Starboard motor jumping around

[100dollarbill]

'96 Speedster. The right side of the starboard motor (717) is loose. I can lift it by hand. It looks like the part of the mount bolted to the hull doesn't move but the rubber bushing and center bolt do. Help... What do I need.
This is the mount at the rear of the motor.

 

[100dollarbill]

Ok, after a little more research I ordered 2 motor mounts from SBT. I guess I can change them without removing the motor. Anyone ever do that?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Many have. Officially you will need to "align" the engine. No mounts are made exactly the same. If you don't, you can cause damage to the wear ring, shaft splines, and or PTO.

 

[100dollarbill]

What does aligning the motor entail? I've read something about an alignment tool. Is it necessary?
If I only remove and replace 1 at a time without removing the motor, will I be ok?

 

[Coastiejoe]

You do need an alignment tool to do the job correctly. Changing one at a time means nothing in your case as you are getting new mounts. They will not be exactly like your mounts. A 1/16th inch on a mount means a pretty big difference back at the pump.

It will put a side load on the pump, engine PTO, and wear ring..

Here is a link where I rent an alignment tool, in post #1 I added a video of how to use the tool and align the motor.

 

[100dollarbill]

Yeah Joe, I saw your thread on the alignment tool and the SBT video. I'm also researching some more and found some DIY alignment tools.

Is measuring the thickness of the old and new mounts an option, being that the motor has not been removed? Would that be a "close enough" option?

I really want this stupid boat on the water.:banghead:

 

[hotrodssnova]

I used an old pump with the bearings still in it. I bolt it to the boat, and jam a 1\2 steel conduit into the pto. This sounds kind of hoaky, but the pump and shaft slide right in like butter.
Just pulled my pump Sunday and everything looked great from last season, except the rope I suckered up Saturday.

Here's the link
http://www.seadooforum.com/showthre...e-alignment-tool-DIY&highlight=pump+alignment

Page 2 near the end

 

[100dollarbill]

How cheap can you get an old pump? This is my first boat, I don't have a spare anything.

 

[hotrodssnova]

I got mine from a parts ski. Check Craigslist.

 

[100dollarbill]

Will do. Thanks.

 

[100dollarbill]

Back from vacation. Put the new mounts in. The new ones were a hair shorter than the old. I used a piece of galvanized sheet metal to make a couple shims to make them even. So far so good.
Fired it up and heard some clanking near the impeller. Turns out the shaft is bent and when we put the impeller back on after replacing the wear ring it wasn't on the shaft.

The shaft was scratching the impeller. It doesn't look like too much damage, it's not a deep gouge. Now on to ordering a new shaft.
Does it ever end???

 

[snikwad003]

Does it ever end???

No. Never.