alignment question

1adamb said:

Okay, I have a 496 coupled to a Bravo 1 drive. I can see thru the gimbal straight into the coupler... looks like it's lined up. I even have a tool that goes right in...

This almost sounds too easy, is it harder than that? When I slide the tool in, there is a little play (where the tool goes thru the gimbal) and I can make it not align with the coupler (if you know what I mean). After all the problems I've had, I don't want to blow my new coupler too.

Any thoughts?

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I'm reading your tread and there is only one question that commes to my mind;

Do you have your gimball bearing in place ? I mean when you slide your tool into the coupler and your saying that you can make it not align, is it because your bearing is not in place?

Are you saying that the tool is in the coupler but the not centered in the gimbal?

The gimbal bearing "floats" a bit. If you are using the standard tool, it is thinner than the gimbal bearing. There will be some play. That's why I bought and prefer the Mercury ITS alignment tool. The outside part of the tool fits the gimbal and the inside fits the coupler.

When I bought my boat it came with a home made alignment tool. I thought this was fine because I could slide it in and out easily. It took me 3 couplers to figure out an alignment tool is precise and what I had was not. I bought the tool and never had another problem. It needs to be an official merc tool or one you have measured and know the dimensions are right to the .001". Eyeballing it is NFG.

Well, the gimbal is installed, but I can change the direction of it.

It wasn't as easy as I thought, the tool would wobble a little because it was only engaging the coupler the smallest little bit. Had to lower the front of the engine and raise the back. Tool finally all the way in, but the outdrive still went on a little rough.

May take it to a marina to double check it.

1adamb said:

Tool finally all the way in, but the outdrive still went on a little rough.

May take it to a marina to double check it.

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My OD is always a BIOTCH to get on or off, even though the tools says it's good.

Well, I ran it but not hard. Didn't hear any weird noises or anything. Will probably pull it again just to check, hate to blow my new coupler.

Super24 said:

My OD is always a BIOTCH to get on or off, even though the tools says it's good.

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Tie it to a tree, and put the truck in drive. Works every time.

When re-installing, take running start. Although, it is hard to get the teeth to align unless you've had at least 6 beers.

Sydwayz said:

Tie it to a tree, and put the truck in drive. Works every time.

When re-installing, take running start. Although, it is hard to get the teeth to align unless you've had at least 6 beers.

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Thats some funny chit right there.....


I think this person has the wrong alignment tool, or isn't getting it all the way in, try some viagra... :clown:

All kidding aside, I have had some difficulties over the years with 2 different boats with the alignment tools. I tore up a coupler in my 22 scarab (likely alignment related and I was skiing a lot with it), and with my 38 Scarab, one motor, I could never get the tool into, but the drive went in and came right back out really easily so I let it go and never had a problem. :chinese: