Can't hang my Alpha 1

[NHGuy]

I had my bell housing off for a new shift shaft bushing & seal. Now I'm ready to reinstall my drive. It's an Alpha 1 gen 1. Same recently replaced gimbal bearing etc. I greased my drive spline, checked alignment with a proper tool and went to slide it on, but the darn thing misses every time and stops before it gets into the coupler. It appears the the splined driveshaft end hits above where it should on the coupler. Any thoughts? Can you even install the bell housing wrong? The pivots are locktighted in at 90 foot lbs, I saved the shift setup and the shift bellows is back on. What do you think, move the motor mounts and redo the engine alignment? I am getting the alignment tool into the coupler as before, but maybe that's the thing to check.
I am also thinking I should verify all the rear motor mount parts are there. I'd think the motor can sit low if anything is missing. Are the mount parts easy to see?
Any thoughts?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Can't hang my Alpha 1

Id say get a buddy to be inside the boat and guide it in the hole.
If the alignment tool goes in good then you are align'd and it should fit.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Can't hang my Alpha 1

It sounds like maybe when you pushed the driveshaft through the gimbal bearing that it may have moved in its housing (hence the gimbal part) and is no longer looking straight at the coupler. If you lift up on the drive it may realign itself. If it was OK before, the motor mounts would be the last thing I would look to change. Unless you put it on upside down I don't see how you could mess up the bellhousing.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can't hang my Alpha 1

Ayuh,... If the alignment tool says it's aligned,... I'd think it's your technique maybe...
There's been times I get abit Frustrated, trying to get the double cardan joints to fall into alignment with the bearing,+ coupler...
Usually, about the time I'm spittin' bullets PiZZed,...
It falls into place, I give it the mule-kick to seat the orings,+ it's Done...

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Can't hang my Alpha 1

What I did...
Unscientific but successful move. I remember that the last time I put the drive on it went on easily using my homemade drive stand. So I put the boat in the same spot in my driveway and voila. It went on slick... done.
Stupid but true, so I guess I'd better not fix the bendy board at the bottom of my stand or I will have to find a new way to get the drive lined up!
Jeez, what a backyarder I am.