Anyone ever have a driveline that couldn't be centered?

Working on this Bob, the driveshaft coming though the bulkhead is centered vertically, but horizontally it is waaaaaaaaaay off. Almost touching the hole in the bulk head towards the exhaust side. I've hogged out the pump holes (step bit) to the point of almost nothing left to get it where it is. Only option to get this one right would be to cut the ears off the pump and nozzle and weld on extended ones. I gave up and just hucked the midshaft on. We'll see how long it lasts. Anyone ever have this problem?
 

Sanoman

thecolorpurple
Site Supporter
Location
NE Tenn
Working on this Bob, the driveshaft coming though the bulkhead is centered vertically, but horizontally it is waaaaaaaaaay off. Almost touching the hole in the bulk head towards the exhaust side. I've hogged out the pump holes (step bit) to the point of almost nothing left to get it where it is. Only option to get this one right would be to cut the ears off the pump and nozzle and weld on extended ones. I gave up and just hucked the midshaft on. We'll see how long it lasts. Anyone ever have this problem?
l don't think it's a good idea to just "huck the midshaft" on man.That will definitely screw you in the short run.You really need to figure out what is causing the issue.Could be the pump shoe is off.Maybe cut it out and try setting it up with your pump and driveline.Then when you have it aligned,5200 it back in.You can cause yourself a world of new problems by not doing anything.Pics would help out here.
 

McDog

Other Administrator
Staff member
Location
South Florida
Make sure the shaft is centered on the midshaft and not necessarily the tunnel pipe itself. I remember mine didn't look centered because the pipe wasn't installed in the best place but it matched up with the midshaft just fine.
 
Make sure the shaft is centered on the midshaft and not necessarily the tunnel pipe itself. I remember mine didn't look centered because the pipe wasn't installed in the best place but it matched up with the midshaft just fine.
The midshaft bends the shaft to the center. The hole coming out of the bulkhead is microscopically small, the midshaft barely fits in.
 

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
you may need to remove that driveshaft tube all together. Get Motor, Pump and Midshaft all in alignment and then reinstall the tube. If the bulkhead is all out of alignment, you might have to cut it out and reset it.
 
Well, I got it good. I pulled the pump, hogged out the pump mounts the next size up (almost no meat left) ,then put a 6ft breaker bar in, had my wife sit on it, then tightened it down. It's center now, I'm comfy with it. We'll see if I break anything. This is not my main ski so if it does crap out, it's no biggie.
 

Sanoman

thecolorpurple
Site Supporter
Location
NE Tenn
Well, I got it good. I pulled the pump, hogged out the pump mounts the next size up (almost no meat left) ,then put a 6ft breaker bar in, had my wife sit on it, then tightened it down. It's center now, I'm comfy with it. We'll see if I break anything. This is not my main ski so if it does crap out, it's no biggie.
Oh boy....:eek:
 

Jr.

Standing Tall
Staff member
Site Supporter
Location
Hot-Lanta
Well, I got it good. I pulled the pump, hogged out the pump mounts the next size up (almost no meat left) ,then put a 6ft breaker bar in, had my wife sit on it, then tightened it down. It's center now, I'm comfy with it. We'll see if I break anything. This is not my main ski so if it does crap out, it's no biggie.
Oh boy is right! I would expect to see this kind of dialog on FB, not on the X!
 

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
What exactly did you put a breaker bar on to help get it aligned? I had some bed plates shift years ago. Jr. figured it out and replaced midshaft and drive shaft and aligned back up for me while I was working setting up a race site. Never is a 6' breaker bar used it installing a pump or getting a motor aligned. You are risking a perfectly good drive shaft and midshaft for nothing it sounds like.
 
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Put the breaker on the pump closest to the nozzle in between the pump and the hull, cushioned with a 1/4" peice of leather. Gave me enough leverage to pull the pump into the right spot. It stayed nice and straight after being bolted up, and the midshaft slipped right on, smooth as butter.
 
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