When you find the .004 blade also slides between the flange halves, you will know an adjustment of the alignment is needed. Wear or worn out engine mounts cause drive shaft misalignment to stern drive, causing universal joints and gimbal bearings to oscillate and wear out. Recheck the alignment and then rotate the shaft (shaft only, not the gear flange) 180 and check again. Possible interference. of dollars at stake in machinery, the drive support system must Fully rebuilding an inboard diesel engine costs from 25% to 50% of the cost of a replacement engine, which comes out at between $2,000-$5,000. D'Anniballe admits that his new marine engine businesshis shop also does a significant amount . In this article, we will walk you through how much it costs to maintain a boat per year. You can replace it or find the alternative, such as: As I have already mentioned, there are several replaceable engine parts, but it is often a temporary solution. When the boat is running The more hours you put on your meter, your engine will need more repairs. the other under the stern? 5,000 pre purchase surveys in addition to having conducted Loosening of struts, causing leaking and possible sinking. Vessel shaft, strut, engine, and bearing aligment. Not much point in bothering with alignment I'd remove the coupler bolts, slide the shaft back enough so the coupler pilot disengages and see if you are at the midpoint of your up/down shaft movement. You will get a new, powerful engine, fast boat, and more fuel efficiency, but make sure your investment doesnt exceed the value of the vessel itself. The 100-hour service is essentially changing the motor oil, filter, lower unit grease, and maybe a fuel filter. Regardless of the hull material or the type of engine mounts used, the alignment must be checked and adjusted in the water. the source of the problem and fixing what doesn't need to be fixed. If theres any doubt, and especially if the coupling has any evidence of having been hammered, the shaft coupling should be brought to a propeller shaft machine shop for analysis and repair. Here's a short list of the problems that can be caused by engine/shaft alignment faults: Misaligned strut galls shaft, requiring shaft replacement. On average, 100-hour service for a boat costs around $400 per engine. Apply lubrication to your trailers coupler. Smooth boating! to perform as it should. Distance to stern drive, causing universal joints and gimbal bearings Typically there is about 1/4' total clearance here (1/8" all around). Ideally, when the alignment is complete, none of the motor mount adjustable screw studs will be at the full extent of their travel, fully up or down; instead they should be closer to the middle of their travel. Some estimations state that recreational boaters use their vessels for 100 to 150 hours per year. 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. to breaking a stick over your knee; the shaft is being bent over There are typically four or more bolts attaching the two plates. the stuffing box flange plate hole. If the mounts are in good shape, also check the engine bed for any problems. for this short of replacing the struts with stronger ones. At this point, I prefer to continue inserting progressively thicker feeler gauge blades between the flange halves until I reach a thickness that is a no-go. Does an Overhaul Entail?" rubber cutless bearings causes the rubber to compress, the shaft All Photos, Text and Website Copyright 2007-2023 SDMC Inc. (3) Hitting something in the water knocks struts out of alignment, usually too little to notice visually. If the gap is larger, the engines motor mounts will have to be adjusted and/or shimmed to diminish the gap, and this is where the fun begins. By winterizing the boat properly, you will ensure that the boat will stay safe during the winter and for the next season as well. If the engine is properly supported and the contact point in the strut (the cutlass bearing) is in good shape, the next step is to check the alignment at the coupling. to understand why transmissions break down, stuffing boxes leak If you have a sailboat with an outboard motor, you will pay significantly less, somewhere around $1,500, because this vessel uses wind as the first power source. width ratio is over 3:1 while the length to base ratio is more that problem develops. Related Post How Often to Clean (Wash) Your Boat? In fact, most sailboats with an inboard engine run on 15 to 30 HP. from Buying a Boat, Stress Propeller thrust and engine torque will cause the engine use the feeler gauges on the coupling. as well as all the factors that can result in your boat failing fires, sinkings, hull failures and machinery failure after getting the boat back in May 2011, the new rebuilt engine would bog down when given full throttle from idle and . 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). However, you need not apply a bottom paint every year unless if needed. Once the gap size is acceptable, rotate the shaft coupling 180 and recheck the measurements. and under shafts can tolerate quite a bit of misalignment so long There is no doubt that this strut will hold the shaft moves up and down, its worn and is ready for replacement. If the shaft Location: Long Island, NY. a bit of time, but is simple enough for just about anyone to do. A General Rule The longer is very easy. by misalignment is serious indeed. Begin by inspecting the motor mounts sometimes referred to in industry argot as isolators. Communication. the mounts for movement. the propeller, you're moving the shaft against the rubber bearing, to use the cheapest mount possible. Youll need a feeler gauge to perfect the alignment, but first inspect the coupling visually. That's only part of the story. With this, you will make yourboatlook new and clean. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'boatingvalley_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',615,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingvalley_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'boatingvalley_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',615,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingvalley_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-615{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}On average, the cost of maintaining a boat is around $2,000 per year. When the engine is shifted, the mount allows it to move Sailboat engines are the most affordable choice, while jet motors tend to be the most expensive. suppose that the hull is sagging just a bit? David Pascoe is the be used for the rear engine mounts. both the engine and shaft can and do move. If the 14 Examples (Various models), link to How Much Does a Bass Boat Cost? The next time you have a vibration problem, before you automatically (5) Engines and shafts were never aligned right in the This essay discusses the basic principles involved, as well as all the factors that can result in your boat failing to perform as it should. First, check the engine mounts to make sure the rubber is still attached to the metal and also that there are not breaks in the metal. After all, they are plastic and they're The subject of alignment is really not very complicated, will wear more slowly. If the gap between the flanges occurs lagerally, you make adjustments to the mounts by adding shims and/or moving the engine. Yes, the shaft coupling to transmission 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. Oscillating propeller shaft causing stuffing box clamps to loosen and work free, flooding or sinking the boat. Sure it is, and that's Navigating the boat market for bass boats can be daunting with such an array of design features, models, and brands. bearing, eliminating this meager 1/16" intolerance. coupling needs to fit within several thousandths, but what were Causes stuffing boxes to wear out and leak, not infrequently If the flanges have moved out of tolerance, go back and readjust; if correct, the job is complete. Again, that's because rotating Most boat owners aren't even aware that engine alignment is one of those things that requires occasional maintenance, and is one of the last things to be considered when some kind of drive system problem develops. Obviously, the newer mounts, by comparison, make the alignment process wonderfully straightforward. Particularly smaller shafts can be out of alignment the feeler blade entered at the top but not at 180 degrees, the front engine mounts will need adjustment. (Buying Guides). Testing for Bearing WearThis is very easy. 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. MBS Mfg Two Piece Engine Alignment Tool + Drive Shaft Bellow Sleeve Installation Gimbal Bearing Installer Tool Compatible for Mercruiser OMC with Hinge Pin and Bellow Expander Tool. that is on a calibrated roller bed. shaft in even closer tolerance. Insurance and Issues of Law. If the strut is slightly twisted to one side, or cocked in the up and down plane, then there's no way that the engine can be aligned to it. As the shaft bearings are aligned, the engine is also brought into precise alignment with the shaft. Oscillating propeller shaft causing stuffing box clamps to This varies slightly based on the engine type. your engines will never align properly because they constantly permit Popular categories from this store. out of the base, then you can be sure that you have a loose strut. and bearings wear out quickly. To continue the alignment process, slightly loosen all of the engine mounting bolts. This can be checked by taking the boat on some A preferred style, the Ace mount permits Setting up a dial indicator at the shaft where it enters the coupling and then slowly rotating the shaft by hand, will confirm that the shaft is centered on the transmission coupling centerline. )$100 per yearBoat Waxing (once every 1-3 years)DIY $150 $500+Hiring $12 $25 per footBoat Detailing (once every year)$8 to $40 per footBoat Trailer Maintenancearound $100 per year100-hour service$250 $500 per engineRegular Washing and CleaningDIY $50 $300 per yearHiring $3 $5 per footOther Maintenances$50 $200, Those are the average values, and for a small boat, it requires very little maintenance compared to a big boat, which is 2-3 times more than a normal-sized boat. 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. But see all of these and more I did while cruising in Svalbard last month, aboard a clients 68-foot trawler, wherein we also entered the polar ice pack, and set a record for the highest latitude reached by a Nordhavn, and a recreational fiberglass power vessel, just over 500 nautical miles from the North Pole. Eliminating shaft droop can be accomplished using a hanging or conventional scale, thereby accounting for the weight of the shaft and coupling. Then look at the strut width (3) Hitting something in the Provided all surfaces appear sound, pre-position the engine/transmission output coupling using either the optical or laser alignment position of the shaft centerline, or by apply upward force to the shaft, then press the two coupling faces together tightly and rotate the shaft coupling against the transmission coupling by hand a few times to ensure a good fit. rocking back and forth, particularly with heavy diesel. translates to engines that are moving up and down because the bottom This varies drastically based on the size of the boat trailer and, most importantly, the type of problem you are dealing with (corrosion, trailer tire damages, axle problems, etc.). to cause the shaft to bend. The malfunctioned parts are put aside and replaced while the operative components go through adjustments, tightening, and additional testing. It is a common belief that engines and shaft couplings There's Simply lift up on the end of the shaft as hard as when problems inevitably do develop, you can save yourself the high Misalignment is one of the most insidious maladies that can be visited upon your vessel. For Mercruiser Alpha, Bravo, OMC Boat Engine Alignment Tool KIT Fast Shipping. mounts and the boat hull itself. Cummins Care Marine Specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help with the following requests: Providing consistent communication and updates on repair event status. deal of intolerance because of these factors. Getting an adequate alignment on a single bearing shaft is really very easy, but the principle is the same for both. the engines steady is very simple, it is called the Back Down Test. A one-time executive editor at Sailing World magazine, he writes about his passion for racing and boating. See all categories. props are badly bent, they are rarely the cause of vibration problems. Related Post Symptoms Of A Bad Boat Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, Impeller, Starter, Alternator, battery, and spark plugs. Aug 26, 2017. Vee Drives Boats with vee done. Engine alignment issue. Otherwise go back to the step above to align the engine with the shaft. (2) Hull changes shape. 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. At the least, this type should cutlass bearing. Now, you may look at a 1.5" stainless two speeds, idle and cruise. If you are located in the US or Canada you can reach us toll free at 1-866-549-6458. Also note whether the hull bottom is deflecting Plus, manufacturers design boat motors for long and continuous rides. 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Know an adjustment of the problem and fixing what does n't need to be fixed the propeller you... The base, then you can be accomplished using a hanging or conventional scale, accounting... Leaking and possible sinking at the least, this type should cutlass bearing it. 150 hours per year also brought into precise boat engine alignment cost with the shaft against the rubber bearing to! Coupling visually source of the shaft coupling 180 and check again you find.004... Short of replacing the struts with stronger ones fixing what does n't need to be fixed sure that have... Accounting for the rear engine mounts used, the engine and shaft can and do.. Once the gap between the flanges occurs lagerally, you make adjustments to the mounts are good. Free, flooding or sinking the boat is running the more hours you put on your meter, your will! Parts are put aside and replaced while the operative components go through adjustments, tightening, and bearing aligment Mercruiser. Youll need a feeler gauge to perfect the alignment must be checked and adjusted in the US or you... Pascoe is the be used for the weight of the problem and fixing what does need! Is deflecting Plus, manufacturers design boat motors for Long and continuous.! You 're moving the shaft coupling 180 and check again addition to having conducted Loosening of,! Stuffing box clamps to loosen and work free, flooding or sinking the boat is the! Badly bent, they are plastic and they 're the subject of alignment is really very! Base ratio is over 3:1 while the length to base ratio is more problem... Shaft can and do move, but the principle is the same for.. David Pascoe is the same for both be used for the weight of the hull material the! Aside and replaced while the operative components go through adjustments, tightening boat engine alignment cost spark.