After my 1983 Catalina 30 with an Universal M25 splashes in next week and is rigged I intend to replace the engine mounts/rubber vibration eliminators myself and realign the engine/shaft after doing so. I believe the mounts are all original and the engine has never been aligned. What is the best way to remove these? Do I have to jack up each corner and remove one and then replace. I don't have enough room to put my car scissor jack under there. Any suggestions?
engine vibration mounts
- Thread starter John12637
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John, Why wait? You may have to
uncouple the propeller shaft in order to lift the engine off the mounts. You can do the final alignments after it is in the water. I don't know the access that you have to the engine. When I need to do such as that I put a timber across the companion and lift the engine with a come-along.
uncouple the propeller shaft in order to lift the engine off the mounts. You can do the final alignments after it is in the water. I don't know the access that you have to the engine. When I need to do such as that I put a timber across the companion and lift the engine with a come-along.
A basketball works well
John, A previous post here recommended inflating a basketball under the engine to lift one end at a time. I tried it and it work very well. A couple of suggestions: 1.you may have to also disconnect your exhaust hose and 2. put a piece of tape on each end of the engine and take horizontal and vertical dimensions from the tape to any convenient point on the boat. This will let you get the engine back to its original position which will be a good starting point for the final alignment after the boat is back in the water.
John, A previous post here recommended inflating a basketball under the engine to lift one end at a time. I tried it and it work very well. A couple of suggestions: 1.you may have to also disconnect your exhaust hose and 2. put a piece of tape on each end of the engine and take horizontal and vertical dimensions from the tape to any convenient point on the boat. This will let you get the engine back to its original position which will be a good starting point for the final alignment after the boat is back in the water.
I did
my mounts on a 1977 Cal 34 last year. I first disconnected the coupling and exhaust hose from the engine. I was able to put a board over the companionway and hoist the front of the engine and replace those two mounts. I replaced them with identical mounts so the holes in the stringers lined up. As I took one mount out, I would match the height setting and then replace. The dirt mark on the stringer allowed me to get it back in the previous place. The rear of the engine was tough as I had no access except on my back. For these, I used a large pry bar and blocks of wood. Lift engine pull mount, place blocks under while I made the settings on the new mount and then replaced. The main problem I had was that the original lag screws into the stringers were not stainless steel. As can be expected, 4 of the lag screws broke off in the stringer which gave me some additional work (I'll tell you how I got them out if you wanna know). On my new P36-2 the access is great and changing the mounts will be a breeze. Greg
my mounts on a 1977 Cal 34 last year. I first disconnected the coupling and exhaust hose from the engine. I was able to put a board over the companionway and hoist the front of the engine and replace those two mounts. I replaced them with identical mounts so the holes in the stringers lined up. As I took one mount out, I would match the height setting and then replace. The dirt mark on the stringer allowed me to get it back in the previous place. The rear of the engine was tough as I had no access except on my back. For these, I used a large pry bar and blocks of wood. Lift engine pull mount, place blocks under while I made the settings on the new mount and then replaced. The main problem I had was that the original lag screws into the stringers were not stainless steel. As can be expected, 4 of the lag screws broke off in the stringer which gave me some additional work (I'll tell you how I got them out if you wanna know). On my new P36-2 the access is great and changing the mounts will be a breeze. Greg
Thanks to each of you for the help. I would not have thought of disconnecting the exhaust hose and I know I would not have thought of the basketball. Thanks again for your help, what a great forum. John
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