Engine alignment on a V-drive
 

Hi,

I wonder if engine alignment is made at the factory or at the dealership? I got a new repo boat from a bankrupt dealer, but not sure if it was done by the dealer it was from.

Now if i want to verify and fix this if needed, do you have any hints on doing that?

Alignment with the v-drive and shaft must be okay, that I know, but do you also need to get the alignment with the V-drive and transmission done too?

thanks

The alignment should have been done at the factory. But a service shop will tell you it needs to be done in the water not on the trailer.

The engine and tranny should be aligned to each other. The alignment comes in for the engine/tranny to the shaft. If the shaft is not aligned properly to the engine/tranny then you will notice vibration while under way and this will cause premature wear to the strut bearing.

If I am wrong, someone please correct me.

It's the first time i get on that kinda of boat. So even if it vibrates, there is no way for me to know if this is normal vibration or not.
The other problem I have, it that I have no dealer or service shop around the area. So i'm pretty much on my own.

So what would be the walktrough to get this align properly?

In my Indmar manual it gives you a specific fealer gauge size (very thin). It says you should not be able to slide a thicker gauge between the v-drive flage and the coulpler then whats recomended. Says if you are able to slide it between them then it is out of alignment. Look at this link page 7-8 this should help.

http://www.indmar.com/About/ContactI...94_2002web.pdf

Always have done it on the trailer. See no reason why it has to be in the water. If anyone knows of one, please chime in.

should done on water
the boat sits in water, not on the trailer
the boat sits on bunks which support the hull
in water the boats hull is fully suporrted

it is done at factory, then the selling ordinal dealer needs to check it, its in the PDI (pre-Delivery-inspection)sheet
most do not do it because time is a major factor

V drives re tricky because where ever the bigger gap, you need to drop the opposition side of motor

PCM has the best right up on it

Thanks. now i know what and where to check.

How do you align the engine? I guess you undo the engine support bolts, and what?

I called my local mercruiser certified repair shop today and asked about this "on the water" engine alignment and the owner told me that he knows of no dealer or certified shop or even manufacturer that does engine alignment on the water. He even joked that if that was the case, engine alignments would never get done.

most shops have no water around

i check packing also while im in there, even drip less

Doing it in the water is more concern for really large boats or hulls that are thin. The alignment is going to shift, even as you drive it on the lake, go over double ups, etc.

I you want to check that everything is aligned properly, it's true to say that the shaft will turn by hand?

How do you align the engine? With the engine support bolts?

Yes the engine mount bolts have lock nuts and a threaded bolt through the mount that will raise the engine up and dowm on either side to align.