engine alignment?

[shu5720]

Hey guys. I just installed the gimbal bearing and was working on aligning the engine but ran into a problem. I slid the alignment tool in with a little coaxing (i figured i would adjust the front motor mounts to the point where it would slide out easily). Then the problem, there is no adjustment for the mounts. The "ears" coming off the block are resting on the pads that are bolted to the floor of the boat. The only nut holding it on is on the top, no two adjustment buts in between. I know the boat ('02 Four Winns) was repowered with alot of mercruiser parts instead of Volvo Penta (didnt know when i bought it). Are the two styles of mounts different that much? Any thoughts on how to correct it? The driver slid off pretty easily (Volvo Penta SX-M) and I only replaced the gimbal bearing due to water intrusion. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm at a loss.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: engine alignment?

you adjust the front mounts, not the rear mounts. Is that what you are looking at?

here is the alignment procedure:

1) Once you have the engine height close enough to
fully insert the tool without force, then you can start
working on setting the proper alignment.

Take your time, getting it close enough to insert the
tool the first time can sometimes be the hardest (most
frustrating) part.

2) Coat the end section of the tool (the smallest diameter
area) with a light coat of grease and then insert it fully
into the coupler.

3) Without turning the tool, pull it straight out and look at
the depth of the teeth marks in the grease.

If the teeth marks in the grease are deep on the
top side and shallow on the bottom side of the tool then
your motor is too high.

If the marks in the grease are deeper on the bottom than
on the top then your motor is too low.

4) Adjust the engine height accordingly.

5) Keep checking the depth of the marks in the grease until
they are equal in depth on top and bottom.

Sometimes as little as 1/8th of a turn on the adjusting nut can be the
difference between being properly aligned, and just having it "close"

Lightly Grease the splines on the shaft (and on the coupler if you can) with
Spline grease prior to assembly.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: engine alignment?

this what you have?

http://www.dougrussell.com/partscat...,3270,3269,3271,3265,3266,3273,3275,3268,3267

 

[shu5720]

Re: engine alignment?

bruce58, i checked the two styles of mounts. The lower mount (attached to hull) is the picture you show. The upper mount appears to have a longer arm (from parts dia, looks like mercruiser) so that the upper and lower mounts acutally contact each other. No room in between for the adjustment nuts. Does that make sense?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: engine alignment?

Very weird. obviously they need to both be from the same manufacturer. Maybe time to order the correct top half.

 

[shu5720]

Re: engine alignment?

Yeah. this bites. I am going to pull the uppers tonight and bring them Doug Russell and see if they are wrong. Hopefully know more tomorrow.