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beyond the blue
 Post subject: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:22 pm 
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Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:35 am
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Location: Live Manchester England, Boat Aberystwyth, Wales, UK
Is it really necessary to do an engine alignment when only changing the drive and exhaust bellows on a SX drive? I've read conflicting stories!

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230 Mike
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:53 pm 
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Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 7:59 pm
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Location: Kansas City, Table Rock Lake
My feeling is, if you've never had it done you definitely should. Once done, it ought to be checked again every 2-3 years.

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firecadet613
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:48 pm 
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Location: Indiana
It takes seconds to do once you have the drive off. Might as well.

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LouC
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:05 pm 
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Location: Long Island NY
I'd say it's necessary to check it with the tool, that way you know if it's properly aligned and if not you have to find out why (sagging engine mounts, engine stringers starting to rot)..if it gets far enough out of alignment, it will ruin the coupler ($300) and that requires an engine pull at $100/hr to replace...
You can check it yourself with the tool ($80 or less) and if you're not sure about doing it yourself you can take it to a shop to get it done...I check mine each season and it's still the way it should be...

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jvthundercat
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:55 pm 
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Location: Kansas
Thumbs up on All of the responses. 8)

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scottmph
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:53 am 
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Location: Euless (TX)
LouC wrote:
I'd say it's necessary to check it with the tool, that way you know if it's properly aligned and if not you have to find out why (sagging engine mounts, engine stringers starting to rot)..if it gets far enough out of alignment, it will ruin the coupler ($300) and that requires an engine pull at $100/hr to replace...
You can check it yourself with the tool ($80 or less) and if you're not sure about doing it yourself you can take it to a shop to get it done...I check mine each season and it's still the way it should be...


Where do you get this tool? also approx how much should I expect to pay for a check out?

Thanks

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firecadet613
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:58 am 
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Location: Indiana
scottmph wrote:
Where do you get this tool?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercruis ... iesQ5fGear

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jvthundercat
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:29 pm 
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Location: Kansas
scottmph wrote:
Where do you get this tool? also approx how much should I expect to pay for a check out?

Thanks


For the older stuff, I had mine made with free plans online. Works like a charm. Most others you can find for the different one's.

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LouC
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:10 pm 
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Location: Long Island NY
as noted above, ebay, or Sierra Marine makes one that fits Merc, OMC and Volvo, thats the one I have and it works fine...it was a bit pricey at 80 or so but that's not even a full hr of labor at most shops here, I 've used it for 4 seasons already...more than paid for itself....

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ridepate
 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:07 pm 
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Alignment-tool on the way. Thanks guys!!
My mounts are sagging a little bit, and I know what that means........ :cry: After a explorotory stringer drilling forward and aft of the mounts, they are dry to a point, but the color went dark deep.......I'm confident she'll be fine this season, but next winter she's gonna have to learn how to strip...............

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