Mercruiser 4.3 engine alignment

[darius333]

Hi all boaters,
Is anyone could advise me on how to do 2001 mercruiser 4.3 engine alignment without alignment tool? Have been in contact with 2 large authorised mercruiser repair shops and both informed me that if outdrive shaft slides easy through a gimbal bearing in to the coupler than i shouldn’t worry about it? Sounds doubtful! Any opinions would be beneficial. Thanks for all

 

[tpenfield]

The driveshaft sliding in easily is always a good sign, but it is tough to tell that by installing the outdrive. Usually the outdrive is going to take a good push to get it to go 'home' into the bell housing. So, who is to say the push was needed because of the shaft alignment or other matters.

The best way to check alignment without the tool, is to buy the tool, then check the alignment

 

[Scott Danforth]

spend the $35 on an alignment bar

 

[JASinIL2006]

You can get one for $20 plus shipping on EvilBay. This piece of equipment is too important to not have, if you plan to service your own boat.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Ditto. Ain't no such thing as maintaining a boat on the cheap. Almost as bad as an airplane that way.

 

[harringtondav]

I have an old coupler yoke shaft I use to get close. It will slide freely, but the alignment tool won't. False security. There is quite a bit of clearance in the spline fit. The alignment tool's spline pilot is a few thousands smaller than the coupler spline minor diameter. Much more restrictive. The tool's spline pilot is 1.010" diameter, the gimbal bearing pilot is 1.375" diameter.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... What they all said, ^^^

If ya got a lathe, the dimensions are listed in DonS Adults Only section, found at the top of the Mercuiser forum, or in my signature,....