Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

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alexr254

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I just changed out my Gimbal Bearing, and installed the outdrive back on.

The end part of the yoke with the two seals did not want to go into the bearing, it was VERY tight. I basically had to force it in with a couple bangs and then tighten it up about 1" with the nuts.

I really hope by me forcing it on like this i didnt break anything....

I am sure the yoke was tight going into the new bearing because i took the bearing out and out of curiosity tried it on the yoke while i could see. I got the yoke to go in the bearing all the way on with a bang, then after the yoke started going in a bit easier (loostened the bearing), but still very tight.

I was scared it was the engine alignment, but figured if this was the case there was no way i can even force the outdrive on all the way. I am sure the splines are lined up, since the yoke did go in far enough with no force to line up, just when it got to the end of the yoke where the seals are, the drive would not want to seat without force.


Again... i really hope i didnt screw something up...
 
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dubs283

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

you should always check the engine alignment every time the drive comes off

with a new gimbal bearing you definitely need to use an alignment bar to align the bearing with the coupler

take the drive off and stick the alignment bar in, grease the coupler, gimbal bearing, u-joints and o-rings and you should be good to go
 
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dubs283

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

Maybe i am using the alignment tool wrong?
Click to expand...

as long as you noted spline marks on the end of the bar and they were even all around you are good

in the future, light grease or oil on the two o-rings on the splined shaft make the last couple inches of drive installation MUCH easier
 
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alexr254

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

Yes those last couple inches!! Thats exactly where my problem is.

I still have one more drive to put on tomorrow (twin engines). I forgot to mention that the drives are brand new, maybe that makes it tougher? dont know....

I am positive the alignment tool went as far as it could, i can feel the lip hitting when i go in and out. Through the gimbal bearing in the coupler. The second lip on the alignment tool is hitting the bearing and wont go any further.

After all is said and done, the drive is on and fastened. It just did not go as described in manauls. It needed force for sure.

They are also going into 2 newly rebuild engines, but the engines are using the same front braket with the same adjustments as the previous engines.
 
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fishrdan

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

alexr254 said:
I am positive the alignment tool went as far as it could, i can feel the lip hitting when i go in and out.
Click to expand...

Yes, But did the bar slide in easily, with even grease (spline) marks all the way around? Proper use of the alignment tool isn't to see if it will go in all the way, you need to have little resistance sliding the tool in-out and even grease marks. The bar could go in all the way, and the alignment still be off....... You need to have this done properly or it will tear up the engine coupler(s) and then, well the engine(s) have to come out again.
 
achris

achris

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

Silly question, but I'll ask it anyway... The drive and control box were both in forward (and the prop 'locked' CCW) when you put the drive back on weren't they.... The shift shafts lined up ok?
 
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alexr254

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Everything was lined up.

Funny thing is even out the engine the yoke could not go straight into the bearing for those last 2 inches without lots of pressure... Why would it be any different installed...
 
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alexr254

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Also if anything wouldn't the bearing be damaged and not the engine coupler. U guys are doing a good job at scaring me... I don't want to take out the drive to find out that oh yea the alignment tool did go in as I though... Then go through the whole forceful install again... If all that can go bad is the bearing I'll live with it and change it. But the coupler is a different story.
 
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dubs283

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

Also if anything wouldn't the bearing be damaged and not the engine coupler.
Click to expand...

with misalignment and no routine maintenance (greasing the coupler) the coupler will fail long before the gimbal bearing - the factory couplers are aluminum

the only thing that really kills the bearing is water, usually from a bellows failure

do yourself a huge favor and pull the drive again, recheck the alignment and grease everything - then you can get some sleep at night

besides, pulling the drive and checking the alignment is way easier than installing a new coupler
 
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alexr254

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

It took me and another guy the entire day to install that one drive... It was a real pita since it did not want to slide in, and we basically removed the bearing about 3x and the drive 3x... We will probably remove it, but man what a pain. Unfortunately all i have is weekends to work on the boat and it looks like this is going to delay me for another couple of weeks...
 
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alexr254

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

Well as suspected, after checking with the alignment tool again, it is aligned since the grease marks of the splines are seen all around the tool. And it goes in fairly easily...

Even after this test it was still not as simple as sliding it on... I suppose its different for any different situation. I suppose if it were the old bearing it would slide in easily with the old outdrive. Or even a new bearing with an old outdrive... With me both are new, the bearing and the drive. It was a tight fit in the bearings that needed force. The splines ligned up and went in 90% of the way, the rest NEEDED blunt force so the end of the shaft would fit in the bearing, nothing to do with the coupler...
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

Well as suspected, after checking with the alignment tool again, it is aligned since the grease marks of the splines are seen all around the tool. And it goes in fairly easily...
Click to expand...

Did you watch the video's in the link I posted above? Alignment a little off and Perfect Alignment ? This thread went with those video's http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=382029

Are you sure you have the correct orings on the shaft? They do look small when you first go to put them on, but they will stretch and thin out.
 
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alexr254

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

Yup, well according to those videos, i am not aligned right. It does not go in that easy...

I guess next week we will revisit this. Probably need to remove both outdrives and see what we can do about the alignment :(
 
Bt Doctur

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

They are also going into 2 newly rebuild engines, but the engines are using the same front braket with the same adjustments as the previous engines.

bolting a new engine using the existing mount settings is no gaurantee alignment is perfect. alignment must be checked first
then the drive goes on, slips on actually with no force or kicking.
sometimes when installing a new gimbal bearing, it has to be aligned with the coupler first, then the drive slips on.
failure to do this step will result in coupler failure
 
achris

achris

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

I usually find the 'O' rings can be a little tight. If you suspect it is them, and I'd do this anyway to rule them out, remove the 2 'O' rings from the yoke and try it like that, just to confirm.... It should slide all the way on with very little resistance. If it doesn't, find the reason why not....
 
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alexr254

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Re: Changed Gimbal Bearing-- Outdrive Very Hard Install Alpha 1 Gen1

I am just going to take it to a shop to make sure the drives go in well and the engines are aligned. I dont want to take a risk with this.

thanks for all the tips
 
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