Hi everyone and thanks for your help over the last few months with advice gleaned from reading others' posts. I have a question that I couldn't find an answer for. I had to replace my engine with a long block due to broken valve spring which then lead to the valve falling into the cylinder, and then subsequently getting munched up and splitting the block, all while 10nm offshore. The rest of the functioning engine still got us home though. I had a 4.3L MPI 2001 with alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive. The new long block (crate mercruiser) looks like an exact replacement.
After installing the new engine and proceeding to align it, I noticed that the coupler would move by 1/4" everytime I turned the engine 90 degrees. So after re-pulling the donk, it was apparent the coupler had about 5 degrees of bend to it and the rubber was a bit dodgy looking. So needing a new coupler I am sure of but I feel that I want to replace the gimbal bearing to be safe especially since the coupler is so bad. I have a feeling I broke the coupler when I had to get into gear at 2000rpm since the boat wouldn't idle on three cylinders. My question is that since the bellows were perfect and clean, can I replace the bearing without damaging the bellows? Thanks in advance.
After installing the new engine and proceeding to align it, I noticed that the coupler would move by 1/4" everytime I turned the engine 90 degrees. So after re-pulling the donk, it was apparent the coupler had about 5 degrees of bend to it and the rubber was a bit dodgy looking. So needing a new coupler I am sure of but I feel that I want to replace the gimbal bearing to be safe especially since the coupler is so bad. I have a feeling I broke the coupler when I had to get into gear at 2000rpm since the boat wouldn't idle on three cylinders. My question is that since the bellows were perfect and clean, can I replace the bearing without damaging the bellows? Thanks in advance.
