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Drive Shaft alignment: What did I do wrong?

Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27508
Printed Date: November-18-2024 at 7:27pm


Topic: Drive Shaft alignment: What did I do wrong?
Posted By: LilRichard
Subject: Drive Shaft alignment: What did I do wrong?
Date Posted: August-17-2012 at 11:33pm
So as you may know, I picked up a boat with a bent strut. I had the strut straightened. Although the shaft was straight, it was fairly worn - so I took everyone's guidance and went double taper.

So a few setup points:

- I have watched Brainard's video at least 6 times.

- I started with aligning the strut to position the shaft in the middle of the log. I had to shim the aft of the strut with two washers on both rear bolts to get it positioned properly.

- With the strut tight, and my father taking a little weight of the shaft (helping hold it toward the middle of the log from the trans side) the shaft turned very freely.

- When I pushed the two couplings together, they were like a glove. Couldn't get a .003" feeler in ANYWHERE. Shaft still turned with little effort

But when I tightened the bolts on the coupling, the shaft has more resistance - too much IMO. I'm going to start over again on the couplings tomorrow AM, but I feel a little confused because I followed the steps to a letter, and everything seemed like it was going VERY smoothly. Where did I go off course?

Last - does someone have quick link to directions on using the motor mounts to align the driveline? I just need to know the process (turn bolt left, motor goes up, etc). If not, I'll search when I get home from dinner... just wanted to get this up and get some eyes on it while I dine.

Thanks in advance...




Replies:
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-17-2012 at 11:51pm
Originally posted by LilRichard LilRichard wrote:

When I pushed the two couplings together, they were like a glove. Couldn't get a .003" feeler in ANYWHERE. Shaft still turned with little effort

You completely missed the idea of the .003" It's the DIFFERENCE of the space between the top to bottom and the port to starboard dimension between the coupling faces. Go back at it.

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Posted By: LilRichard
Date Posted: August-18-2012 at 12:54am
Got it. Duh.



Posted By: BuffaloBFN
Date Posted: August-18-2012 at 1:17am
Originally posted by LilRichard LilRichard wrote:

Last - does someone have quick link to directions on using the motor mounts to align the driveline? I just need to know the process (turn bolt left, motor goes up, etc). If not, I'll search when I get home from dinner... just wanted to get this up and get some eyes on it while I dine.


I haven't seen a write up like that. Look at how they work; they are all standard threads.

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Posted By: LilRichard
Date Posted: August-18-2012 at 1:20am
Originally posted by BuffaloBFN BuffaloBFN wrote:

Originally posted by LilRichard LilRichard wrote:

Last - does someone have quick link to directions on using the motor mounts to align the driveline? I just need to know the process (turn bolt left, motor goes up, etc). If not, I'll search when I get home from dinner... just wanted to get this up and get some eyes on it while I dine.


I haven't seen a write up like that. Look at how they work; they are all standard threads.


Sorry, wasn't inferring that's how they worked, I just have not ever adjusted inboard motor mounts before and was using that as an example...


Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-18-2012 at 10:01am
Originally posted by LilRichard LilRichard wrote:

Originally posted by BuffaloBFN BuffaloBFN wrote:

Originally posted by LilRichard LilRichard wrote:

Last - does someone have quick link to directions on using the motor mounts to align the driveline? I just need to know the process (turn bolt left, motor goes up, etc). If not, I'll search when I get home from dinner... just wanted to get this up and get some eyes on it while I dine.


I haven't seen a write up like that. Look at how they work; they are all standard threads.


Sorry, wasn't inferring that's how they worked, I just have not ever adjusted inboard motor mounts before and was using that as an example...

The principle is really pretty easy and the reason I don't feel you will find a "write up" However I do touch on the engine alignment towards the end of the video. The process can be tedious since what is done on one corner will affect other corners. Keep in mind that the tilting up down of the engine will affect the position of the output shaft so keep an eye on the shaft being centered in the log. You don't want to change that centering since the strut to log alignment has already been done.

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/diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow -

54 Atom

/diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique

64 X55 Dunphy

Keep it original, Pete
<


Posted By: LilRichard
Date Posted: August-18-2012 at 12:13pm
Ok, got the motor perfect vertically - how in the heck do you change lateral alignment? It may be easy, bu tI certainly can't figure it out...



Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: August-18-2012 at 12:31pm
To change lateral position, loosen the pinch bolts & use a prybar to push engine. Hint, mark the bars before you pry because it usually breaks free & moves more than you want. Yes, this is tedious!

To add to Pete's comment above reagrding .003 gap - One way to get very precise on this is to put in a .003 feeler as a 'set' (pinch the coupler halves together to hold it in); place this at the tightest location.    Then you can use a .004 or .005 feeler around the remaining circumference. That way you can dial it in even closer than .003.

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Posted By: LilRichard
Date Posted: August-18-2012 at 12:45pm
Originally posted by SNobsessed SNobsessed wrote:

To change lateral position, loosen the pinch bolts & use a prybar to push engine. Hint, mark the bars before you pry because it usually breaks free & moves more than you want. Yes, this is tedious!


Thanks for the quick reply! I actually figured it out just staring at it, and got it to .003 by some miracle. Now to tighten it all back down and re-assess.

Too bad it's now raining...


Posted By: LilRichard
Date Posted: August-19-2012 at 8:45pm
So took it out for a shakedown today and it turned out PERFECT. After pulling the boat out while the cutlass was still wet, I could spin the prop easily and it would keep spinning for a rotation or two.

Glad to have the information here needed to do it right, even if I am a numbskull on the first try!


Posted By: LilRichard
Date Posted: August-20-2012 at 6:18pm
One last question: I found it in a post here but want to verify: the packing I need for the stuffing box is 3/16", correct?

Gracias.



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