Pull the drive and check the alignment. Sometimes a local boat dealer will loan you one with a deposit if you buy the oil from them or you can buy one cheap on-line. You need to do this and it's no big deal.

Well Im going to see if i can locate a tool locally in the Tampa Bay area...plan on putting the motor back in on Wed / Thurs of this week. Trying to get her all buttoned up for the up coming holiday weekend and I have just a couple available days to do it all.
Ill also do a search on "reading" the grease pattern on the alignment tool. Guess I need to find the gaskets for the Alpha drive to. I'll check with local repair shops to see about renting one..

Anyone know the Alpha Drive torque specs...would hate to over tighten the drive and cause damage to gelcoat / fiberglass. Aso after replacing outdirve gaskets, is it suggested to use any type of silicone sealant around the out edge of the drive / flat mounting surface / between drive and fiberglass?

Trim rams and 6 nuts and the drive will slide off. Not the transom assy. No need to buy seals or worry about torque specs. Slide drive back on pins, disconnect shift cable, and pull drive off. One man Job and no fluid will not leak out.

Oh ok! gotcha....I found a local shop that rents the tool for $20.00....Would just buy one online but I need it for tomorrow and or Thursday. What kind of grease is suggested for the coupler / drive? What else should I lubercate while its all apart and what kind of grease is recommended?
I appriciate all the advice guys... I come from the outboard scene & the inboard is new to me.
I will tackle all the little grimlins that raise their ugly heads with the help of guys like you giving solid advice...this is how we all learn! Thanks again!

Gimble bearing/ u-joint grease and also coupler grease. Buy from marina. Alphas require a gasket set. Pick that up too. It's cheap. Ask marina how to use the tool. It's easy but hard to understand if never done it before. I'd also recommend a manual.

It's real easy to do. Mainly you want the tool to slide in and out easily. I use a real sticky blue wheel bearing grease on the splines.

And remember the gimbal bearing ROTATES. That kicked my azz the first time I did a boat until I had my "oh duh" moment. LOL

Yep! It also pivots. :)

Same thing happened to a buddy and myself when replacing the transom assembly in his boat. Never could get that aligned. Pulled motor twice, removed and reinstalled transom assembly. By accident, a little anger fit happened and the alignment tool got smacked real hard sideways, only to realize, that damn thing pivots too!

Now I is smarter. :lolhit:

exactly,,,,,more often then not ......the shaft pivots the gimbal bearing while you are removing the drive unless you have a drive stand or forklift and slide it straight back