Engine In, Good New & Bad News

Rick K

Rick K

Member
Aug 4, 2010
398
Niagara River, Tonawanda, NY
Boat Info
'81 SR245 - '87 Antigua
Engines
260 Merc
Well, finally got my engine in, that took a whopping 30 minuets. Good news is that everything's going back together nicely. The bad news is, the engine is out of alignment.

I'm wondering if someone can give me a bit of guidance as to how this could be, as I didn't disturb anything when I pulled the engine last fall.

My alignment tool goes right in, but of course won't bottom out into the coupler. Never had this happen before.

How do you tell what direction you have to make the engine go to get proper alignment? I can feel the see the alignment tool at the coupler from inside the boat, and I can feel that it's "right there".

Any words of encouragement are definately appreciated!
 
Rick,

Best of luck buddy... you'll get it and I'm sure someone here will have a great answer that will get you squared away in no time... happy boating 2012 man!
 
Rick K said:
Well, finally got my engine in, that took a whopping 30 minuets. Good news is that everything's going back together nicely. The bad news is, the engine is out of alignment.

I'm wondering if someone can give me a bit of guidance as to how this could be, as I didn't disturb anything when I pulled the engine last fall.

My alignment tool goes right in, but of course won't bottom out into the coupler. Never had this happen before.

How do you tell what direction you have to make the engine go to get proper alignment? I can feel the see the alignment tool at the coupler from inside the boat, and I can feel that it's "right there".

Any words of encouragement are definately appreciated!
Click to expand...


Did you also replace the gimbal bearing?
If so it may the culprit.
Try a shared shop trick I learned - insert the alignment tool and bump it side to side top to bottom with your hand or a small rubber mallet.
This frees up the center of the bearing. Then re-check and adjust alignment.
In my case: (engines re-installed, 2 new drives w/ replaced gimbal bearings) after alignment one outdrive went in perfectly and the other would not slide in the last inch. Struggled for hours then called a buddy who's been working boats for 30 years - performed that simple trick and solved the problem.

General alignment rule:
If spline is more visible in grease on the top of the alignment tool than the bottom - lower the engine.
If spline is more visible in grease on the bottom of the alignment tool than the top - raise the engine.


Hope this helps :huh:
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies guys. Gimbal Bearing/Boots and all that were newly installed in 2010 just before I bought the boat. I also think the coupler's new as well; I'll have to check all the service records.

I'll give it a wack though and see what happens. As of right now, the tool's sticking into the coupler, but not getting into the splines.

I've also heard of getting the drive shaft started into the coupler, then bumping the engine over a few times to get it to seat. Not something I'm comfortable with...

I'll get this sooner or later. I tend to get all nerved up when something's unfamiliar and I can't fix it on my own right away.

Thanks again guys...
 
Make sure it's perfect or it won't last long.....most engines settle front down a bit. Mine had dropped a bit and broke the coupler in the CV-23. We had to raise the front mounts an inch or two, Mike.
 
Know what I learned today guys? That if you take a bravo drive alignment tool, and use it as an Alpha alignment tool, it won't work. Just had 40,000 tons of worry lifted off my shoulders.

Please, everyone get in line, I humbly await your ridicule. But not without explanation... The tool I have has Alpha on one side, and Bravo on the the other. Guess I had the wrong side. Have spline marks perfect, all around the end of the tool. I will of course retest this 100 more times before throwing the drive on..

Does the board have a "Dumb*ss of the year award"? I'm certainly in line to get it.
 
Well, Rick, Not sure if you win the award hands down but it takes a good man to admit he's wrong...

Glad that you got it figured out...

Oh and thanks for the laugh...:smt043
 
We've all been there at one time or another - glad the problem was easily solved. :grin:
 
Thanks guys... The Admiral let me have it, bad. Of course, she was out there with me all day yesterday as I was losing my mind and having tantrums (and she even asked if I was using the right end). I couldn't throw the tool across the shop, because it wasn't mine, so there was a lot of swearing, etc. It's almost as bad as throwing a fit when your air hose won't click into your air ratchet.

And then you look down and see that you're trying to plug it into the socket...:smt013
 
Rick K said:
Does the board have a "Dumb*ss of the year award"? I'm certainly in line to get it.
Click to expand...

No, but you should start one, that would be fun to keep up with!

Trust me, you won't win with something like that, the competition is just too strong. Heck, just last week I spent two days (on and off working at it) trying to figure out what size two nuts in my lower unit were, only to figure out that I was using an impact socket and only needed to use a thin walled socket to get to the nut with a 5/8. I felt like a complete idiot.
 
Dumbness strikes again. I'm gonna win that award come hell or high water!

Tightening down the front engine mounts, when the wrench slips off the nut, and my hand SLAMS against the alternator. I have not found the wrench, and need to replace it. And since I didn't have that wrench in my hand, the alternator thanked me for not pummeling it to death. I did verbally abuse it however. Badly.

Snap on will want a LOT of money for that 1-1/8" wrench.

Admiral seems to think I need an anger management class. What she doesn't understand, is that NO amount of ANYTHING management will fix the crap you gotta go through when yer down in the bilge... :grin::grin::grin:
 
I feel your pain. When I was changing out my manifolds I cursed so bad I made my military neighbor blush. He said he never heard such words strung together for 5 minutes like I did. Sitting in the ER for a couple hours doesn't help. I think I need an anger management class too!
 
Bucit said:
I feel your pain. When I was changing out my manifolds I cursed so bad I made my military neighbor blush. He said he never heard such words strung together for 5 minutes like I did. Sitting in the ER for a couple hours doesn't help. I think I need an anger management class too!
Click to expand...

Wow... ha ha ha :smt043
 
[QUOTE. I think I need an anger management class too![/QUOTE]

They don't help... trust me :thumbsup:
 
You know that anything with an engine needs profanity screamed at it regularly to ensure reliability...it's a scientific fact.
 
270win said:
You know that anything with an engine needs profanity screamed at it regularly to ensure reliability...it's a scientific fact.
Click to expand...

It is. In fact, I think somewhere in the Merc Manual, there's a section on it. Or at least a service bulletin was put out at one time. I think it's like every 50 hours of operation you have to verbally abuse something back there...

And it's absolutely amazing what you can do with the English language if you inject enough pain into the equation!

Stay tuned, I'm installing the drive tonite. This one ought to be fun... I swear to God if I smack my head on that swim platform...
 
Rick K said:
Stay tuned, I'm installing the drive tonite. This one ought to be fun... I swear to God if I smack my head on that swim platform...
Click to expand...

I found that having a healthy dose of cold brews on hand really helps!
 
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