Alignment Question

[tractoman]

When I did my impeller a few weeks ago, I checked the alignment which seemed good. Splines on the drive shaft to coupler were nice and unworn looking. The gimbal bearing was nice and smooth and there was no rust on the ujoints, drive shaft or gimbal bearing. I've since read about adjusting the gimbal bearing with the alignment bar by knocking the bar up down and side to side to center it. I didn't do this but the bar went in and out pretty smooth and the grease marks of the coupler splines looked even on the alignment bar. Did I do this OK or should I have centered the gimbal bearing? Sorry to sound like an idiot but I want to take proper care of this boat, and in the merc manual I don't remember there being a lot to alignment. It was mostly related to adjusting the engine up and down which was not required in my case.
Thanks,

 

[frank246]

Re: Alignment Question

When the alligning tool slides in.. the bearing is centered.
Alligning the bearing can be needed after the bearing is replaced or tilted(?) while removing the drive shaft out.
In your case it seems to be ok

 

[tractoman]

Re: Alignment Question

And I can't mess it up re-installing the drive? It is a little tricky for me with the ujoints flopping around when reinstalling the drive. I wish I had about 5 hands.

 

[frank246]

Re: Alignment Question

And I can't mess it up re-installing the drive? It is a little tricky for me with the ujoints flopping around when reinstalling the drive. I wish I had about 5 hands.

Ehuhu

Thats why I use an outdrive install trolly (read: modified engine stand)

 

[ziggy]

Re: Alignment Question

It is a little tricky for me with the ujoints flopping around when reinstalling the drive. I wish I had about 5 hands.

food for thought. make yourself a drive stand. mine is a pretty makeshift item, + i didn't make it the way i should have. but, it allows me to support the drive, line everything up and go for it. once your through the gimble brg. with the drive shaft. you can feel the drive shaft hitting the splines in the coupler. myself, i use the inner sleeve of a flo torque II prop + some pump pliers on it, rotate in small amounts and try to get it again. once your in the splines, she just slides together, done this 4 or 5 times now. to me, the critical item is to have the drive absolutely ready to slide onto the 6 bolts, perfectly square. then she'll go on easy. last time the actual insatall of the drive, once all lined up is about 5 min or less. takes a while to get it into that condition though.

 

[frank246]

Re: Alignment Question

Yep, and dont forget to put in fw gear