Many thanks again for this very important info!!

I am buying the tool tomorrow for sure.

They can not be taken apart.

Buy an alignment tool. There is no reason to not check it every time you have the outdrive off. I would hope you always check the gimbal bearing when you take an outdrive out.
Just put your fingers in it and roatate it, if its smooth its fine, then check the alignment.
If you are R & R the original engine chances are the alignment will be real close but might need a little adjusting.
Just make sure the tool slides in and bottoms out. Once you have done it you will know what we are talking about.

If you are installing a differnt engine in the boat, 99% you are going to have adjust it. Anyone who has done this will tell you sometimes it's easy and sometimes its hard. Up or down, left or right. Just take your time.
I had a special tool made that fits into the coupler and comes out thru the gimbal bearing. Then you have a starting point to see if you need to go up or down.

Hope that helps.

My outdrive was pulled a year ago and thins were replaced on it then so I don't think I am pulling it. Since I am putting the same motor back in the boat, do I need the alignment tool? I looked at the tool and am having trouble visualizing how it works. If you guys says its a must I will get it but it almost seemed that if I don't pull the outdrive I don't need it?

You pulled the engine without pulling the outdrive?

Yes I did. Unless my terminology is wrong, the outdrive is on the outside of the boat right? I had motor problems so I only pulled the motor.

Sean,

You really need to go invest in a Mercuriser Manual. This will give you helpfull hits and instructions.

I went back and read your first post. I hope who ever is rebuilding your engine has experience with marine engines,
there is alot of difference between auto and marine.

You will have to pull the outdrive off to put the engine back in.
You also will have to buy an alignment tool.

My best suggestion to you is when you put the engine back in make sure you have the fiber washer and spring on the bell housing on correctly or you will never get the engine aligned.
A manual will show you how they are positioned.

Start doing some searchs and read as much as you can.

Thanks for the help. The shop rebuilding my motor has alot of marine experience so I feel good there. I didn't realize I needed to take off the outdrive to install the motor but it now makes sense to make sure everything is aligned. I am a decent mechanic but my experience with boats is very limited. Thanx for the help, I knew it seemed to easy just to drop the motor back in.

Sean

[QUOTE=1BIGJIM;3345293]Sean,


You will have to pull the outdrive off to put the engine back in.
You also will have to buy an alignment tool.

/QUOTE]

Little confused by this one, why do you have to pull the drive? Now yes, you will need to do so to use the alignment tool, but you don't have to have the drive off to install the motor.

Replace the coupler anyway.

I've seen guys do this by unbolting the motor mounts from the stringers and sliding the engine forward. Seems difficult and you'll never get it aligned properly putting it back together.