Replacing strut bushings on 99 vdrive

[99SAN]

My strut bushing has about 1/16 play in it and my motor is out is alignment. how hard is it to get the strut re-aligned?
I had to rebuild the motor a few years ago and I remember having a really hard time getting the coupler on and off of the shaft. Should I remove the strut to replace the bushing or the shaft? I feel that if I remove the shaft I'll need a new coupler because of the process of Installing the coupler last time(hammered it on :eek: which isn't the right way but it was a sob to get off)
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[99SAN]

Anyone?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[MikeC]

On the subject of replacing the strut bushing - no matter what videos you watch or what you read - it's a pita. The plan is to remove the shaft, cut the top of the bushing with a sawzall then bend it in on itself and slide it out (there are also techniques using a threaded rod and washers and very expensive tools).
I just did this on my 95 ski - it didn't work so well, I ended up removing the strut from the boat and doing it off the boat - rebeded the strut and then realigning the engine. Here's a link to a ccf video on how to align an engine, he also has a method to remove the shaft from the coupling.
Based on my limited (one time) personal experience (and after talking with the mechanic at my local Nautique dealer) it's easier to remove the strut from the boat rather than try to do this laying on the ground cutting, beating, sweating, swearing, hitting your head and your knuckles - did I say swearing? Take it off (four bolts - you'll need two people) do it on a vice, clean the mounting surface, rebed it with 5200, tighten then align.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_w0LvD6gEc

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[99SAN]

On the subject of replacing the strut bushing

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

How hard was it to realign the strut

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[t.franscioni]

I lost a good quart of sweat laying over the prop cage with two socket wrenches, threaded rod, washers and nuts. First pressing out the old bushings then pressing in the new ones from each side. Here is a pic of pressing in two new bushings using the supplies mentioned.