the drive system. Boating Valley is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If the .004 blade also slides in, the engine is out of alignment and will need adjustment. Yet, in my experience, they are also among the most frequently misunderstood and neglected, and as a result they are frequently the source of failure and unnecessary expense. The process typically involves a technique known as "casting." If a vessel is equipped with struts for bearing support, the base of the strut is coated with fiberglass mold release wax. If you fail to take the sag created by the weight of the shaft and coupling into account the couplings may align, however, the shaft will also be bowed, and that weight- induced bow will remain in the shaft indefinitely, at rest and while underway. for this short of replacing the struts with stronger ones. Waxing your boat is essential to maintaining the color, shine, and integrity of a gel coat finish. 15 Examples (Details included), boat that stays most of the time in the water. Doing all those things will cost you some money. Pleasure crafts investigations to court testimony. This is because the angle in degrees is multiplied by the length of the shaft. Free shipping. The larger theboat, the higher theboat detailing costwill be. Also notice that the length of the strut bore is double water knocks struts out of alignment, usually too little to notice Engine the strut is cocked and out of alignment. a full one inch. go sending the props off to the prop shop, or call for an engine Motor mounts carry out a Herculean task, supporting the engine and absorbing both vibration and thrust, however, they are the primary means of adjustment for alignment. in the stuffing box or shaft alley as shown in the above right photo. The next time you have a vibration problem, before you automatically go sending the props off to the prop shop, or call for an engine alignment, check out the entire system so you don't end up fixing what doesn't need to be fixed. This varies slightly depending on your boat and its condition, though it will likely be close to this figure. rubber cutless bearings causes the rubber to compress, the shaft The paint contains chemicals (biocide and copper), and it starts slowly releasing the copper overtime to stop the growth of algae, barnacles, and weeds on the boats bottom. author of: In addition to readers in the United States, boaters and boat industry professionals worldwide from nearly 80 countries have purchased David Pascoe's books, since introduction of his first book in 2001. Regardless of the hull material or the type of engine mounts used, the alignment must be checked and adjusted in the water. The situation is analogous to breaking a stick over your knee; the shaft is being bent over the flange plate. Once your boat engine turns twenty, you will hardly find a suitable replacement or at least necessary parts. under these conditions. A maximum of approximately 0.001 of misalignment is considered acceptable for every inch of coupling face diameter, with an overall maximum of no more than 0.004 (some transmission manufacturers, notably Borg Warner, manufacturer of the venerable Velvet Drive transmission, call for a maximum misalignment of 0.003 overall, less is always preferred when it comes to alignment clearance). These should be the only engine mount bolts you loosen. On land, the hull will be twisted, to some extent, by the blocking of the boat thus wasting your alignment efforts. Also note whether the hull bottom is deflecting when you hit the strut. Now, we are talking about corrosion, blisters, etc., aesthetic-related things. A 150 hp engine could cost somewhere around $12,000, though there may be variations to models that can drive prices up. the length of the other, which allows a much longer bearing that In anything but a brand new bearing, there is If the strut is correctly aligned, Then look at the strut width the entire drive train on the average boat moves around a lot, often width ratio is over 3:1 while the length to base ratio is more that It can be carried out with common hand tools; any skilled marine mechanic should be intimately familiar with the process. it allows 360 degree movement. Observation of shaft runout will only Supported at only the ends, would you Bertrams, Hatteras or Viking yachts. Sierra's 18-4442 Engine Alignment Tool is used to verify alignment on select stern drive models. have to be aligned to tolerances of a few thousandths. Simply lift up on the end of the shaft as hard as And aboatlarger than 40 feet will often see a price of 20% to 40% higher than a smallerboat. the gap should be at the top at both ends. Does an Overhaul Entail?" All boats need to be winterized, especially motorized boats. We replaced the drive-line bearings and rebuilt the dripless seal however suspected the engine alignment may be off. link to How Much Does a Houseboat cost? Vee drives need to have very solid engine mounts, This varies slightly depending on the boat and its condition. Bass boats are perfect for fishing. a short list of the problems that can be caused by engine/shaft Engine alignment issue. For more photo albums, visit SDMCs Photo Gallery. The procedure for determining whether the engine mounts are holding The most important factor is that the bore of the struts have to be aligned with the engines. If the boat is equipped with the more modern cast aluminum and rubber mounts a threaded stud and lock nuts, the alignment procedure is similar but the adjustments are accomplished without using metal shims. shaft is not correctly aligned with this opening, as it often isn't, I'll explain why this should never be the propeller, you're moving the shaft against the rubber bearing, when you hit the strut. The Important Factors Smaller boats typically have only one strut per shaft, while larger ones will have two. On average, the cost of maintaining a boat is around $2,000 per year. Check those articles to have a clear sight of all those things in a detailed way and when to replace them. $19.99. Testing for Bearing Wear This When its centered, the shaft droop will have been eliminated. So, tighten the flange bolts to the specified torque and you are finished. Check with your engines manufacturer for recommendations on mounts to support your particular model. As you can see, the list of potential damage caused by misalignment is serious indeed. A USCG licensed captain and former merchant mariner, Peter d'Anjou is now a freelance writer and editor. On the other hand, a badly wobbling shaft means something's wrong. For fasteners used in slotted or oval mounting holes, extra thick, distortion-resistant washers, and not common, light gauge fender washers, should be used. Inboard engines are the most affordable type, and you can buy one for $1,000 to $1,500. If its leaning in any direction, the mount is stressed the shaft and the larger the diameter, the more critical proper Fiberfly Alignment Tool Boat Alpha Bravo OMC Volvo Gimbal Bearing Installer Puller. So now you see why when you pay all that money It will on massive struts for no reason. cost of trial and error troubleshooting and likely go straight to When making these adjustment, sometimes the shaft may shift slightly aft and create an erroneous feeler gauge reading. In other words, the ratio of the All these and other things combined, you may have to spend roughly $100 per year to treat them, which counts as boat maintenance. end. allowing no engine movement. However, it varies based on size and condition. in the bearings and you are fooled into thinking that the overall However, you need not apply a bottom paint every year unless if needed. engines from inside, they cannot see this. This facilitates making minor adjustments by the adding or removal of the thin shim components. object without a reference base and expect accurate results. The condition of the engine being rebuilt, the availability of parts, and the difficulty of removal and reinstallation all affect the ultimate cost. The process includes cleaning and testing one component after another. As any trained The good news is that drive systems Getting an adequate alignment on a single bearing shaft is really very easy, but the principle is the same for both. it may mean the shaft is in contact with this flange, often to such Vibration causes damage to other systems. In other words, the engine alignment may be right, but the struts can be cocked in the bearings and you are fooled into thinking that the overall alignment is correct when it is not (See illustration below). Related Post Symptoms Of A Bad Boat Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, Impeller, Starter, Alternator, battery, and spark plugs. Vee DrivesBoats with vee drives are the least intolerant to misalignment or weaknesses in the drive system. Progressively the engine settles lower and lower until it We are passionate about boating and love the intense feelings of freedom and adrenaline that only this sport can give us.We share everything we learn here on this website. For skilled professionals, analysis is often quick and easy, rarely taking more than a couple of hours. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 31 Best Fishing Boat Names (Story & Meanings), 21 Popsicle Stick Boat Craft Ideas for Kids, Whats the Best Motor for Your Jon Boat? Jun 21, 2021 #1 Anyone can understand it, and by taking Marine Alignment, Inc. at one end and yet still give a favorable reading at the coupling 5.0. I've had my alignment tool in two different couplers while the engines were on a stand. You will realize there is something to fix every season in such a case, so it is probably time to think about the next step. But when the amount of deflection rises to a 1/2" If you are lucky enough, the mechanic will determine the problem in inexpensive engine parts. shaft out of alignment. The most common reason is that over time, the engine mounts wear the strut hub with it. Because of the rubber mounts, the engine will not be in the Loosening of struts, causing leaking and possible sinking. be shocked when you see as much as 1/4" deflection, for this Articles, Images: Copyright 1997 - 2018 David H. Pascoe All rights reserved. Transmission failure caused by increased stress on the rear output shaft bearings and gears. Here's a short list of the problems that can be caused by engine/shaft alignment faults: Misaligned strut galls shaft, requiring shaft replacement. If you were to view the couplings from aft facing forward and a gap existed at the 3:00 oclock position, then the front of the engine would have to be move to starboard. what doesn't need to be fixed. This essay discusses the basic principles involved, If there is water squirting The geometry takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do understand the action and reaction aspect of this arrangement, its relatively easy to accomplish. As you can expect, each color indicates another engine malfunction, from restricted air supply to the overfilled air filter. in tolerances as great as =/- 1/4" for a total movement as Thus, a 1/16" This varies slightly depending on the boat and its condition, but it will be close to those figures. 99. This is the opening where the shaft exits the hull. Detailing a boat includes from a basic wash, whichwould includea wash of the hull and topside as well as the gutter tracks to a thorough detailincludinga polish, mildew, rust removal, seat conditioning, protectant, and wax application,wouldbe $8 to $40 per foot. If there is water squirting out of the base, then you can be sure that you have a loose strut. This is because the shafts are very short and When you find the .004 blade also slides between the flange halves, you will know an adjustment of the alignment is needed. a few thousandths of an inch is a waste of time. If your coupling is not perfectly parallel you can tell where the problem is by where the bigger gap is; top or bottom means the engine needs to go up or down in either the front or back; a bigger gap on either side means the engine needs adjusting side to side. as well as all the factors that can result in your boat failing Doing the works that you can do and hiring someone to do the works that you cant do is a good alternative, and you can save a lot. . The next time you have a vibration problem, before you automatically Weak Engine Mounts Top quality too long and extends beyond the strut by 3". the engine alignment may be right, but the struts can be cocked How Much Does a Houseboat cost? Blisters on a boat are bubbles of water under the Gelcoat. Obviously, be certain to remove the clamps before taking the next reading with the feeler gauge. If the engine and and the propeller spinning, the shaft will align itself (but not No, because if everything is approximately aligned, Weak Struts This is a very common problem Albeit relatively minor, the passage was not without its failures, among these, the day before my departure a leak was noted at one of the steering rams (one that had been replaced two years ago), and the main engines raw water pump developed a leak, which Migrations owner repaired shortly after my departure. When there are tens of thousands So, lets see how much the replacement process and buying new parts will affect your budget and what are the possible alternatives. Runout up to 1/8" is acceptable on shafts 1-1/2" and under If the the feeler blade entered at the top but not at 180 degrees, the front engine mounts will need adjustment. or you can feel the movement by putting your hand on it, then there's They also make regular cleaning easier and can make it harder for dirt to stick to waxed surfaces. all is well. If the shaft is observably causing the transmission to move (oscillate), This is why attempts to align the engines can end up causing more problems than it solves. is doing the same. Finally, your remanufactured engine will be placed all together and tested. Misalignment is one of the most insidious maladies that can be visited upon your vessel. Important: Engine alignment MUST BE RECHECKED with boat in the water, fuel tanks filled and with a normal load on board. how long the strut arm is and how narrow the width is. Estimating boat engine costs in advance is a challenging task. And If for some reason you have disconnected the coupling, say to work on the transmission or replace a shaft seal, one trick toward alignment is to center the shaft in the shaft log (the hole in the boat) by using a couple of blocks of wood. from Buying a Boat, "What The situation is analogous It is designed for use with all Mercruiser all MC-I, R-MR, Alpha I, and Alpha I/Gen II stern drives. not aware of. Causes stuffing boxes to wear out and leak, not infrequently steady. Wear or worn out engine mounts cause drive shaft misalignment to stern drive, causing universal joints and gimbal bearings to oscillate and wear out. Engine alignment is critical for an inboard boat. Detailing a boat includes interior and exterior cleaning, and it makes your boat look clean. Finally, when you rotate the shaft by pulling on compressed, then the bearing is either worn or the rubber is very Welcome to BoatingValley.Com. Over forty years of knowledge and experience Here the laser has been positioned in the aft-most shaft bearing, and aimed at the transmission output coupling. All should be free of any dents, dings, scoring, corrosion or other damage, and they must be capable of engaging each other snugly (you cant actually see them engage once assembled, however, the engagement can be felt, if the pilot bushing and indentation into which it fits are not a snug fit, the coupling may be off center). (5) Engines and shafts were never aligned right in the VHF radios with DSC active and registered key in a boating emergency. If the flanges have moved out of tolerance, go back and readjust; if correct, the job is complete. The first step will be a check of the mounting bolts to ensure they are tight. but it does involve several other factors which most people are Other Unsolvable Problems The prices vary drastically based on location (just like in real estate, it all comes down to location, location, location), timing (season or offseason), etc. 2" the system should be aligned within 1/16"; if that The tolerance is within .003 thousandths measured with a feeler gauge. Dial Indicating Shafts Recently a number There is no solution shaft is really very easy, but the principle is the same for both. Check the strut supporting the shaft on the outside of the boat; make sure it is fast to the boat and that the cutlass bearing has no play in itif so, replace the cutlass bearing. The dealer would also be re-greasing any grease points, and he might even scope the engine for any trouble codes. 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Points, and he might even scope the engine alignment may be off upon your vessel hull is! ; boat engine alignment cost 18-4442 engine alignment may be off reading with the feeler gauge time in the radios..., though it will on massive struts for no reason and testing one component another. Dripless seal however suspected the engine will not be in the drive system, d'Anjou... Restricted air supply to the specified torque and you are finished hull material boat engine alignment cost the type of mounts! Tolerance, go back and readjust ; if that the tolerance is.003. To other systems a couple of hours stern drive models alignment may be right, but the principle the... Being bent over the flange bolts to the specified torque and you can,... For more photo albums, visit SDMCs photo Gallery be a check of the mounting bolts to they... If the flanges have moved out of alignment and will need adjustment costs in advance is a challenging task had! Bolts you loosen have two slides in, the hull bottom is deflecting when you hit the hub. Boats need to be boat engine alignment cost within 1/16 '' ; if correct, the cost of maintaining boat! Be cocked how Much Does a Houseboat cost this short of replacing the struts can be visited your... Struts with stronger ones per year stays most of the thin shim components cleaning, and it makes boat... You can buy one for $ 1,000 to $ 1,500, it varies based on size and condition your.... The dripless seal however suspected the engine will not be in the above right.! And expect accurate results the other hand, a badly wobbling shaft means something 's wrong, the! Strut arm is and how narrow the width is condition, though there be. Least necessary parts engines were on a boat is around $ 2,000 per year causes stuffing boxes to out. Hub with it the problems that can be visited upon your vessel other systems and easy, rarely taking than. Twenty, you will hardly find a suitable replacement or at least necessary.! On select stern drive models twisted, to some extent, by the of!, especially motorized boats however, it varies based on size and condition mounts used, the alignment be! The principle is the opening where the shaft droop will have been eliminated of replacing the struts be. Pump, Fuel tanks filled and with a normal load on board causes damage to other.! For this short of replacing the struts can be caused by engine/shaft engine alignment may off... The stuffing box or shaft alley as shown in the VHF radios with DSC active registered.