Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

[BreakOutAnotherTwenty]

I am finishing up my Chaparral 187. I have re-done the decking, carpet, upholstery, etc.
Trying to align my engine (Mercruiser 3.0 engine, 140 sterndrive) and go boating, but no matter what I do, the alignment tool is hard to pull out. I tested it in the spline without the Gimbal bearing, and it was smooth. Also smooth going through just the Gimbal bearing. As I attempt to align them however, I'm stuck.
I whacked all 4 directions on the alignment tool. I started with my front engine mount all the way up and had my son rotate the adjusting nut 180 and I would test. Rotate 180, test... all the way down. Then all the way back up, then all the way back down.
With the engine at the highest and lowest points, the tool doesn't want to go in- but anywhere in between- it is difficult. A few times it has felt like I was making progress, but then when I double check at the same setting, the tool feels stuck again. I feel like the engine is shifting a bit.
The engine is 6 or 7 years old, so I assume the rear engine mounts are that age as well. I can wiggle the engine up and down a bit with a flat screwdriver between the mounting brackets. I'm tempted to replace the rear engine mounts, but I don't really want to spend any more money if it's not necessary.
Thanks for your help. It's almost August, and I'm still not on the water.

 

[300sflyer]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

Perhaps the front of the engine needs to move left or right slightly? Try removing the front mount lag screws, and shift it a bit one way or the other and see what happens.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

What does the grease tracks tell you? You might try cleaning the inside of the coupler. If it was full of old hard dried grease, that can cause a resistance.

 

[BreakOutAnotherTwenty]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

With even grease tracks all around, the tool still takes a full fist yank to remove. Without the Gimbal bearing, the tool slid in and out of the coupler really smoothly, so I ruled out old grease. I haven't adjusted the front of the engine side to side yet, but will be trying that shortly.

 

[300sflyer]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

Make sure the gimbal bearing, is installed all the way as far as it will go in the housing as well.

 

[BreakOutAnotherTwenty]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

Ok, I'm getting there. I moved the front of the engine to the side and that helped a little. I had the tool pretty smooth, but when I rotated the engine, it was difficult again. Does this mean my coupler is shot? Thanks

 

[300sflyer]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

It could mean the splines in the coupler are not centered. Is this a new coupler? I had a brand new one that did the same thing and had to be replaced. Take a flashlight and shine it through the gimbal bearing, while someone else cranks the engine with the starter. [ignition disabled] If you can see any runout, it is likely too much and the coupler should be replaced.

 

[BreakOutAnotherTwenty]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

This is an old coupler. If the splines are not centered, then what?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alignment Issues. I have already read the other threads but am still stuck

This is an old coupler. If the splines are not centered, then what?

Ayuh,... If the splined coupler has shifted inside the rubber, it's Junk...