I have swapped out my 23 hp engines on my mudbuddy frame.
the dealers are telling me that the pullies MUST be aligned or it will not work for long.
Can ANYONE please help me figure out how to align these 2 pullies?
thanks alot!

did you put another 23 on, or a bigger motor?

What frame do you have? And does it have a clutch?

I put the same engine, a 23 van.
It's on a hyperdrive mini.
It's a straight forward. No clutch.
Can yall please help me figure out how to align these pullies so my belt will not pop again?
I know how to do everything except align the pullies.

Tape measure & straight edge?

How can I get a straight edge all the way down there where the bottom pully is?
And how can I be sure when it's all aligned?

BoatDr will correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd use the straight edge across the outside of the belt housing at the top pulley & measure the distance from the straight edge to the edge of the pulley. Then on the outdrive, measure from the front edge of the housing (where it meets up to the belt housing) to the same spot on the lower pulley as you did the top pulley. Theoretically, you should be aligned if the measurements are the same.

Boat DR,
seems to me like you're pretty good at this.
Which is a plus!
Are you meaning, that the inside part of the pully should be 1 inch and 5/8 on?
Or should the pully itself be that far?
I can change belts, and do everything on these engines,
I just can't figure this out!
It's busting my brains!
All of you are very helpful, maybe a little more explanation if possible?
I'm trying to understand this. Lol

And is it okay, if the pully will be slightly off the bottom pully, but I keep the belt a little looser?

Okay,
Anyone, correct me if I'm not understanding,
Basically, I measure From the housing of the bottom pully to the pully,
And if the pully is 2 inches away from the back of the belt housing,
Then that's how far the top pully should be from the belt housing?
Am I right?

Are all crank shafts the same length?

If the belt rides off the bottom pulley,
Would that mean that the top pulley if too far on the shaft?

My shaft diameter is 1 inch.
That was another problem I had,
My old motor was a 1 and 1/8 inch
My new one a 1 inch shaft.
I had to buy another taper lock

So,
If the belt slides a little to the prop,
Move the top pulley to the engine,
And If the belt slides to the boat, move the top pulley to the prop?
Right?

So, I should measure the distance of the pullies to the belt housing,
And make them the same distance away from the belt housing,
And then run it, and if the belt isn't sliding, I'm good to get back to the mud?