Engine Alignment Hunter 28

[Ron]

Need some advice. I own a 1993 Hunter 28. Engine mounts for the Yanmar 20GMF are the originals.Had a new cutlass bearing installed two winters ago. Still snug and looks fine.However I notice that the shaft is not centered at the through hull fitting when looking from underneath the boat. It looks low and to the port side of center.I've aligned the engine and the mounts are now at the full adjustment points to the port side. The best I can do is an adjustment with a .005 match at the alignment coupling.What's wrong? Do I need new engine mounts? There's still spacing around the tops and they're not compressed. Do I need to replace the packing joint? Is the fitting though the hull bad?I'd like to get the alignment inside of .003. However, I suspect something else is amiss and I just can't find it. Any help?

 

[Ed A]

Alignment.

the clearance arround the tube is not really controllable. The engine cant be moved with out changing the alignment with the cutlass and that is fixed and non adjustable. If the mount wont let you go where you need to the only options are to move the strut or move the engine mounts. If these are old mounts i would probably replace them anyway but that probably wont help your problem. It sounds like it is as close as it ever has been. If you dont have vibration or motion and the shaft is not draging on the tube i would not change it. the only other option is to cut out the tube and reset it. this is not a realistic chocie if your that close. You have not said which way you need to move it but there arent a lot of choices here. concidering that most boats never get aligned right anyway, you may be trying to get it too perfect. then again it cant be too good. check to see how true its running. turn the shaft and check to see if it is running true. also check to ensure the shaft is not bent.

 

[J. Tesoriero]

You may have to start at the strut....

You may have to start your alignment at the shaft strut. Begin with a new cutlass bearing and then re-align the strut so that the shaft is centered in the shaft log. Then you can move onto your motor mounts and engine alignment. It's a big job but may be necessary in the older Hunters.