Checking engine alignment

[toyotafreak]

Posted this to wakeworld too:

Speaking of routine maintenance, could someone please talk to engine alignment for me? I'm not talking "I hit a stump and things vibrate", just the normal (annual in the case of the Epics) checking of gaps between v-drive output and propshaft. Is it really required once a year, and do any of you do it? If I check it and it's out of spec, should I try to align myself or take it in?

[jordys skiboat]

when i check the alighment of my prop shaft after hitting a stump or re fitting the engine to the boat i fit the prop shaft coupling and slide it to the gearbox coupling and put one bolt in it to hold it there then rotate the shaft by hand slow and put a feeler guage between the couplings until you can rotate it around 360togrees and have no more than 0.001 '' if is out undo the engine and gearbox mounts and move them until you have the correct alighment if it still virabrates check the shaft and prop this proceger is the only way to alighn the engine to the prop shaft i dont check my alighment every year but i check to make sure my engine and gearbox mount bolts are tight

[cyclone]

Here is a link to some interesting info on the subject.

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/Alignment2.htm

There was an article floating around a couple of years ago that I'll try to find. It was ski boat specific.

[jordys skiboat]

it was an intresting read my engine is on solid engine mounts so a feeler gauge is perfect for the job i am a maintenance engineer by trade and a fair bit of my job is aligning water pumps to motors and gear boxes to motors etc etc and when we cant get hold of a lazer anigner we use a feeler gauge on the coupling this is only my opinion that a feeler guage can get your motor anigned to the shaft closer than any other tool except a lazer. i know a few boat mechnics and they use feeler gauges

[davidgree1]

I read the arcticle on engine alignment.  It stated the prop should not be more then one have of the prop shaft diameter aft of the strut.  My prop is 2-3 inches behind the strut.  It collects alot of weeds.  My friends Malibu is right at the strut.  
Has anyone else noticed this?  Could the engine be moved forward?

[jordys skiboat]

it should be on more than 1" away from the strut if it hangs out more there is to much radial load on the sharft  bearing and it wares out quicker the easyest way to fix is to shorten the prop shaft at the gearbox end.

[davidgree1]

How do you shorten the prop shaft at the gear box end?

[toyotafreak]

Think you'd have to buy a shorter prop shaft. Nothing special about ours, so they'd be offered in MANY different diameters and lengths.

[jordys skiboat]

your prop shaft is either 1'' or 1.1/2'' 316 stainless steel. you shorten the gearbox end because there is less machining there and at the prop shaft end there is a thread keyway and taper and at the gearbox end there is only 1 keyway to machine. so measure the shaft at the prop back to the strut and cut off what you need then take it to a machinist to recut the keyway to your gearbox coupling then refit it. i had the same problem when i brought my first skiboat it was the easest way to fix. it will be a wast of money to bye a new shaft if the one you have got is not worn out were the strut bearing rubs. but if you dont have a spare it may be a good idea

[davidgree1]

Do you think warranty would cover this as a manufacturing defect?
Does anyone else have this problem with there Toyota's?

[cyclone]

David,
This is a new one. Take pics with a digital cam if possible, we can push it to Toyota with pics from other boats if there is an issue.