Need help engine alignment

[dieselram94]

I need help, trying to align motor and have noticed the rear engine mounts are not sitting flat on transom mount.....port side is up about 1/4 inch alignment bar would go in VERY easy although had deeper grease groves on the top than on the bottom. Trying to get it perfect is when I noticed the mounts weren't sitting even in the back. Please help is this normal

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need help engine alignment

Please help is this normal

Nope,... Sounds like 1 side Failed....

 

[Don S]

Re: Need help engine alignment

What are we working on?

 

[dieselram94]

Re: Need help engine alignment

This is on a 1989 alpha one with a 305 gm

 

[dieselram94]

Re: Need help engine alignment

Are the rear mounts supposed to be up off the transom mounts some or flat against it?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need help engine alignment

Are the rear mounts supposed to be up off the transom mounts some or flat against it?

Ayuh,.. They're supposed to be the Same....

 

[dieselram94]

Re: Need help engine alignment

Thanks for the help guys. I am thinking at this point I need to lift the engine by the front hook and back off the front mounts to see if it will sit flat then. Then align it from there (kind of wondering if the front port side mount is adjusted to high folding the back of the motor of the mount). I hope if I do need to change rear mounts it can be done with out pulling engine out.

 

[Don S]

Re: Need help engine alignment

If it's sticking up on one side, I would be looking at the STARBOARD front motor mount on the engine. If it's adjusted to low, it's probably pulling down on the front of the engine and raising the aft of the engine.
The engine needs to be realigned with both rear mounts resting properly on the fiber washers and equal pressure on both front mounts.

 

[dieselram94]

Re: Need help engine alignment

I am thinking this is the case with the mounts looking at where the nuts are adjusted. I understand it needs equal pressure on all mounts.....is there a way to tell if the rear mounts are in need of replacement after it is sitting with equal pressure? Am I correct in thinking the rear mounts and the transome plate should only be apart the thickness of a fiber washer? I appreciate your patience with me as I try to figure this out.

 

[Don S]

Re: Need help engine alignment

Am I correct in thinking the rear mounts and the transome plate should only be apart the thickness of a fiber washer?

It's hard to discribe this. The fiber washer is there, but ALL the weight is not on them alone. The mounts are spaced so the housing JUST TOUCHES the fiber washers. They just prevent banging from engine torque. There are double wound lock washers between the mount and the inner plate.

 

[dieselram94]

Re: Need help engine alignment

Well, I measured the stringers and one is about 3/4" higher than the other. so It was the front mounts causing the problem (can't have equal amounts of stud sticking through because of stringers). I now have the front of the motor suspended to make sure I get equal pressure on both rear mounts and will adjust from service manual steps. One thing I did notice is when the manufactururer installed engine the laged the mounts in at a angle and so port side mount dosen't sit perfectly flat on stringer because of the angle of the lag bolts. But I did check and all is tight and not rotten so I will leave the lags as is because it has been that way all along (motor does not move).
Thank you again very much.

 

[Don S]

Re: Need help engine alignment

If the threads on the mounts are clean, just feeling the resistance to the wrench will tell you close enough if you have equal pressure. once you get your alignment bar to fit properly, then you tighten down the front mounts and recheck. The alignment shouldn't change when you tighten down the lock nuts. If it does, they were not equal.

 

[dieselram94]

Re: Need help engine alignment

Well, I have one mount adjusted as low as it will go as the stringers are not level. Alignment bar slides in very easy but I still get deeper marks on the top than the bottom but there is some visible pattern all the way around the bar...just not ideal but I guess I will have to live with it as it is way better than it was. It's a wonder all splines were good.
Thanks again