Check Engine Alignment Mercruiser 1 Alpha - Remove Outdrive and Adjust Mounts

As part of my regular maintenance for my Mercruiser, the engine alignment must be checked. That means pulling the outdrive, checking alignment with the special alignment bar, adjusting the engine mounts if required, and reinstalling the outdrive. In my case, I haven't done this for a few years and needed to adjust the mounts a little to bring it into alignment.
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[@111000100101001]

Great detail on something that is usually talked about but not done or done improperly. We built a stout 4.3 for an older Searay and after replacing the engine the alignment tool slid in so easy that we thought something was wrong. We just got lucky and had perfect alignment :o

[@bitsofwisdom460]

Thank you. I think you're right that alignment is often neglected. Good that yours was so spot on.

[@mikebruegger8654]

Nice, I know when I changed the water pump impeller a few times, I actually learned a bit of French..... I had over 500 hours on mine and never knew to check that alignment. Also never had any problems with the Alpha 1 drive. Kinda miss the boat after watching you...... 😢

[@bitsofwisdom460]

As I note in the video, I don't check it as often as recommended because I really haven't had it move. I suspect that most boats stay in alignment. But, it is preventive maintenance, because if it does get out of alignment, the gimbal bearing and /or the coupler can be damaged and those can be expensive to replace - especially the coupler (engine pull).
I understand how you could miss your boat. I really do enjoy mine.

[@budsodalsky]

Thanks Dan. I once had to pay someone to replace the gimbel bearing, looks like you accidentally are showing us that too! Never knew that I should check alignment! Wow! Thanks a trillion! I have the EXACT alpha 1 that you have. I went to a boat show last month, the whole show only had 1 single inboard outboard - ALL other new boats were outboards. Dont get it. 🤔🤔 100's of them and all outboards - in TN

[@bitsofwisdom460]

You're welcome. Changing the gimbal bearing is a little more difficult, but similar. Needs a slide hammer to pull and a tool that drives on the outer race to install. I made a custom one from a piece of 4x4 post to change mine years ago.
On stern drive vs outboard, I think times and economic incentives change. For my first boat (1985), I wanted an outboard. My Dad had a 115 Merc inline 6 that really ran nice. I was looking along those lines. I ended up with a stern drive, because the economics were so good. From memory, boat (deep v runabout) was about 10k with a 140hp 4cyl Mercruiser, and about 15k with a 115 outboard. The stern drive boat had full instruments and was better appointed. I asked the dealer (owner) why the difference. He claimed that the automotive based engines were much cheaper (about $4500) and the outboard was more like 9k. Today, outboards have become more refined than the old 2 strokes and the 4 strokes don't need all the needle bearings. Then the stern drive engines are now not automotive in most cases. Mercury is making their own lower volume engines since GM discontinued most of the old cast iron block engines, plus the emission regulations are driving more cost I suspect the economics are more equal today. That plus the move toward pontoon boats with multiple big engines where stern drives are harder to integrate.

[@budsodalsky]

@@bitsofwisdom460 Depressing. Are you saying your boat and mine are antiques?

[@bitsofwisdom460]

@@budsodalsky Well, not necessarily. Mercury still builds quite a few stern drives, it just seems that the outboards are popular right now. I like the stern drives because the engine mass sits low in the boat and the back end of the boat is clean without the engine up in the air. I would buy another one.

[@budsodalsky]

@@bitsofwisdom460 MEE TOO! plus, I can work on chevy 4 cyl