Seaboard Marine - Custom Marine Diesel Repower Specialists

Tony's Tips	ARTICLE DATE: 10/01/2005
Installing shafts, logs, struts & rudders with your favorite engine / transmission

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Introduction	Getting Started	Transmission	Rudder	Strut	Shaft Log	Engine Mounts	Lift In

Lift In

We've come a long ways now and we deserve our next step. Typically you would now remove the transmission from the vessel and install it permanently on the engine. Do as much as you can at this point, like trans oil lines, oil drain lines, added sending units for special gages, oil for the engine and trans, cable bracketing, etc.. It's always easier if these things can be done BEFORE lift-in, especially in tight engine rooms. Lifting in the engine is next and it always seems to inspire a sense of accomplishment as when she goes in, it fits like a glove and our initial pre-alignment now is a simple task. Remember those isolation mount holes we drilled?? Well as the engine comes down, a little wiggling and a small push, drop in a bolt on the first rear isolator that touches, and it pins the package in place for the other side. I forgot to mention that good planning for the lift, would be to "look" at your mounts in relation to "Mother Earth", and what ever relative angle they are at, you should pre-adjust your lifting apparatus to allow the engine to lift at that angle or slightly more. This allows the rear pre-drilled isolators to hit the stringer brackets first.

Since we did our homework well, followed good design practices, our fabrication and assembly practices were done with care, AND we used some imagination during the entire process to make everything look politically correct as if it were a "factory" job, the actual lift-in goes as smooth as silk. Let's pat ourselves on the back for a job well done!