On Sat, 22 Oct 2005 16:29:27 -0400, John Chaplain
wrote:


I pulled my outdrive to check the alignment.
(2002 Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive.)

I've never done this before but I'm a machininst and a half assed
mechanic, so I think I can handle it.

My first question is....in the picture you can see that it looks like
the shaft has taken some heat judging by the coloration of the shaft.

http://home.comcast.net/~johnchaplain/shaft1.jpg


Is this normal or is this due to overheating because of misalignment?

The alignment tool only goes in about a third of the way into the
coupling before it binds up. My second question is I'm wondering how
bad the alignement is if the tool goes in freely at least a third of
the way, it seems that that must be pretty close. Is that offalignment
bad enough to have overheated the shaft?

TIA,
John C.

Ignore the shaft coloring. The o rings are not heat distorted, are
they? The alignment tool binds because you need to jack the engine.
Go for it. Remember there is a preferred shaft grease.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

Ignore the shaft coloring. The o rings are not heat distorted, are
they? The alignment tool binds because you need to jack the engine.
Go for it. Remember there is a preferred shaft grease.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

No, the o-rings are fine. Thanks for the tip.

I'll adjust the engine height as soon as this crappy weather in the
Northeast lets up.

Thanks,
John C.

don't for get to grease the u joints
"John Chaplain" wrote in message
...

Ignore the shaft coloring. The o rings are not heat
distorted, are
they? The alignment tool binds because you need to jack
the engine.
Go for it. Remember there is a preferred shaft grease.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

No, the o-rings are fine. Thanks for the tip.

I'll adjust the engine height as soon as this crappy weather
in the
Northeast lets up.

Thanks,
John C.