Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

[jasonachord]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

Well, I got the bellows all attached along with the water line. Hinge pins are back in and torqued to 95lbs, someone correct me if that's not the correct torque for those on the Alpha drive. I remember that number from one of the many threads I've read. I took rickryder's advise and drilled out the broken trim limit switch screws and re tapped those and replaced with new SS screws.

Now a new dilemma :facepalm:

While getting the drive cleaned up and ready to go back on the u-joints I thought were ok are not. The rear one closest to the drive housing is frozen on one pivot side. That's probably what made the gimbal go out I'm guessing. Now to do some research on some threads to learn how to replace those.

Is this something a DIY can do or should I just take the drive to a shop?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

You can do it.. It's a bit of a pain.. They have a u joint tool you can rent from auto part store that makes the tough ones easier to remove.. Get that if needed.. I have done some that come apart easy and go together easy.. Some that are tight as ****'s hat band and you would think you need a hyd press to remove.. That dang little tool is a lifesaver for those...

 

[dubs283]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

the tools you need for replacing u-joints are a flat blade screwdriver and a stout ball peen hammer

thats it

 

[firecapt13]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

Not to hijack the thread but i was told there was a tool to remove the driveshaft assembly. is this true or can the U joints be replaced on the outdrive. I am doing all the same things next week if it makes it through the holiday weekend. Late Wednesday i had to replace a shift seal due to leak and then saw drive bellows was ripped.

 

[jasonachord]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

@ firecapt13, it can be done but you have to grind two corners off of the tabs on the retainer nut. Here's a thread with an illustration of this method.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=458282&highlight=ujoint+retainer+nut

But be careful, I did it this way today and ended up busting one of the other retainer nut tabs off. Now I'm not sure what to do, install the drive and cross my fingers or try to replace the retainer nut.

The only bad thing about DIY is while you fix stuff you break other stuff

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

You need a manual and a spanner like this to remove the retainer (I would not grind). http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Span...1118625QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear Should be a DIY, make sure you keep track of the shims. The manual gives you a table of torques depending on the length of the retainer wrench handle to get the torque right (200 ft lb) when you reassemble.

 

[KCKracker]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

I am starting this today, longtime mechanic, former marine mechanic but its been 20 years so what would you have done differently had you known before hand? any tips/tricks ?

great writeup BTW, you have no idea how many thousands will read this silently and be helped

 

[jasonachord]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

Thanks Stonyloam, I have the spanner wrench on order now

@ KCKracker,

I hope things went well for you yesterday. With your experience this should have been a breeze. I was surprised how easy things came apart and went back together as for as the gimbal bearing, bellows, water tube, shift cable and bell housing goes. If I were to have done anything differently I would have spent more and purchased OEM Mercruiser parts instead of skimping with the SEI transom kit. I was in a pinch with a limited budget. Now that I know I can handle this job myself I?ll upgrade to the OEM parts next go round. I would have also purchased the spanner wrench needed to remove the u joint retainer nut beforehand instead of trying to ?clearance? the retainer nut tabs when replacing the u joints. I guess if I hadn?t busted one of the tabs off this method would have been fine, but now I?m waiting for the spanner wrench to come in so I can remove and replace the retainer nut which has delayed me getting this finished by another week. Here?s what I have left to be finished and back out on the lake:

1. Remove and replace the u joint retainer nut (waiting on new spanner wrench to ship)
2. Align engine with my new alignment bar (new tools are cool)
3. Re install drive
4. Fill drive with gear oil
5. Set new trim limit and sender switches
6. GO BOATING FINNALY

Here's what I'm waitng for the spaner wrench for to repain now:

 

[jasonachord]

Re: Attempting a Gimbal Bearing and Bellow replacement job

Success at last! The broken bearing retainer nut has been replaced and properly torque to 200 ft lb using the chart in the manual with spanner wrench. Gimbal bearing set and aligned with coupler using alignment tool and checked at 90, 180, 270 and 360 rotations. New u-joints and splines greased. Out drive reinstalled and filled with gear lube from the bottom up. New trim sender and limit switches set properly. Fingers were crossed and prayed it didn?t leak as we headed to the lake.

I?m happy to report that with all you guys help everything is PERFECT! No leaks, no knocks, and no grinding noises.

Thank you all for your help and input along the way with this repair!

Loaded up and heading to the lake

Celebrating all is well with the repairs