Is engine alignment tool required for just inspecting the gimbal bearing?

[hostage]

I removed my out drive to inspect the inside of the bellows and the gimbal bearing. I am curious if this tool is needed?

 

[alldodge]

I removed my out drive to inspect the inside of the bellows and the gimbal bearing. I am curious if this tool is needed?

Not needed for those items only used to check engine alignment. If your engine is in alignment then no problem-o. If its out of alignment, then will have problem later, but only way to know is with the alignment bar

 

[Scott Danforth]

for your 19 year old boat in your signature. would be a good idea to have the alignment bar as I can almost guarantee the motor is no longer in alignment

 

[hostage]

for your 19 year old boat in your signature. would be a good idea to have the alignment bar as I can almost guarantee the motor is no longer in alignment

I did have the gimble bearings and bellows replaced 6 years ago and the mechanic did have the out drive off the last season I used it. Then again, we are talking about my former mechanic.

I went ahead and ordered one.

 

[rybad]

Wow.. you got 6 years? Thats good.. must be a trailer boat. In any event, I changed gimbal and bellows every 2 years, but I had OMC's and parts got harder and harder to find as they have been out of production for a long time now, so I didnt want to take any chances and transom maint kits are fairly inexpensive. I recommend picking up the alignment bar, and check it every time your drive is off.. I think I found mine on Ebay for like $40 or so.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the whole alignment bar, bellows kit, gimble bearing and bellows tools are available on ebay as a kit for $150. the alignment bar alone is $32