imported_Jeff
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
- Messages
- 9
I have a 1975 Crestliner tri-hull with Mercruiser 140 in-line four. It is in very good condition and, I believe, sound and solid. I took the outdrive apart to repair the trim limit switch (old style in top of housing). The outdrive was a little difficult to remove but finally got it off. I found the gimbal bearing was siezed which explained the growl I had heard a couple times. I replaced the gimbal bearing, all boots, rear shift cable and repaired/reinstalled the trim switch. Bear in mind the drive operated and to my knowledge, had never been apart before.
Prior to installing the outdrive, I noticed the gimbal bearing and drive coupler bores were way out of alignment. The front of the engine was too high. I lowered the adjusting screw, removed five shim plates and finally brought them visually into alignment. The rear mounts were tight and intact. I used a straight pipe to check aligment and both bores appeared to be in alignment. I lubed and assembled the unit. I ran the unit on the muffs for half an hour, no problem. Coupler stayed cool.
Went to the lake and it ran great, for thirty minutes! By the time I smelled the burning rubber and realized what was happening, the engine over-revved. I immediately shut it down. Dead in the water, no drive, no cooling. We waved down another boat for a complimentary tow to the boat ramp. I pulled the outdrive and found I could turn the coupler hub from the rear of the boat, using a flat bar, and the engine not turn. The drive coupler was obviously shot.
Round two ...... I pulled the engine (no problem)s and installed a new coupler. Outdrive input shaft spines looked good. Checked everything over and put the engine back in. I purchased a 1" straight dowel and it fit the coupler spines perfectly. I used a sleeve on the dowel with a 1" inside diameter and 1.375" outside diameter that slid effortlessly on the dowel and into the gimbal bearing. I did have to readjust the front of the engine slightly upward from where it was on my first adventure. I lubed and installed the outdrive. It literally fell right into position. I ran the unit on the muffs, in gear, for over an hour. No problem, no heat.
Heeding the warnings in the service manual to have alignment professionally checked, I called my Mercruiser dealer. He stated he was busy but aligment was not "that critical" and not hard to set. I told him what I did and he said if the outdrive installed as easily as it did, I had to be close and should have no problem. So, I go to the lake. Its mid-week, no one is around and the lake is rough. Not wanting swim back if we had trouble, I simply backed the boat, still on the trailer, into the lake so I could run it under load. I never unloaded it. Ran about a half hour, in gear, again no problems. Coupler got a little warm but I could still put my hand on it. Engine was off of course.
Good to go, right? The weekend comes, load up the skis and the family and head to the lake. We get our darling little vessel in the water and I operate the boat conservatively (half throttle) wanting to make sure all is well. Guess what? Thirty minutes later, the same darn thing happens! I shut it down and immediately poured ice water (from my beer cooler) over the coupler. Luckily, I was able to idle back in and maintain drive and engine cooling. The least little bit of throttle caused slippage. Luckily, I had enough beer to make the trip.
I pulled the outdrive again and the shaft spines and universal joints look/act good. Internally, the outdrive appears to be fine. I obviously have an aligment issue. Is the aligment that fussy and that difficult to set?
Could I have an issue with the boat on versus off the trailer? It is a roller trailer without full bunk support.
Any other ideas or suggestions?
I either need to get another coupler (and aligment tool) or a couple sticks of dynamite.
Thanks!
Prior to installing the outdrive, I noticed the gimbal bearing and drive coupler bores were way out of alignment. The front of the engine was too high. I lowered the adjusting screw, removed five shim plates and finally brought them visually into alignment. The rear mounts were tight and intact. I used a straight pipe to check aligment and both bores appeared to be in alignment. I lubed and assembled the unit. I ran the unit on the muffs for half an hour, no problem. Coupler stayed cool.
Went to the lake and it ran great, for thirty minutes! By the time I smelled the burning rubber and realized what was happening, the engine over-revved. I immediately shut it down. Dead in the water, no drive, no cooling. We waved down another boat for a complimentary tow to the boat ramp. I pulled the outdrive and found I could turn the coupler hub from the rear of the boat, using a flat bar, and the engine not turn. The drive coupler was obviously shot.
Round two ...... I pulled the engine (no problem)s and installed a new coupler. Outdrive input shaft spines looked good. Checked everything over and put the engine back in. I purchased a 1" straight dowel and it fit the coupler spines perfectly. I used a sleeve on the dowel with a 1" inside diameter and 1.375" outside diameter that slid effortlessly on the dowel and into the gimbal bearing. I did have to readjust the front of the engine slightly upward from where it was on my first adventure. I lubed and installed the outdrive. It literally fell right into position. I ran the unit on the muffs, in gear, for over an hour. No problem, no heat.
Heeding the warnings in the service manual to have alignment professionally checked, I called my Mercruiser dealer. He stated he was busy but aligment was not "that critical" and not hard to set. I told him what I did and he said if the outdrive installed as easily as it did, I had to be close and should have no problem. So, I go to the lake. Its mid-week, no one is around and the lake is rough. Not wanting swim back if we had trouble, I simply backed the boat, still on the trailer, into the lake so I could run it under load. I never unloaded it. Ran about a half hour, in gear, again no problems. Coupler got a little warm but I could still put my hand on it. Engine was off of course.
Good to go, right? The weekend comes, load up the skis and the family and head to the lake. We get our darling little vessel in the water and I operate the boat conservatively (half throttle) wanting to make sure all is well. Guess what? Thirty minutes later, the same darn thing happens! I shut it down and immediately poured ice water (from my beer cooler) over the coupler. Luckily, I was able to idle back in and maintain drive and engine cooling. The least little bit of throttle caused slippage. Luckily, I had enough beer to make the trip.
I pulled the outdrive again and the shaft spines and universal joints look/act good. Internally, the outdrive appears to be fine. I obviously have an aligment issue. Is the aligment that fussy and that difficult to set?
Could I have an issue with the boat on versus off the trailer? It is a roller trailer without full bunk support.
Any other ideas or suggestions?
I either need to get another coupler (and aligment tool) or a couple sticks of dynamite.
Thanks!
