My reading "between the lines" is the phrase I hated to hear when I was called to trouble shoot problem after maintenance performed by others. that phrase "We put it back the way we found it"
I think you are seeing it the same as I . . . How you found it NEEDS to be documented, BUT it needs to be reassembled the way it should be. Thus a drawing or at least an engineering evaluation of the assembly is required.
As per a generic answer or "rule of thumb", I can not provided. the critical couples I was once associated required an engineering evalution based upon the design data provided by the driver, the driven and the coupling
as example for those Boiler Feed Pump to Turbine couplings;dual diaphragm, 10" diameter, ~13" between couplings, the consideration for driver and driven thrust bearing clearance and thermal growth required a cold "pull",space greater than spool of about 0.10" with a 0.02" tolerance