www.iFourWinns.com

Thanks Mike

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Alexj



1995 Four Winns Horizon 190
OMC 5.0 RL

The alignment would not change, but you might have a little trouble getting the driveshaft through the gimble bearing because it can 'gimble' or swivel sligtly and the alignment tool will get the gimble bearing aligned with the coupler, so the driveshaft will slide right in. So in my opinion having the tool is a big help for re-installing the drive. If you pull yours off, be sure to check for water in the bellows, smoothness of the gimble and the condition of the ujoints. This should be done each season on an I/O, espcially one that is left in the water.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Checking the alignment is not important if it's NOT out of alignment.....(I don't know how you know that without checking)

If your engine mounts are a little "mushy" which can happen on older boats from water intrusion, your alignment may be a little "out".....the front mounts get a little lower and the front of the engine drops a little.....

If the alignment is not correct it can destroy your coupler........How fast that happens depends on how far out the alignment is.... You have to remove the engine to change the coupler.

Mercruiser advises checking the alignment every time the drive is removed. The actual process of checking it is very quick and easy (if you have the tool) once the drive is off.

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1987 Four Winns Liberator 211, formerly OMC 460 King Kobra powered, replaced in 2006 by a 1997 Mercruiser 454/Bravo III

Let's say you happen to have the tool that checks the alignment and you find out that your engine is out of alignment...

How difficult is it to perform the alignment, and how extensive is the process for the everyday, non-mechanically inclined boater who might be willing to tackle the task?

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2006, 220 Horizon
Kent, WA.
"Semper Fidelis"

I've heard it can be trickier than it sounds.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic