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how to check coupler

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spiro_1us

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1989 mercruiser alpha one, does anyone know a way to check your coupler with out pulling the motor, i dont have a extra drive to try, i beleave its the original coupler, the guy i bought the boat from changed u joints last season and i changed gimbal bearing this season, hoping theres a way hate to pull motor for nothing
 
There are alot of benefits to pulling the motor. You get a chance to check the oil pan, the oil pan lip, and timing cover bottom.

You get to clean up what you can't see or touch and then paint everything you can't see while the motor is in the hole.

There are usually casting plugs hidden, maybe a problem can be resolved before it get along to far.

You get a chance to inspect the motor mount area and stringers.

What i'm trying to say in my own inept way is, maybe it's time for a motor pull.
 
ya, you are probably right, need to change oil pump, was hoping to do that stuff this winter, oil pump reads about 25 30 at idle and goes to about 42 with just a little more rpms, gotta get rid of that anoying vibration lol so is there a way to check the coupler or is 21 years old a good year to just change it, is it a common thing to change
 
There is no way to mechanically check it.

You can look thru the gimbal bearing with a light and view the female splines but that is about it.

If the boat is/was not abused and the alignment is good and most important, the outdrive has been serviced EVERY season and the drive shaft splines have been greased religously then there is no reason to suspect any issues......."typically"

Also nothing wrong with your oil pressure!!


If you were to pull your engine for what ever reason, then I would say replace it as a precautionary measure............One thing though, the coupler comes with a newer style drive shaft with one additional oring groove due to the coupler having a grease fitting as all the newer mercs use NON servicable ujoints thus no need to pull the outdrive to service them BUT yours has greasable ujoints so you would LEAVE your original shaft and service as normal every season........
 
Pull the OD and clean the coupler splines. The splines should be square cut. If they are rounded on the edges it's time to change it.
 
does it matter what way the gimbal bearing goes in, the guy who helped said no, and put it in so you can pop bearing out, he said machanics do it that way
 
I can just reach behind the engine with my hand and feel the coupler on my boat. I can see it really well with a mirror too.
disconnect the battery first
 
Make sure the outer 'keeper' of the gimbal bearing is lined up so that the hole in the bearing lines up with the grease port on the transom plate.
 
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