Trouble aligning engine (350 sbc)
 

Okay, I have a question for you guys. I am trying to align the engine in my sleekcraft which has a 350 sbc and mercruiser 288. I have the engine alignment tool, but it only goes into the engine/crank about 1/4", then it hits the splines, in the TOP of the hole. I lowered the front engine mounts all the way down, which didn't help. Then I raised them all the way up, which still doesn't help.

So... what do I do? The rear mounts effectively "hang" on the gimbal support, so there is no adjustment in back, correct?

I am totally lost and this is hanging up my project. Any help would be appreciated!

No adjustment in the back of the motor. There is some play in the bearing if you take your alignment tool you can move it a little.

Fixx
 

make sure the gimbal bearing is aleigned with the splines or it can get wedged acting like the aleignment is out..

slide the tool in and take a plastic hammer and hit the tool up and down and side to side and see if it goes in any further..you may have to do it several times.

did you have the motor out?

X2

especially if it's a new gimbal bearing and the same motor mounts you've had, etc...

Also, if you've had the engine out, be sure the front mounts are the same as befoire and that the rear mounts were put back togegther correctly

Put the tool in thru the bearing, but not into the splines. Lift up on your end of the tool. (It'll seem not right, but the tool end will move a couple inches as the bearing pivots) That will pivot the bearing pointing downwards towards the splines. Keep doing this till the tool is centered with the beginning of the splines, then adjust the motor up/down till the tool slides in easily.

When adjusting the front motor mounts, read the grease marks on the tool.
Grease wiped off the top of the tool= lower the engine front.
Grease wiped off the bottom of the tool= raise the front

On the rear did you get the springs and fiber washer correct, if you did not, you will never get it to line up moving the front up or down.

I have no idea, I didn't put the engine in. Is there a way to check? As for the spring, what spring?

Also, what torque spec do the rear mounts get tightened to? I have TWO manuals, the official mercury ones and another one, and both of them refer to "table 4" for torque specs, but there is nothing referring to engine mounts.

Back mount ref is 40 ftlbs and in another place 35-40 ftlbs...I don't believe I have ever bothered to torque these...The bolt is being tightened against a collar from memory...
Look in your manual there is a "double wound washer" that is like a doubled up lock washer that is the spring...you might be able to see it or feel it. I'm with Jim maybe the fiber washer/springs are assembled wrong as most likely.
You may be able to see the coupler through the gimbal bearing with a strong flashlite and get an idea of what is wrong?

Lane

What purpose does the spring washer serve? Would a lockwasher suffice? What does the spacer do?

There's also a "newer" style rear mount that uses a knurled insert, and is somewhat different. Another possible issue is that if the old monts are shot, they will sag a long ways - to the point where new ones have to be pressed in before the engine will align properly. Sorry - can open, worms everywhere!

Has this engine been aligned with these nounts, etc... since the last time it was taken out? a little more info on the specdifics of what was done or not done since the last time it was aligned would be helpful in shedding light on the potential issues.

I don't really know. Engine was installed by PO. Stern drive not installed. I have an engine alingment tool right now, and I can only get it in about 1" or so, because the flare on the alingmnet tool hits the inside of the gimbal area. It goes through the gimbal bearing just fine, but there is a small flange inside of that, toward the engine. It hits there.

can you see/feel the back mount?

between the bellhousing and transom plate will be the fiber washer,,,, wont be able to see the sprging as its inside,,,, but if aligning the bearing doesnt help id go there next

Here is a link that shows the lock washer, its #8
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...ND+SHIFT+CABLE

How precise is the alignment? Will one or two turns of the front mounts in the wrong direction cause a bearing failure? I am pretty sure I'm close, I just don't know if it's "perfect".

If it's not close enough to get the alignment tool in, it's WAY off... you can smoke the coupler and or trash the bearing and seal in the drive upper... Sorry. I'm betting the po didn't put the rear mounts back together correctly... or that they're worn out and sagging.

is the alignment tool hitting the coupler high or low? Put grease on the end of it, push it in as far as you can, and then slide it out carefully and look at where the grease is disturbed...

When its perfect it will slide in easy and bottom out.

You will know when its perfect.

You will never get the drive on if its not.

No, the tool definitely goes in. About 1" or so.

That's just it. The alignment tool is hitting the top and bottom, and left and right. I think it is really close! Again, the tool I am borrowing is hitting the inside gimbal mount plate. The diameter of the last, largest section of the tool does not clear the inner gimbal mount area. It goes through the bearing, perfectly, but there is a lip on the inside gimbal area that is about 1mm smaller in diameter, and the largest area of the tool cannot pass that. It bottoms out on it.

cash, hope you get this resolved because I need my alignment tool back ASAP ;) ;). Hoping you can return it before June 1st.

Hey Jerry, are you saying that the gimbal bearing itself will pivot that much inside the housing? I am having alignment issues with mine. I could swear that the tool went in all the way easily before I tightened down all the mounts (I have offshore mounts in front), but now it stops at the coupler. It's possible that this noob never was pushing the tool all the way in. :eek:

Yes, but not in the housing itself. It pivots enough you can appear to be 1/2 off. The inside bearing race will pivot in relation to the outer race. I move the tool around till the tool is centered to the coupler, then while holding it in, I'll tap the end of the tool lightly in all 4 directions to center the bearing to te coupler, then adjust the front mounts till the tool enters fully by reading the grease marks

What order do the parts go in for the rear mount? I know the fiber washer and the double lock washer sit under the mount, but on top does the flat washer go on first followed by the bushing and the bolt, or does the bushing go in first with the washer and bolt on top of it?

Yep

whack it in with a hammer than smack all 4 sides of alignment bar,,,,,should slide in an out than....

Hmmm

Aw, come on Jerry, you're retracting your suggestion to just drill it out larger? ;)

Yeah, being nice. :D