Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

[1981century]

I removed my engine out my boat a year ago and was very careful not to disturb the lower leveling bolts. When I went to put the drive back on, it did not want to go on without some pretty harsh force, so I ordered an alignment bar. Now, no matter which way I move the adjustment bolts(up or down) I can only get the alignment bar to go in with a slight thump of my hand and the marks seem to be heaviest on the bottom. I didn't have any noticeable signs of mis alignment when I pulled the drive off so my thoughts are that I shouldn't have to move the motor very far. The marks are heaviest on the bottom, but I have rotated the bolts raising the motor 1 1/2 to 2 turns on each side and the marks seem to be getting heavier on the bottom, not lighter like the previous posts suggest. Do you have to adjust both leveling bolts at the same time? I have been screwing around with this for two or three ours watching videos of people with the grease on the alignment bar a little off and then right on, so I know what you want it to look like, but how are they getting it right? Nobody shows that part! What am I doing wrong? I want to get this thing running before it gets too cold. Any suggestions out there would be grealty appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Did you do any transom or stringer work while the engine was out?

Did you get all the parts in the proper position on the rear mounts? Sure you didn't have shims under the front mount that you don't have anymore?

 

[1981century]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Stringers and fiberglas was restored about ten years ago and is all still in great shape. I had the motor out to replace freeze plugs and oil gaskets, etc. When I removed the engine, I only unbolted the top nuts and left the bottom nuts wear they were. It has been several years since the drive and motor have been aligned, although I have not had any troubles with the coupler or splines. The coupler and spline shaft are probably the original pair. I haven't ever had any trouble with them. I've owned the boat since 1990 and restored the hull and stringers about 10 years ago. The alignment could have gotten pretty far off over time. Since my post earlier it seems that I have made some headway by dropping the motor down with about 2 turns of the nuts on each side. It's a little difficult to tell how even the splines are showing up in the grease because when you pull the alignment bar out, it has a tendency to shift and mess up the marks. I still feel that my aligment is off. I still have to hit the alignment bar with the heal of my hand to get it to go in and it is a little tight back and forth. About how many turns should you have to move it from a snug fit to a nice smooth fit. I feel like I have dropped the engine alot from where it has always run trouble free all these years. Do you think I have always run it out of alignment? It's never had any vibration problems and has always ran pretty smooth. Your thought on how many turns to go from tight fit to smooth fit on this alignment?

 

[1981century]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Oh, and yes all the same hardware in the same place as before.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Absolutely the double lockwasher & fiber washer are in place, correct?
Are the rear mounts tight when your attempting alignment? If so, loosen them for now. Try it!
How about your mounts in the flywheel hsg? Nothing there that moved while pulling engine?
Your hand is NOT a hammer! Use something solid like lead, rawhide or rubber to get a little cooperation.
Is the boat on the same trailer that it was when you started?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Is the boat on the same trailer that it was when you started?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

It sounds like (from the "hand is not a hammer" comment) that Pete was describing methods for getting the outdrive back on. However, the OP is using an alignment bar at the moment, so I don't think that the trailer is going to make much of a difference. If you swapped trailers, I guess I could see it causing a bit of issue on the angle of the outdrive during reinstallation if the trailer heights were significantly different. In any case, Pete104 is offering answers to questions which have not been asked.

 

[1981century]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Okay I think I may have found the problem. After looking at one side of the rear mount, I noticed that the washer is tight between the transom housing and the motor mount. On the opposite side, the washer is loose and I can wiggle it around and turn it with my hand. Is this washer supposed to be pinched between the motor mount and the transom housing? Does the spring have to fit up into a counterbore? Perhaps the spring in not fitting in the counterbore and keeping me from tightening the motor mount down properly? The bolts are tight, but on one side the washer is pinched between the metal and on the other side loose as a goose. Any thoughts out there?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

That has to be your problem. Loosen both sides and ensure everything is settled in the proper place.

 

[1981century]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Which picture looks correct? Should there be a gap between the motor mounts, or should the fiber washer fill the gap. I don't recall the fiber washers being seperate from the springs, but I guess they are. Is there a way to pick this engine up and look? Could I have put the springs in upside down? The right rear mount has space between the mounts and the washer is loose in between the mounts (even with the mounting bolts tight) You can spin the fiber washer on the right rear mount with the bolt tightened down. The left rear mount has no space between the mounts and the fiber washer is squished down. I am not sure which side is right, and/or why I cannot seem to get them the same. I am trying to fix this without having to pull the engine back out completely. Any suggestions will be helpful. I will take pictures and post once I get this right for others to have a reference in the future. Thanks

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

I can slide the fiber/spring washer into place after setting the engine down.

 

[1981century]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Okay I picked up the motor and the fiber washers and springs are exactly where they belong. However the bushing that is in the flywheel cover is lower on the right side. I was able to pick up the motor and remove the spring and fiber washer and place a chisel between the two mounts, then lower the motor and the bushing came up flush with the top edge of the housing. As soon as I pick the motor back up to slide the fiber washer and spring into place, the bushing drops right back down. I decided to try putting it back together and perhaps driving it down. Even with the weight of the motor on the mounts, the motor is still not resting down on the fiber washer. Are these rear flywheel cover bushings pressed in? Can they be replaced without removing the engine? This has definetely been a project from hell.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Keep your patience! I know easier said than done, but if it was easy, anybody could do it!
You might be able to get the flywheel hsg off & replace BOTH mounts without pulling the entire engine but it'll be tight.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Yes, the bushings are pressed in. I cannot imagine trying to replace them with the engine in the boat. Even if it were possible, it would seem to me to be easier to pull the engine and have new mounts installed. Sorry for the bad news.

 

[1981century]

Re: Mercruiser 260 Alignment - Yeah I know it's in the adult section

Yes, the bushings are pressed in. I cannot imagine trying to replace them with the engine in the boat. Even if it were possible, it would seem to me to be easier to pull the engine and have new mounts installed. Sorry for the bad news.

Yes you're right. To anyone having trouble with alignment, be sure to check your rear motor mounts. This definetely the problem with my alignment. I have the flywheel cover off and at the marine shop having new mounts pressed in. I also took the coupling to the shop to inspect and the said it was fine, just bad motor mounts. The good news is I was able to pick up the motor with a standard cherry picker and simply raise it up about 8" and move it forward in the boat and spin it around. It was kind of spooky taking some of the lower bolts out as it dangled on the hydraulic hoist. When I go to put it back together, I will probably put some jackstands or something under it just in case a chain breaks or the hydraulic give out.

I feel confident I will be able to get a good aligment after this. Then I'll be back to running it and diagnosing the problem I originally got on this forum for of the "stinking mercruiser". I'll keep you all posted... thanks to all for the input.