Reinserting The Alternator Drive Gears Into The Engine

When the alternator base plate is removed and the oil has been drained leaving the drain plug out, you have the Lewis pin aka pin that holds the split gears aligned, on a cable that you can run through the drain hole out the hole in the back of the motor and to the alternator drive gear in your hand. Insert base plate gear assembly, pull wire and Lewis pin out of drain hole.
I'm just trying to envision all this in my mind as I'm sure a few others may be too.

So this lewis pin sounds like it is a pin that is inserted in an alignment hole found in both of the split gears while the alternator drive is installed?

Yup?
Nope?
 
So this lewis pin sounds like it is a pin that is inserted in an alignment hole found in both of the split gears while the alternator drive is installed?
Like the cam-shafts the alternator drive gear features offset, spring-loaded gears to reduce lash and noise...
While the cam drives are accessible to be aligned to mesh properly with the reduction gear upon installation, is that not feasible inside the engine case...

alternator drive released.jpg ST1100 alternator drive.jpg

hence two work-ways possible:

i)
- align the drives while outside the case and drive a 6mm(?) cotter pin through the holes of the gears to lock them in place
- drain oil
- thread a cloth hanger wire through the engine case and out the drain hole
- attach a rigid braided wire (i.e. clutch cable) to the pin and thread the other end through the case utilizing mentioned cloth hanger wire
- insert alternator drive
- once in place yank on the braided wire and hope/celebrate a Holy Mass that the pin comes out/fit through the drain hole without any issues

ii)
- place drive into case
- place a tool/handle into the (hollow) shaft to twist it clockwise for the aprox 2mm required to have it mesh the gears
- proceed with the installation

yours truly prefers the 2nd... 😎
 
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