lower unit installation problem continued

[flipbro]

Yes it does sound like a coupler.. if the bar don't wobble I run it. But that's just me..

 

[wrench 3]

AllDodge: Would the gimbal bearing not stop the alignment tool from wobbling if the coupler is bent but not off center. The bearing would pull every thing back straight.
I've always checked them by rotating the crank and rechecking alignment.

 

[andrewterri]

I don't think the gimbal bearing is strighting everything out. while the bar was not wobbling if was very hard to remove. I think that is just going to tear up the coupler or u joints if I run it, at least that's my thought. what do you guys think? should I just run it?

 

[alldodge]

wrench the check was mentioned on OSO by a highly respected member. The bar would be going from tight to loose if the coupler is off center. Guess it is off but not enough to show up. Would be nice if the OP had the tool that checks perpendicularity, I have the tool but forget the part number.

The tool slides over the alignment tool and then you can look at the bell housing and it tells you if it needs to do up/down/left/right to center.

andrewterri - my guess is your coupler is warped but maybe not to bad. The engine was out of alignment when last used and then sat for some time in that position and caused the issue. If you could sort of split the difference it may work out. It would take the tool I just mentioned to do this.

 

[andrewterri]

Thank you AllDodge. That make sense on why it was fine last summer then after winter storage and gimbal change I am having problems. I think I will rotate the engine to where the bar is tight and adjust the mounts to try and split the difference. do you think this will work? It can buy me time until I can order the new coupler.

 

[alldodge]

It's roll of the dice IMO. As always, your doing the work and I'm just listening to what your saying. What you really need to confirm is 91-863372 with the alignment bar. Guess the big thing is I would hate for you to buy another coupler and later find out it was something else. So far my opinion the coupler is the issue, but I've been wrong before

If it's slightly off then I'm thinking it could be fine, and over time may reset it self.

Here is the tool, found mine on ebay for around 75 and is a Merc part

 

[andrewterri]

thank you AllDodge and I assure you I value your opinion. We are getting a new boat at the beginning of the year but need this one to run this summer, that being said, I do not want to spend a lot of money fixing this one when I can put that towards more down payment. Albeit, I do not like doing things half***. But if I run this one and see if it straightens out is there any things to watch for other than the clicking getting louder when I make turns? Would you try to split the difference in the alignment with it being correct then turning the engine and it being off or just try to run it the way it is and see of it straightens out? I know this is not ideal and not how I normally do thing but with a 75 specialty tool then likely a 200 dollar coupler is a lot to swallow right now.

 

[wrench 3]

I don't think the gimbal bearing is strighting everything out. while the bar was not wobbling if was very hard to remove. I think that is just going to tear up the coupler or u joints if I run it, at least that's my thought. what do you guys think? should I just run it?

I was thinking that it would hold it straight when you were checking for wobble but not that it would fix anything.
I'm with AllDodge on "thinking" that it is a bad coupler. In time it would wear the splines, but if you put on as low an amount of hours as most people, you should be able to get a season out of it without any problem.

 

[andrewterri]

Sadly the horizontal stringer is completely rotted. The two lag bolts had the thread rusted off. So no boat this summer. the motor runs great and the outdrive is good so I am going to try and get 1,000 out of the motor, outdrive, and trailer.

 

[alldodge]

You can fix a rusted bolt, but sounds like you've had enough

 

[Newbie@boats]

So wait, after ALL the help you received on this forum, and the previous thread you started along with ALL the help you received there....that's it? You're just going to give up over a rusted bolt in the stringer? Wow........

 

[nola mike]

Unless I missed something, he said the rusted bolt is attached to a rotted stringer...so I'm with him.

 

[andrewterri]

No I don't want to stop, I was frustrated with all the money and time I put in to this boat to miss something this major. the information I have learned from everyone on this forum has been invaluable despite if this boat is done or not. The stringer is completely rooted. I can put my finger through it. My friend is a fabricator and we are going to try and figure something out to get us through the season. If anyone has any ideas please through them out.

 

[alldodge]

Agree, with being able to put your figure thru it, you need some major work. So lots of glass and resin

 

[Newbie@boats]

Could you post up a pic of your issue with the bolts? I'm pretty sure i understand what you're talking about but I just want to be 100%.... why couldn't you use some thing like this http://m.uline.com/h5/r/www.uline.co...g&gclsrc=aw.ds just to get you threw for the summer? Obviously I don't know how bad it is so I am just throwing it out there.....

 

[flipbro]

He can't use that because it's a boat not a slab of concrete.If he can put his finger through it its bad. There's only on safe and rite way to fix rot and that's cut it out and refiberglass in new wood

 

[andrewterri]

We are not sure what we want to do. I have to price what it would cost to buy that glass and materials I need to fix it and look at the time involved as well. I think I mentioned it before but my wife and I are getting a new boat in January at the boat show so I am a little worried about spending to much money in this boat. I will be doing some googling to determine what all is involved.

 

[Newbie@boats]

Obviously his boat is not concrete, I was just throwing the idea of something like that out there, but it it's completely rotted all the way around then it's obvious the repair but if it's just where the bolts go into the floor I'm sure something like that would work for just this last summer until he buys a new boat next year.