Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

[kellydee]

OK dipstick!Sometimes I guess you just have to take a breather.Crashed out at midnight last night,woke up at 5 AM with boat on the brain.I just realized how I lost my 3/4" adjustment on the motor mounts.When replacing the transom assembly,the inner plate does not have holes for the studs,IT HAS SLOTS.I knew there had to be a reason.Obviously,I installed the new one LOWER than what the old one was set at.I haven't gone out to look at the old ones "washer pattern"yet(just got my guys off to work)but,I am already 1000% sure this is what I did.HAS TO BE.Grrr,now what to do.Pluck the motor back out and re-adjust the inner transom plate or just put some spacers in and call it done?I'm thinking spacers should be fine.Maybe compare where the studs were seated on the old one to where they are on the new one and thickness of spacers can be UP TO as much as the difference.Any Input?Don?Would you call this good?Like I said,haven't checked yet but,I'm sure thats what I did.

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

You have 2 bolts just under the steering arm, that attach the inner transom shield to the outer. The transom shield is threaded and the inner shield has round holes for those 2 bolts. They are 3/8" dia bolts I think. These bolts basically aligns the transom shield while the larger ones are tightened.
There is actually no way to adjust it up or down for the motor mounts.

 

[kellydee]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

OK,I looked.They are slots but,it appears that once the inner plate is placed on the outer,there isn't really any room for adjustment as the two holes(where the drive shaft comes through)fit together.Can't find the two holes you're talking about and my camera is dead.Camera on the charger,I'm off to pick up materials for tomorrows job.Should be back in two hours with pics.Oh am I dreading the thoughts going through my head(pluck the motor again).What else could I possibly have done?Whats different?How did I lose all my adjustment room?Or,is the cure(spacer)more important than the cause?OK,back in 2.I WILL solve this TODAY.

 

[flashback]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

Hey Kelly, When you re-built your transom, did you also replace the engine beds? if so, possibly have them at a different height...

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

What year is this anyway? It's an Alpha right?

 

[kellydee]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

It's an alpha,96 boat,brand new transom assembly and 2007 Merc 5.7. I got it though ,DONE.While looking through the box of "old parts"I found 3 of those double-wound lock washers or springs as some call them.Unless they are used somewhere else on the motor(not sure but I don't think so)I figure I probably misplaced a fourth which means there was originally 2 of these on each side(thats what I get for dismantling in Sep and waiting til now to get the new in when it's no longer fresh in my memory).Have you ever heard of 2 of these on each side?Rounded up 4 stainless washers at my semi-local specialty screw store with the same ID and OD as the "springs"x1/8" thick,CAREFULLY raised the rear of the motor just enough to slip 2 washers in on each side(1 at a time),loosened the lags and ALIGNED THE ENGINE.Perfect!Right back to the same position as the original motor.Tightened up,rechecked and fine-tuned the fit.PERFECT! Next problem:now the motor cover won't close.It wont clear the closed cooling system.New thread for that one.Probably not till tomorrow night or Friday.(00 sq/ft of hardwood to put in tomorrow so bout bedtime for bonzo.Thanks guys.Jerry

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

The info I gave you before was for an Alpha I, Not a Gen II.
Now, if you had to put in two of the double wound lock washers on each side, along with the new style motor mounts. Then you have something really screwed up. I don't have a clue what, and don't even want to guess.
Good luck.....................

 

[kellydee]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

The info I gave you before was for an Alpha I, Not a Gen II.
Now, if you had to put in two of the double wound lock washers on each side, along with the new style motor mounts. Then you have something really screwed up. I don't have a clue what, and don't even want to guess.
Good luck.....................

Don,I didn't have to put 2 of the double wound lockwashers in with the new mounts.I think there were 2 of them on each side when I took it apart.I don't recall because I took it apart too long ago.the reason I think there were two on each side before with the old style mounts is I found three of them in my parts bucket. After finding three of those springs it dawned on me that if there is 3,there was probably 4 and I misplaced 1.(Otherwise,why do I have 3 rather than only 2)?All came from the old setup.When I replaced with the new style mounts(rear),I had to completely bottom out the front mounts to get aligned.I DID use 2 stainless washers(equal to the thickness of 1 COMPRESSED double-wound lockwasher.Now,I was able to raise the front mounts back to the same(almost EXACTLY) height as they were originally with the old rear mounts.All aligned now so that tells me they must have been doubled up before.How could I otherwise screw this up?All I did was pull the old and replace with new.All same holes.Alignment bar pushes in with 1 finger and appears to heve same pattern in grease top and bottom.I think I did good,No? Jerry

 

[kellydee]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

The question I was asking before was, have you ever seen those springs doubled up before(with the old style rear mounts)?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

Jerry,

I may be having a senior moment...Didn't we speak on the fone?


You're in Buckley right?

You and I are at exactly the same place. I just "dropped" my 454 into the boat last night. I am also using the dreaded "double wound lock-washers" and I am now getting everything aligned initially.

It appears that I need to add a couple of hardwood blocks (pads) under the front mounts to give me a little more "thread" on the front mount bolts.

If you'd like another set of eyeballs to look....I am around a bit this month.

Or if you'd like to look at how mine is going together you're welcome to have a look.



Cheers,

Rick

 

[kellydee]

Re: Drive shaft for alignment bar?UPDATE

Hey Rick,Yea, that's me.I sent ya a PM. Jerry