Engine Alignment Tips

Jeff Fay, owner of Fay’s Boat Yard on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee explains how to track down inboard engine vibrations so they don’t rattle your soul.
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[@moomin110]

Great video. My Shaft coupling doesn't have a centre Shaft and isn't nice and round. I've just installed new motor mounts and will not look forward to doing this 😂 The port side engine has limited access unfortunately

[@BoatingMagazine]

Yes, boats and access: Where is that left-handed, mechanically-capable spider monkey when we need him? :) Good luck!

[@moomin110]

He wrapped his knuckles off the alternator mounts and sacked it! 😅

[@tommay7735]

Thanks. Quick and informative description.

[@trevorolsen3412]

Followed these instructions 3 years ago. I am now replacing the output shaft seal. I recommend not lifting the shaft coupler up more than a frog hair to start the initial alignment. Velvet drive indicated there was poor shaft alignment and i was feeling .003 on the machined coupler. They were trued and mated couplers. All other advice in the video was primo!!

[@OHFORPEATSAKES]

not sure what feeler gauge you were using but certainly not .003

[@Ceviche956]

Thanks

[@robormiston2841]

Could a person put a peice of some sort of rubber between the coupler and transmission to lower small vibration? Or would the torque of the motor shred it. I'm thinking just like a piece of inner tube or something just not to have metal on metal or am I over thinking it lol. I'm putting a new strut brace on my sailboat and am getting ready to align everything. The strut was broken in half when I bought the boat so I'm starting from scratch. Lots of measuring. And a new beafier strut brace.

[@billsmith305]

I am not an expert, but had much experience and a mechanic and marine engineer, you require a bit more than :a bit of rubber," guess something like the old british hillman imp car,, rubber cv joint connections, or similar, you can do it, but think big

[@nukapetrussen4547]

Called a flex coupling look at bullflex from vetus

[@yogi799]

Hi Jeff, I have an I/O, Merc/Bravo 3. I thought engine alignment should be done every 3 yrs or so. I was just told something else. Mind you I NEVER hit anything... So I called this guy (some local service) and he seems to very honestly tell me I do not need to do alignment EVER unless I feel vibration. My engine/drive seem to be running butter smooth. He's basically asking me: why do you need alignment? What's wrong? So is he right? Maybe there is no point whatsoever in doing it?

[@JK360noscope]

It's like changing your transmission fluid

[@SkypowerwithKarl]

See Ron Tanis video on this subject.

[@pakistaniboatmakar]

nice video

[@blakehughes6144]

What size is that locking nut on the rear motor mount (attached to the transmission)

[@pakistaniboatmakar]

good

[@goodboyringo9716]

.003 - .005 but that gage you are using is a lot larger than that, ggg.

[@marcgg9760]

Is this supposed to be a how to video? Because it tells me absolutely nothing

[@ricky12811]

It said everything you need to do( simplify) with no bulls

[@kz4506]

So how do you know you have not lifted the shaft to rub on the stern tube

[@luigiliddiard9470]

That's what I wanna know

[@salvor1]

no comments? -I guess I'm deaf.

[@guyclifford4473]

Very vague explanation. No engineering or mathematical skills in this video. You should not be trying to teach people when you’re not an engineer

[@JK360noscope]

Whatever Guy