New gimbal bearing, can’t get alignment tool in coupler

[sonofasonofasail0r]

I recently replaced the gimbal bearing on my 1989 galaxy I/O with a 3.0L Mercruiser and an alpha one gen 1 outdrive. I am currently trying to align the bearing with the engine coupler, but my alignment tool won’t touch the splines, it will only go in 1/2” into the coupler. I have lowered the front motor mount as far as it will go but I can’t seem to get the alignment tool in any farther. I’m not sure if I need to replace the rear motor mounts. I’ve attached pictures of both sides. Thank you for the help.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,....... When ya had the alignment bar just barely into the coupler,.....
Did ya Wack the bar good 'n hard, up, down, left, right,..??..??

 

[achris]

 

[sonofasonofasail0r]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,....... When ya had the alignment bar just barely into the coupler,.....
Did ya Wack the bar good 'n hard, up, down, left, right,..??..??

I did not. I will give that a try and come back with an update. Should I return the front motor mount to the original position (or as close as possible)?

 

[tank1949]

I did not. I will give that a try and come back with an update. Should I return the front motor mount to the original position (or as close as possible)?

I would and I'd also test for ROT. That's an old boat.

 

[Bondo]

I did not. I will give that a try and come back with an update. Should I return the front motor mount to the original position (or as close as possible)?

Yes,...

 

[sonofasonofasail0r]

I would and I'd also test for ROT. That's an old boat.

The boat sat unused for the last 20 years in covered storage. I don’t think it would have any rot.

 

[sonofasonofasail0r]

Yes,...

Is there a way to tell if the rear motor mounts are still good? I returned the front motor mount to the previous position, whacked the alignment tool up and down to try to get it to fit in the coupler, and it still wouldn’t go in. When I look through the gimbal bearing, it appears that the most aft part of the coupler is level with the bearing.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Is the gimball bearing fully seated??

 

[tank1949]

The boat sat unused for the last 20 years in covered storage. I don’t think it would have any rot.

simple test. drill some 1/4" holes on the inside around transom plate and drain plug and examine material coming out. then plug back with 5200. do that for stringers too. Good luck!

 

[tank1949]

Is there a way to tell if the rear motor mounts are still good? I returned the front motor mount to the previous position, whacked the alignment tool up and down to try to get it to fit in the coupler, and it still wouldn’t go in. When I look through the gimbal bearing, it appears that the most aft part of the coupler is level with the bearing.

Is there a way to clearly see ALL mount parts and the correct position that they are supposed to be in? You may have dislodged something during the installation and it fell into your bilge. I did!

 

[76SeaRay]

I am having a similar problem getting my alignment bar to slide into the splines. A while back I saw a thread somewhere that said to use a 1 inch bar which will slide into the splines on the coupler and stick out through the gimbal housing to see how the alignment is off. That is it should have equal space all the way around the inside of the gimbal bearing. I just picked up a 1 inch (outside diameter) steel tube that I will try today. I will let you know if that works and maybe you can try that.

 

[Scott06]

Is there a way to tell if the rear motor mounts are still good? I returned the front motor mount to the previous position, whacked the alignment tool up and down to try to get it to fit in the coupler, and it still wouldn’t go in. When I look through the gimbal bearing, it appears that the most aft part of the coupler is level with the bearing.

yes rear mounts can sag, and as pointed out the transom integrity in an older boat is also suspect.

If the mounts were sagging the coupler would be lower than the gimbal bearing when viewed through the bearing. If you can take a pic through the bearing and see the coupler we might be able to give you some direction

 

[flashback]

Check the dimensions of the tool, QC sometimes suffers.

 

[tank1949]

yes rear mounts can sag, and as pointed out the transom integrity in an older boat is also suspect.

If the mounts were sagging the coupler would be lower than the gimbal bearing when viewed through the bearing. If you can take a pic through the bearing and see the coupler we might be able to give you some direction

Maybe Broke spring or ROT! Been there!

 

[76SeaRay]

Well, I tried the 1 inch pipe idea. It helps to get you close but the pipe I got has too much play up and down/side to side when it is in the splines to correctly move the engine. So, the pipe appears to be undersized compared to the alignment tool. However, the alignment tool measures 1.001 and the pipe measures 1.005. Not sure if this would help you.

 

[76SeaRay]

Did you try to move only the gimbal bearing without the alignment tool? My alignment tool unscrews in the middle so I took it apart and put the end of the handle just inside the inner race of the bearing and tried to move (gimbal) the bearing (see gimbal bearings explained video above). Mine would not move at all even with hard whacks from a 5lb hammer and certainly nothing like the video. I am guessing when I installed my new gimbal bearing that I damaged it, could your new one be damaged? I also ran across a note that said in 1984 Mercruiser reversed the direction of the bearing on install. The video shows slots toward the front but the note said it was changed to slots toward the back. I don't know if this makes a difference and could be causing the problem you have as well as the one I have.

 

[nola mike]

. The video shows slots toward the front but the note said it was changed to slots toward the back. I don't know if this makes a difference and could be causing the problem you have as well as the one I have.

No, that isn't it. The orientation doesn't affect function.

 

[tank1949]

Snatch out bearing and then examine if alignment tool goes into bearing and coupler. If tool goes into both, you have problems elsewhere.

 

[76SeaRay]

sonofasonofasail0r, did you get yours to align?