with a piece of PVC pipe.

I'd wait until you have the engine back in before doing the gimbal bearing.

 

[atomb]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

Grumman59 .. Ok i get what your saying , since i dont have the engine in the boat is it bad to pick and arbitrary place to drill the hole ...this hole is drilled in that heavy bar itself?,correct -Do people use the mandrel as a guide as per the warning of the threads? I have no couple rther now so i wouldnt have an issue with it bottoming out,correct? Just tryiong to wrap my head around this.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

I suggest you leave the old gimbal bearing in place for use in aligning the engine. Once the engine is aligned, you can pull the old gimbal bearing. When you install the new gimbal bearing, the tip of the alignment bar will be inside the engine coupler to help ensure the new bearing is installed properly (not canted to one side).

The placement of the hole (which is drilled through the alignment bar) is located so that the tip of the bar is inside the coupler when you start to seat the gimbal bearing, yet doesn't bottom out in the coupler before the gimbal bearing is fully seated.

 

[atomb]

Re: Aftermarket Alignment tool

fully understand thank you for the clarification. Any advice on making the hole in the bar for when the time comes ? Im thinking drill press good bit some oil . what is with the dont damage the threads comment i keep hearing?