Merc Coupler question

[borderdog]

1996 4.3LX Mercruiser. Coupler was replaced Jan. of 07. Well the coupler went out again last weekend. Left the boat with the mechanic who replaced the coupler originally, for a diagnosis, he said that the alignment was good and the transom was soft. When I got the boat back the drive unit had not been romoved (in order to check the alignment) nor had the boat been moved from the storage lot. I am very confident that they did not even look at the boat for the diagnosis.

So got the boat home and removed the drive unit. Im am waiting for an alignment tool that I ordered from the net to arrive. My question is this, can the alignment be checked with a bad coupler? I removed the coil wire and turned the motor over, the coupler was wobbling ugly and obviously out of alignment. Is that any indication of the status of the alignment?

I believe that I have just become my own mechanic. While Im not the Charlie Daniels of the torque wrench. I know my way around the toolbox.

Thanks in advance for any help in this matter.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Merc Coupler question

My question is this, can the alignment be checked with a bad coupler?

Nope,...

If the Coupler is already Bad,... There's Nothng to be aligned....

 

[Don S]

Re: Merc Coupler question

While it very well could be a soft transom, that isn't the only thing that would cause it.
It may have been a bad coupler from the factory. I've had many OEM and aftermarket that had the center off a little, you could align it in one spot, turn the engine half a revolution and you can't put the alignmet bar in.
You could also have bad motor mounts in the back, or the front motor mounts may have not been tightened down properly and they vibrated down and put the thing way out alignment.
You are just going to have to look at things when you get the boat back.

Here is a link to the online service manual for your drive.
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf

And, your engine.
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/18/18covr2.pdf

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Merc Coupler question

good news is you all ready have the tool so when you change the drive coupler you can line it up. if the drive coupler is bad you mignt want to consider changing the gimble bearing to. if the transom is bad it would need fixed before you can continue on any of the above.
when you pull the engine to change the coupler you can check the transom

 

[borderdog]

Re: Merc Coupler question

Thanks for the info. I was just wondering if I can diagnos anything by the old coupler? I guess that I will just start pulling and see what I find. Thanks