I have a 1980 Catalina 27. I need to make an engine re-alignment. Part of that process requires moving the engine laterally. There are lag bolts that screw into the bedlogs clamping down on the engine mounts. The mount's openings for these lagbolts are slotted so that you can move the engine laterally. What's the best method for moving the engine laterally? Lifting it? Jacks? Appreciate any help.
Universal 5411 Diesel Alignment
- Thread starter Ajay73
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If you loosen the lag bolts, try shoving the engine over. You probably don't have to move it too much. If that doesn't work then a 4x4 padded across your companionway with a boom vang (block & tackle) outghta do it. Good luck.
I wouldn't take the lag bolts out, 'cuz it'd be hard to find the holes again.
I wouldn't take the lag bolts out, 'cuz it'd be hard to find the holes again.
The solution required taking out the two forward and two aft bolts and leaving the four bolts that are essentially on the inward side of the engine.
I was able to use a superbar with a block of wood braced against the platform for my fuel tank and I pryed on the side of the motor mount down low by where it's lag bolted in. Engine moved right over with out a problem. But I spent a lot of time before I realized how the motor mounts work. The mounts are only slotted on one side of the mount. The other side is not slotted. The front mounts are slotted on the forward side. The rear mounts are slotted on the aft side. What has to be done is take out the bolts in the slotted openings, loosen the bolts in the unslotted holes and then pry the motor one way or the other as needed. Really a quite an ingenious design. With this design there really is quite a bit of sideways movement you can get. I will have to drill a new hole for one of the lag bolts because the mount moved too far away from the existing hole but there is good access for this.
I'm really amazed how much time it took me to figure out the way the mounts worked. After it dawned on me it took all of about 5 minutes to make the adjustment. This kind of on-the-job learning just drives me nuts. Something so simple that took so long to figure out. Hope this is any FYI for all the other 5411 owners out there.
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