Engine alignment issue
 

Hey all! I am relatively new to boating, unfortunately I got into a project right away. I am having issues aligning my engine. The motor is a 1990 454 mag/bravo 1. Earlier this season I took out the engine coupler. While the engine was out I replaced the transom assembly with a brand new one. The new transom plate has a rubber bushing that the engine sits on, where the old one did not. My question is what washers should I be using between the transom plate and engine?

The old plate had no rubber bushing and used a woven washer and a double wound lock washer. Seems to me that the new rubber bushing would replace the woven washer. When I look at the parts fiche for the newest style transom plate, it seems as though there is still the woven washer and a stainless steel washer rather than the lock washer.

The issue im having now is when I torque the rear mounting bolts the coupler is way too low and the alignment bar will not even go into the coupler.

any help would be appreciated. Cheers,

Need to replace the bushings in the bellhousing with the newer style, or remove the piece that snaps onto the inner transom plate and use your old washer and spring.

is that rubber bushing on the inner transom plate easily removed? I could lift the back of the engine slightly. Everything on the engine is already tied back in so doing the bushings in the bell housing is a last resort

when did they start putting a rubber bushing on top of the inner transom plate

I'm not sure if bushing is the right word. However after looking into things it appears to be an update from 2004. Merc changed the motor mounts in the bell housing to ridged mounts rather than the older smooth style. By doing so they got rid of the lock washer and went to a stainless washer and the rubber on the inner transom plate.

The typical setup

correct but you still use the fiber washer, I went to the new style when I was building my engines, as JD stated if didnt change to the new bellhousing mounts you need to to use the coil spring instead of the flat washer.

Before you get tooooo carried away. Make sure the gimbal bearing is aligned first.

Are you using an alignment tool? You need to pivot the bearing to make sure its lined up also.

Maybe you did already,,,,, just dont want you chasing your tail for no reason.

^^^ very good point
Also, best way to align a new motor, barely snug the rear motor mount bolts. Make sure boat is level, do this by placing a 4 foot level on the deck or swim platform.

Pick the front of the motor up by the thermostat housing just enough so there is space between motor mounts and lower nuts. Raise nuts so they just touch the bottom of the motor mount with fingers. Now set the motor down on front mounts. This is flat and level position. Now adjust up or down each motor mount nut the same amount of turns.

Slide alignment tool in, and smack the tool up/down/left/right with your hand a few times to make sure gimbal is in the center. Do this each time the tool is inserted after nuts are changed

You replaced the transom assembly. Inner and outer I assume. You did not replace the flywheel cover, which many people on here called the bellhousing. If you're using the old style flywheel cover you need to use the double wound lock washer. That's where the changes is in the flywheel cover and the double-wide washer. Inner transom assembly stayed the same from the old style to the new style.

Thanks for all the replies, as mentioned above I have set the bearing with the alignment bar. Since I am using the old style mounts, I will be going back to the double wound washer. From what I understand I have to remove the rubber pads from the new inner transom plate for this setup to align properly. Has anyone ever removed them? It was said earlier that they just snap in, is that the case? If not I could always take a dremmel to shave them down.

Still don't get the rubber bushing comment I'll just offer this: Installed new HP transom assembly two years ago and used old bell housing and removed nothing from the new and it aligned

there is nothing on the inner transom assy to remove, as alldodge said. just 2 aluminum ears the flywheel cover mounts, which have rubber bushings in them sit on. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercruiser-A...%257Ciid%253A1

this ebay pic shows the mount that sits on the double spring washer that sits on the ears in previous pic... MERCRUISER FLYWHEEL HOUSING REAR ENGINE MOUNT 12675 FRESHWATER | eBay get some weatherstrip adhesive. glue the fiber washer in place. have the rear mount bolts sticking thru holes in flywheel cover. drop straight down, making sure bolts go thru spring washer. Make sure the nuts are slipped into holders on bottom side of inner transom ears...

The old transom plate ears were just bare metal. Now the new one I have has a thin rubber pad on the ears. I will get a picture this weekend, I don't have access to the boat until then. Thanks again everyone for the replies.

Unless it is a permanent version of the fiber washers. Is there a big enough hole for the spring washer to fit inside the pad?

Im 99% sure thats what he is talking about

So I finally managed to get back to the boat I got a picture of the war on the new transom plate and the motor mount. Sorry it's a little hard to see. That rubber sandwiched between the motor mount and the ear is what I was referring to. The old plate does not have that rubber. What I plan to do tomorrow is lift the back of the motor and remove that piece of rubber and go with the conventional fabric washer and lock washer.

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picture doesnt work for me, is the rubber thing thicker than the fiber washer ?

I just purchased new inner transom plates recently and can confirm the new style come with permanent rubber washers so the woven/fabric ones are not required. They are the same thickness. Nice additions if you ask me. Don't have to worry about gluing or taping things down when the motor goes in...minus the spring washer lol. Doh'

I'm not a paying member but someone can retrieve this pic and post it...

https://i.imgur.com/V1eOUMj.png

the new style takes a shim washer that is approx .1 inch thickness. Smaller dia and lessthickness than the spring washer. Used in place of the spring washer. If Using THE Old Style FLYWHEEL Cover WITH Orig mounts, THE Added Height Of THE Double Spring WASHER IS Still needed. Is there room In the center of the glued-on rubber pad for the spring washer? If not, the rubber either has to go or new style mount must be used. I don't know why my phone capitalizes words at random.

yes the rubber bushing/washer whatever you want to call it will accept either the washer or the spring washer.

If you look at the link below the ID's are identical 0.9375. The latest diagram for the inner transom plate allows for both. Which means they are interchangeable.

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/30969/11210/50

So, karl is not spinning in his grave. His minions did something right in his absence...so, what would be preferrable for the OP to do with his old style flywheel cover? Replace the mounts with new style and use the flat shim washer? Or just install as-is with old style spring washer mounted right into the center of the new glued-on rubber fiber-replacement washer? Or fight the rubber off and install his orig fiber washers too?

And please, can we stop calling it a bell housing? The bell housing is shaped like a bell. It mounts to the gimball ring and the outdrive mounts to it. And it gets mistakenly called a helmet so we don't confuse it with the flywheel cover which is only a bell housing when it is in a car and has a clutch or torque converter inside it. Sorry for my rant. https://i.imgur.com/V1eOUMj.png

ok, above is moses' pic. looks like they slotted it to slide the spring or shim in from the front with the engine. good setup-I think. when you have a url to post. see the little block next to the smiley face with mountains in it? click that block. insert url in the line asking for it. then it automatically opens in the thread.

Doesnt really make sense to fight the rubber pad off. Risk more in damaging the plate then anything else. Don't see any advantage going to the fabric washer either...

Since the engine is in, throw the lock/spring washer in and be done with it.

My thoughts too. I wanted a clear answer for Spencer the OP.

Which part in the rear engine mount assy carries the loads, flywheel housing bushings or the rubber pad on the new transom supprts? And what is the purpose of teh washer in between?

What is the coupler runout clearance for a Mercruiser 7.4?