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 Post subject: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:22 pm 
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Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:35 am
Posts: 359
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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 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:53 pm 
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230 Mike
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Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 7:59 pm
Posts: 5141
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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 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:48 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:45 pm
Posts: 2866
Location: Indiana
It takes seconds to do once you have the drive off. Might as well.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
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 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:05 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:26 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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 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:55 pm 
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Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 11:30 pm
Posts: 503
Location: Kansas
Thumbs up on All of the responses. 8)

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 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:53 am 
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Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:40 pm
Posts: 375
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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 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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 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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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!


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 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:10 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:26 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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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
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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


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 Post subject: Re: Engine alignment
PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:07 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:56 pm
Posts: 220
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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