Engine Alignment

jamfred

New Member
Mar 10, 2009
92
Denver, Colorado
Boat Info
220 DA Sundancer
Engines
5.7L Mercruiser w/ Alpha I
Does anyone know how to check and ajust the engine alignment on a 220DA? I am definitely a DIY kinda person and trying to get everything right on my new boat.
 
Get the shop manual for your engine. It has all of the necessary information. Can be found in one of the stickys.
 
you will need this...I bought it off EBAY for $50

dscf0003hc5.jpg


Remove the outdrive and slide it in through the bell housing, through the gimbal bearing, and into the engine coupler. Should go in nice and easy if alignment is good.
 
You did not say if you are experiencing problems, or just want to check it. If you can easily pull out your drive and reinstall it with no bind, you are probably ok as long as the splines on the shaft and coupler are not worn out. The splines on the coupler are generaly softer than the shaft so they wear first. Put a rag on the end of a dowel ( make sure it won't come off ) and reach in there and swab out the old grease off the coupler and shine a light in there to inspect the splines. They should have even wear and the tops should be flat, not pointed like saw teeth. But to be sure, like others have said, get a tool, slide it through the gimble bearing and into the coupler. It should go right in. Then turn your engine 180 degrees and do it again. It should go right in. Sometimes after an impact the coupler will get a wobble in it from the Whack it took and in will rotate "out of round" and a tool may go in when in one spot but not after the motor is turned to a different spot. If you moved your engine and need to re-align then purchasing or borrowing the tool is your only option. Good luck
 
you will need this...I bought it off EBAY for $50

dscf0003hc5.jpg


Remove the outdrive and slide it in through the bell housing, through the gimbal bearing, and into the engine coupler. Should go in nice and easy if alignment is good.

Do you have the specs on that thing? Sure seems like it would be easy to turn on a lathe...
 
I don't have the specs but have seen them on the internet somewhere...google it.
 
A little information is not always a good thing. Some advice here: I used to own a dealership in the 80's and am very familiar with the alignment issue. If you do not know how to use the alignment tool you can get into more problems than you know. If your engine is out of align and you continue to run it, you will spin the coupler, meaning you will have to pull the engine to replace the coupler. If you don't know what the proper "feel" of the alignment tool is you run the risk of mis-aligning the engine. Take my advice - I know some shop labor rater are high, but have a qualified MerCruiser mechanic check the alignment. Don't skimp on this.
 
Okay...rotate the engine in 90 degree increments. Apply a small amount of grease to the end of the bar. Insert it at each rotation and "read" the grease. The grease should be indented equally by the coupler splines on the tool at each 90. It should slide in with ease at each 90. There is plenty of info on the procedure readily available...it's not rocket science.
 
Do you have the specs on that thing? Sure seems like it would be easy to turn on a lathe...

It is easy. I had my cousin produce one for me last year based on the jpg attached. Worked like a charm - it should slide in easy and have equal contact all the way around.
 
Last edited:
Awesome! Thanks. Based on this drawing it appears that the tool is designed for both an Alpha and a Bravo. True?
 

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