How can the alignment change? These are offshore mounts that have no adjustment to them.

We got it back on last night but really had to fight with it. Onc it's on it comes off really easy again after you've run the boat a bit. It's just the last 1" that has trouble - up until that point it goes in easy. Thanks for all the responses.

So Ill see you next weekend then ??

Here's something silly but get yourself an alignment tool. Sometimes the gimbal bearing is off slightly and will cause this to happen.

An easy way to check the alignment is to wipe some grease on the end of the alignment tool, stick it in (don't turn it), pull it out and check to be sure the spline marks are even around the tool.

If the marks are more pronounced on any one side, you know which way you need to adjust the alignment. the tool should slide in and out easily with on hand.

If you don't check the alignment and it's off, you may find yourself replacing engine couplers on a regular basis.

Thanks for the tip - next time I have the drive off I'll try that.

One other item to check... when doing alignment, put the tool in and look for poor alignment. Now before you adjust anything, bump the motor over 180* and see if the alignment error changes to the other side. I chased a bent coupler for several hours one time. Found out the couple was bad. I borrowed a good coupler, aligned the motor and then put the bad couple back on. Ran it for years that way with no problems.. but it was offshore motor mounts..
Now when I do alignment, I always rotate the motor to check that..

Dick

You can lead them to water, but you can't force 'em to drink. Sigh.

I think you've been hanging out with JC too much, greasing your tool