engine alignment
 

Raypanic,

DON'T drive the tool in with a hammer, not good.
First double check to make sure that the bearing is seated properly. Then if it still needs to be adjusted I have found the easiest way is to attach a hoist to the front of the motor, remove the top nuts and lock washers from the mounts, start to take the weight off of the mounts with the hoist, straighten the lock tabs that hold the lower adjusting nuts in place, and then screw the lower adjusting nuts all the way down.
Now raise the motor just a little more being careful not to take it above the mounts, then try to slide the alignment tool in as you VERY SLOWLY lower the motor, until the tool slides in and botoms out with a "thunk"! You will know it. The tool should slide in and out fairly easy, if you lower to much the tool will be hard to move again. Once you are sure that you have it right, bring the lower adjusting nuts up to meet the flange, take the weight off of the hoist and double check, if it is still good replace the lock washer and nut, bend the lock tabs down on the lower nuts and you are done!
This is a very easy and quick way to adjust the motor mounts and it is also a lot easier on the threads than trying to raise the motor with the adjusting nuts.
Any questions please feel free to e-mail: [email protected]

Thanks!
 

Taking the weight off the mounts sounds like a good idea. I will have to rig up a hoist to the rafters or something. This is a twin installation and the other drive is aligned correctly, the tool slides in and slaps rite in up to the flange very easy. It seems to me that the engine builder put this engine in second because of the whipples and most likely short cutted the alignment procedure. Looks like my skinny friend will be getting a head rush :p

hi ray, take your tool and put it in the freezer for a while, just kidding :D i do what tom said except i use two bottle jacks under each side of the front of the engines, back the nuts off the mounts and slide the tool, read the grease and yell to jack pumper in the boat. when it looks good, tighten the nuts and try it one more time to make sure it didn't move.
Fran

Oh, and make sure to rotate the engine 180 degrees and try the alignment tool again. I have found some couplers that were not running true with the crankshaft.

To help identify where the front of the tool is first contacting, dust it with talcum power after wiping it clean with a rag. It also helps to mark the top of the tool with chalk or something.

Gently engage the tool with the hub then take it out and check it.
Assuming there is no problem with engine rear elevation, when the tool hits at the top first front of engine is high. When tool hits bottom first engine front is low.

As the adjustments improve the alignment, the marks will move further up the tool and be even all the way around it.

Doug Hess