Engine alignment

[tsharples]

The new Seloc manual I just purchased to go with my Mercruiser 3.7 (224 cu. in.) says to check the engine alignment after the first 20 hrs. of operation and then every 100 hrs. It then goes on to tell me to take it to an authorized Mercruiser Dealer for this. There must be a system to check this that does require removing the stern drive. I think mine is OK but wouldn't mind checking it if I could.
Thanks for any feed back
Ted

 

[tsharples]

Re: Engine alignment

I ment doesn't require removing the stern drive.
Ted

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Engine alignment

Sorry,The drive MUST be removed and an alignment tool inserted into the engine coupler to check the alignment.If this is a used boat pulling the drive and inspecting the u-joints is a good idea anyway.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Engine alignment

Yup, I agree with Gary, you can get the alignment tool on ebay for about fifty bucks...
If it is new to you, examining the u-joint bellows & greasing the u joints would be very wise.....
What year do you have?
You might think about an OEM manual.....
The 470 is a beast unto itself....
Good luck with it! .)
Welcome to iboats, BTW.............JK

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Engine alignment

I agree with above post and would add if you don't put 100 hours a season on your boat this procedure should be part of an annual maintainance shedule anyway. By pulling the drive annually and checking alignment, bellows, u-joints, gimble bearing, and everything else related, you will likely find possible problems before they become catastrophic failures.

 

[drydockboat]

Re: Engine alignment

Don't forget to grease the spline shaft on outdrive that goes into coupler and to use only spline grease.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine alignment

By pulling the drive annually and checking alignment, bellows, u-joints, gimble bearing, and everything else related, you will likely find possible problems before they become catastrophic failures.

As Noted,.....
Much of the Required Annual Maintance of the Strendrive is done with the Drive Pulled.......
And,....
There's No Way of doing ANY of it, Unless the Drive is Pulled.........

Pulling the Drive is Only 8 Nuts,+ a $7.00 Gasket Set.....
Btw,.... The Drive weighs 80lbs.......Not real Heavy, but Enough so....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Engine alignment

And also Welcome to Iboats and the perils of owning a stearn drive.
(hope we didn't scare you)....8)

 

[tsharples]

Re: Engine alignment

I would like to thank everyone for the replies. Just to fill in a couple of blanks the boat is old, 1976 Fibre Form but it was repowered and not used a couple of years before I got it and had just under 50 hrs on new leg and motor. I have run it for two years, another 150 hrs so time to pull the drive and check everything. I have had 0 problems except not being attentive and drifting onto a sand bar. Minor damage as I was idling in gear. That makes the third prop and now I know why they're made of aluminum.
Take care all and thanks again
Ted

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Engine alignment

Its better to lose a prop than doing major damage to the drive.At least aluminum will give.
If its raw water cooled i would replace the impeller while your doing the service to the drive.If it sucked up sand thats not to good for it.
use a good extreme pressure marine grease on the ujoints.
Good luck!8)