Alignment driving me crazy [UPDATE]

[LAC_STS]

Well I have the engine out of my boat and while it been out I have been doing alot. Now Im trying to get it ready to go and the alignment is driving me crazy.

I did a new engine install last year and didn't have any of this trouble with the alignment. I can get the alignment perfect. goes in with a pinky finger, even spline marks on all sides. then I turn the engine over 90 degrees and the alignment bar will still go in fairly easy but not no where as easy as before.

I even took the engine back out and spent an hour with my mic measuring every way I could think to check the coupler. As far as I can tell the coupler is not bent or anything.


After some Google searching I came across a thread on here where a member stated that he asked a tech at a marina and they said that turning the engine over 90 degrees is not in any service manual and is not required. I looked in my OEM manual and a Seloc manual and I didnt see anything about turning the engine.


So what do I do? Im tempted to just put the drive on and go with it.



Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

Well, the manuals may not specifically say to do that, it's the only way to find out if the coupler is manufactured wrong (it happens, even to OEM couplers) or if perhaps the flywheel or coupler had rust of dirt under one side and is holding the coupler and flywheel crooked.

If your coupler is an old coupler that has been used for years, and you are just reusing it, and sure the flywheel and coupler have clean smooth mating surfaces, then go ahead and reuse it. I would suggest getting it about equal all the way around. Then after running for a few trips boating, recheck and see if things are better.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

Brand new coupler don. I will try again tom and if same thing I may just lift the engine up and take the fw and coupler off to check the mating surfaces. I never had though to check them. I am the one who put the flywheel on, so maybe theres something in there. I dunno

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

When I am bumping the engine over 90 degrees am I supposed to put the engine mount top nuts on and tighten them? Meaning the nuts that you put on the engine mounts after you are all done aligning it. The ones that lock it down.

Am I supposed to tighten those before I bump the engine? If I didnt do this (I diddnt) then would it cause the problems I am having?

 

[mcleaves]

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

I always bump it over 90 degrees.. Both before and after locking the mounts down. I've heard of couplers being off out of the box. Don't know how you can tell without a new one in hand though

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

Re: Alignment driving me crazy

I measured the coupler (new) with my mic set before I put it on the boat. It's hard to measure something like that but I'm pretty sure it was ok.

I have managed to get the alignment better with tightening the nuts.

I'm just gonna go with It.