gimble allignment

[picker523]

I know there's a 100 threads on this but I want to be sure. I'm trying to re-alllign the gimble and coupler on my 87 3.0 mercruiser and I'm afraid we got the front mount pretty far out of adjustment. I've kind of got the allignment tool stuck in the coupler now and I did'nt beat on it to get it in there. It was hitting on the bottom of the tool before it got stuck. Am I to understand to get it close I insert the tool in the end of the coupler and gently tap the exposed end in all directions?

 

[Don S]

Re: gimble allignment

Am I to understand to get it close I insert the tool in the end of the coupler and gently tap the exposed end in all directions?

You do that side to side, up and down in order to center the gimbal bearing, not align the engine.
You also need to remove the alignment bar BEFORE making your adjustments. If you adjusted the front mount while the bar was in the coupler, go back and UNDO what you did and the bar will come back out.

 

[picker523]

Re: gimble allignment

Thanks Don
I think I've got it lined up. My mistake was not lubricating the allignment tool at the point it goes through the gimble bearing . I can pull it in and out with little resistance. Do you happen to know how far it is from the inside end of the splines (in the coupling) to the outside of the gimble bearing? Thanks... once again ... for your help.

 

[picker523]

Re: gimble allignment

I forgot to ask... It looks like I'll have to put a 2x4 under the front motor mount to get it high enough since the transom was rebuilt. Should that be a problem as long as the cowling covers it?

 

[Don S]

Re: gimble allignment

Do you happen to know how far it is from the inside end of the splines (in the coupling) to the outside of the gimble bearing?

Nope, never had a reason to measured it. But I would bet that with a stick or a tape measure you could find out real easy.

 

[Don S]

Re: gimble allignment

I forgot to ask... It looks like I'll have to put a 2x4 under the front motor mount to get it high enough since the transom was rebuilt. Should that be a problem as long as the cowling covers it?

Since you had the transom rebuilt, was the cutout in EXACTLY the same place as the original. Or was it flat you you made a new cutout..... If you made a new cutout, how did you locate the X dimension for the centerline of the crankshaft?

 

[picker523]

Re: gimble allignment

I'm not sure if it's EXACTLY the same but the fiberglass shell on the outside remained in tact with all the original holes and I used that for the pattern.