Drive to Engine Alignment Confusion

[Zackman]

My boat has a 1998 5.7L mated to a Bravo 3 drive. I purchased the boat used this August and pulled the drive to lubricate the u-joints.

When removing the drive it slid right out without any problem. The drive shaft's o-rings had grease on them but the splines had no grease and had a slight carbon build up on them where they were engaged in the coupler. Just to double-check everything, I installed the alignment tool but it would not even enter the coupler. I reinstalled the drive and it slipped right in with no problem.

What am I missing ? (I purchased the alignment tool from Mercstuff a few months ago, and have not check the dimensions).

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive to Engine Alignment Confusion

That's twice today I replied to a post and the reply goes into the great iboats forum's Never-Never-Land..

Anyway, could be the grease used on the splines causes the carbon buildup. The spline grease doens't do it "As Bad".
I would also check the dimensions of the shaft, it's aftermarket, and may be off..... Who knows. It isn't painted is it?
Here are the dimensions the bar should be.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drive to Engine Alignment Confusion

Ayuh,....... I love those posts that just go Poof,...... Even before you get to See them,.........
Really Sucks when you're a 1 fingered Typer, such as Myself..........

Anyways,...........
Did you Grease the Alignment Tool before you tried to Slide it In,..??.....
Did you apply Grease to the Coupler,..??...

A Dry Coupler will wear really Bad, Quickly.....
Although Doubtful,... It's Possible that the Splines have Worn to Points,+ worked into the splines on the Shaft,+ the actual I/D Could be slightly Smaller that it was......
But,... It's Doubtful it's the Problem.....

Get a Good Light,+ Look at the Coupler's Splines,.....
They should Not be Extremely Pointed.....
If they Are,........ You're in need of a New Coupler,+ Input Shaft............

 

[Zackman]

Re: Drive to Engine Alignment Confusion

Don, sorry you had to retype the post, but I do appreciate you and Bond-o taking the time to reply.

The splines on the coupler could have looked better, but they were not close to having worn to points

Checked the alignment tool dimensions per the drawing and it was dead on. Tried to adjust the motor height, but soon got out of my comfort zone.

Tried both lowering and raising, being sure to count the number of flats on each side. No improvement with alignment tool in either direction with four complete turns of the nut in both directions. Returned everything back to the way it was and reinstalled the drive.

After the Holidays I'm going to take it to a Pro...

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive to Engine Alignment Confusion

Did you put grease on the alignment bar? When the drive comes off easily, many times I have had to push the bar in while twisting just to get that carbon off the coupler splines. Once the carbon is cleaned out, the bar fit nicely.
Also be sure the gimbal bearing didn't twist out of shape a little, It happens and makes it impossible to get the bar in or the drive back on.

 

[Zackman]

Re: Drive to Engine Alignment Confusion

Okay, that made sense about cleaning the carbon out and it worked real well.

I was able to bottom out the tool, once the carbon was gone. Checked the alignment at 90 degree intervals of engine rotation, with a light coating of grease on the tool to check contact. Kinda reminded me of "blueing" we used to do on fan shafts to impellers to check contact on tapered fits.

Made some slight changes to the engine height and it was dead on.

Thanks