3126 Engine Alignment

SEYachts

New Member
May 28, 2008
54
Staten Island, NY
Boat Info
1998 450 Sundancer, 5212 Garmin, 4210 Garmin and complete garmin network with open array
Engines
3126 420hp Cats
Does any one know how to do an engine alignment or check the alignment?
 
Provided you can separate the coupler from the transmission it's done with feeler gauges between the two...
Unless you have experience, re-alignment is probably something best left for the boatyard. I helped my mechanic align the new engine when I re-powered my Chris-Craft and it can get very tedious and frustrating.

Why do you suspect you have an out-of-alignment issue?
 
The hardest part of this alignment will be moving the engine around. The 3126 is heavy.
Loosen the coupler bolts and insert feeler gauges around circle the two faces make. Your allowed a tolerance of .001" per 1" of coupler dia. So a 6" coupler could be .006" out of alignment. Obviously the closer to true the better.

If you haven't done this a few times it's a ton of work and guessing.
 
In my experience the 450DA doesn't usually torque the engines sideways, unless the boat has struck something. The stringer system is massive and the engines are well supported, so alignment normally amounts to raising or lowering the engine front or aft end with the nuts on the engine mounts. On a 450 the coupler must be separated, but there is room to work.

I will agree with the other guys, if you haven't done this job before, pay someone with experience to do it. A little movement goes a long way when you are looking for .001" and its very easy to totally screw up what alignment you have in the process. This is kind of a funny job........I've seen it take 20 minutes, or 4 hours............and I've seen it take 2 hours just to get the coulper separated.
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
113,215
Messages
1,428,736
Members
61,111
Latest member
OhanaTime
Back
Top