problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

[sarantis]

hello everybody
I wonder if anyone has had a similar problem.I swapped from a 305 to a brand new 350 old style(with the 12 bolts at the intake manifold),i bought a used flywheel because the old one was smaller and a new coupler.When placing the engine onboard and trying to align it i find out that when i turn the cranksaft the alignment goes away.To make it more clear at one position of the coupler the outdrive's shaft engages very smoothly to the coupler but when the coupler turns i have to push with some force to get the shaft into the coupler.I thought that the problem would be the used flywheel but when taking out and examining better at a machinery shop i find out that the coupler's bore is badly fitted into the rubber making thus the saft turning conically.I measure the deviation at the distance of the gimbal bearing is about 0.2 inches which in my opinion is excessive and will damage either the coupler itself or the gimbal bearing.I paid 220 euros for that new coupler and i'm afraid the dealer won't recognise the problem.Has anyone expirienced such a problem?

 

[Bondo]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

I paid 220 euros for that new coupler and i'm afraid the dealer won't recognise the problem.

Ayuh,... Boy that Suck$....

At almost a 1/4" askew,...
It should be pretty easy to prove your point with handtools at the parts counter, or on the owner's desk....

 

[Don S]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

Last summer I went thru 1 EDP (I think that was the manufacturer of the coupler) and 2 Sierra on the SAME 3.0L engine. The 2 Sierra both were off center, while the EDP was such close tolerance, you could align the engine with an alignment bar, but you couldn't put the shaft from the drive in it.
The good news is they took them back with no problem.
Just explain to them you could align the engine, but when you turned the engine 180? it was way off. They will understand.
I have also received bad ones from both Mercruiser and Volvo.

PS: When I install engines, I bolt the engine down and check alignment before I ever hook up anything else on the engine. For that very reason.

 

[sarantis]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

Ok i'll try it ,i just wonder if i'm so unlucky or there was a wider fault at their production.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

Poor quality control on the makers part.

And it's a shame, cause it will make YOU crazy thinking YOU did something wrong.

Bring it back, get another one.

Quick one was changing a clutch on a car had that problem with 2 or 3 just was not fitting.

 

[sarantis]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

Thank both of you
Don S ,very important information !
Of course i didn't hook anything up on the engine and i've already have found a bearing and puting the flywheel with the coupler on it i can take a first indication.
Thanks again

 

[JustJason]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

Quick one was changing a clutch on a car had that problem with 2 or 3 just was not fitting.

Hah???? Had what problem?
No such thing as a coupler in a car.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

The clutch from the dealer, was supposed to be the right one. 2-3 of them didn't fit.

Keywords clutch, car.

You quoted it maybe you should have read it first.

No more fuzzy mind my friend, my mind is now clear as a bell.

Ha.

 

[Don S]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

We are talking boats here Chief, not necessary to briing up what happened to your car to prove a point, I had a freezer loose a brand new clutch that run the compressor back in 1970 , but didn't see a need to bring it up here.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

Now thats a different story, and of course correct, no more bringing up car parts thats oem that don't fit the car.

At the moment i thought the analogy would fit the circumstance. Ie: oem boat parts not fitting the boat. Same as you described earlier in the thread.

But call me on that what i actually posted, not something i didn't post.

 

[sarantis]

Re: problem with a brand new Sierra coupler for GM350

I went to the dealer,he was willing to replace it however the new one had exactly the same problem.I don't have the patience and the time to email to Sierra and complain about it.I'll try to fix the problem adjusting (bringing down) the one of the trhee sides of the coupler at a machinery shop hoping this will work.Raising 2mm the one and 1mm the other sides gives me perfect alignment of the female shaft into the rubber but the exhaust pipe doesn't permit this solution and in adition i think that this may affect the balance of the flywheel.I'll inform you about the results.