Bravo Gimbal ring wear

[alldodge]

The top of the B3 outdrive only sits about an inch above the water line so the top pin seal is always under water (single engine Formula 27PC). Several years ago I replaced the top pin and seal due to corrosion and water leaking in. Sent the gimbal ring to a company who also made the pin. When it came back there was some slop between the pin and gimbal. Torque on the gimbal ring U-bolt had no effect on play. This season I'm have even more play and I'm figuring maybe I need to upgrade the transom or gimbal. How much slop/play should there be with the gimbal and the square cut pin, and shouldn't the U-bolt be able to squeeze down on the pin?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Did you add a grease fitting there?

 

[stonyloam]

. How much slop/play should there be with the gimbal and the square cut pin, and shouldn't the U-bolt be able to squeeze down on the pin?

None! It should!

 

[alldodge]

Did you add a grease fitting there?

No, but I did see your posting the other day and liked it. The original issue was cased by insufficient current being put out by the Mercathode for my B3 drive. For the first few years I could see the drive being eaten up due to it. I picked up the Merc probe and measured the field current and verified this was enough to protect the drive. I then added a second Mercathode and anodes to the hull on the each side of the drive and this stopped the corrosion.

None!

That's what I'm figuring now. Need to figure out which way to go. Replace the who;e transom with the XR type or just get the new gimbal ring and bushings and see how long it will last. Thinking about a XR drive as well

 

[Bt Doctur]

excessive corrosion is also caused by the trim sender putting 12v into the water when the key is in the "on" position .voltage leaks from the wires.
The fix is to wire 2 diodes in the circuit to only supply power to the trim gauge when pressing the trim buttons. You remove the power wire going to the trim gauge and using 2 diodes from the blue and green trim cable connect them .when either the up or down circuit is powered, the diode supplies power to the gauge.