Mercruiser 3.0 rear mounts too low???

[Mechanicalmike08]

If anyone has been following my full rebuild or not I have been rebuilding a 95 Larson from the stringers up. Finally was time to drop the motor in and when I did I could not get the alignment no matter how much I played with the front mount. Finally got a little mirror and the rear is like 1/8"-1/4" too low. I confirmed this by loosening the bolts and hoisting it up a bit and the alignment tool slide right in. You can see in the one picture I have the parts in the correct order and aren't missing anything (That I know of). The entire gimbal housing was rebuilt with new bearing too. Don't know what to do besides add spacers under the washer and spring. Is there something else wrong or missing?

 

[Bondo]

The entire gimbal housing was rebuilt with new bearing too.

Ayuh,...... Thump the end of the alignment bar to tilt the bearing into alignment,....

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

Ayuh,...... Thump the end of the alignment bar to tilt the bearing into alignment,....

I did not try this but will, how much movement up and down does the bearing have? I was under the impression it was just a roller bearing does it also swivel?

 

[Chris51280]

Yes. It has a spherical race.

 

[Chris51280]

You can actually rotate around and remove it from the ring that is pressed in

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

Alright I'm an idiot. I honestly did not know it pivoted like that.

But then this makes me question dont you want as level as possible so it's not pivoted like that?

 

[Bt Doctur]

you pic of the rear mount shows it not tightened down all the way

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

you pic of the rear mount shows it not tightened down all the way

That was me showing much I needed to lift it to get it to align. It was just a stupid mistake on my part. My old bearing was destroyed and the new one was pretty stiff in that motion so I did not know it swiveled like that.

 

[Bt Doctur]

the bearing will swivel enough so that the alignment bar will contact all around the housing.

 

[harringtondav]

The transom plate is designed to align the gimbal bearing dead center (within reasonable tolerances) with the engine coupler. This assumes good rear mounts torqued to 50 ft. lbs. It's sacred, don't shim the rear mounts.

Your alignment fix is is with the pivoting alignment of the gimbal bearing per above replies, and/or front mount height.

Torque the rear mounts.
Hook your hoist to the front center lifting eye and lower the front mounts to mid height.
Grease the end and OD of your alignment tool and insert it until it contacts or enters the engine coupler.
If it doesn't enter the coupler, use a 1-1.25" OD pipe or rod to pivot the gimbal bearing so the tool enters the spines.
Note the spline marks on the end of the tool. Marks on top = drop engine or tap the rear of the gimbal brg down.
Repeat until frustrated.
Take a break with a beer and samich.
Continue. You'll get it.

The only ringer I see is if your rebuilt front mount surfaces are too high or low. Then you'll need to shim under the mounts, or excavate under them.

 

[tpenfield]

This happens all the time, it seems. The gimbal part of the bearing always needs a little bit of a 'swivel' to get the alignment bar to mate.

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

Everything should be fine, I called it quites last night and will get back on it this morning. I guess I have never really seen anyone talk about the bearing moving like that before so I had no idea. I thought it was just a roller bearing in one direction. Thanks everybody.

 

[Bondo]

I thought it was just a roller bearing in one direction.

Ayuh,...... The name of the bearin' is somewhat of a give-a-way,......

A Gimbl bearin' is Gimbelled,....

 

[achris]

.... I guess I have never really seen anyone talk about the bearing moving like that ....

or read the stickies... A member made an excellent video about the gimbal bearing...

https://youtu.be/C6NsazweZyw

Chris........

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

or read the stickies... A member made an excellent video about the gimbal bearing...

https://youtu.be/C6NsazweZyw

Chris........

So sorry everyone that in the heat of the moment I made a post to try and solve a problem I thought I had. Your right I have been on the restoration side of the form and read almost every sticky over there and have not had the time to read all the ones here.

 

[achris]

Apology not necessary. Just using your thread to point out that most people just bypass one of the richest sources of knowledge and information on all manner of boating on the web....

 

[Mechanicalmike08]

Well I will say I have been in this section of the form before and passed up the sticky the first couple times because of the name. It isn't entirely obvious what is inside the sticky. It wasn't until I was actually using Google and a thread popped up that pointed to look in there for info on how too's. I appreciate the help from everyone.

 

[Bondo]

It isn't entirely obvious what is inside the sticky.

Ayuh,..... That's why there's 2 of 'em,.....

1 title "Technical help", 'n Don S thought that Adults Only section, might temp folks to actually click the stickies, which most folks won't, til Told too,.....
Both are the same, once inside,......