Has anyone run into problems getting their alignment tool to match up on the studs of

[bell99man]

I have an alignment tool I used to straighten out two 97 GTIs. It came with a couple of plates and some adapters for the rod. When I try to put the other plate on the ski, it's just enough off so that it won't go on. Clearly the plate I used for the 97 is different. I guess my plate was drilled wrong because the pump slides on easily.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I'm assuming you need to adjust the engine more still. Or is this even without the tool into the PTO?

 

[ski-d00]

Your plate is most likely fine. I've seen a lot of those threaded studs come through the hull at different angles so it will appear that the holes are off but if you gently tap it on it will align pretty well once it is tightened. They are a bear to get off though. I use slide hammer and try to make sure it comes off evenly.

So why doesn't the pump have problems going on? Because there is a lot of slop built into the pump holes where the plate holes are a much tighter fit.

 

[bell99man]

I don't think I can tap it on. Maybe I could try to "straighten" the bolts a little by sliding a pipe over them and pulling them out a little? The top two are perfect but the bottom two look to be about a 1/4in too narrow but look in line horizontally.

The main 2 reasons I'm even bothering are, well, I own the tool so why not check. And, the impeller is scrubbing the wear ring pretty hard. The 97 was doing this and it turned out that the alignment made that far worse.

 

[Coastiejoe]

How about if you slot the holes on the alignment tool? This would let you slide it into place but still bolt it securely in he proper place.

 

[bell99man]

I guess that could work since the top two are dead on.