ghr gimble repair kit

[elkhunter338]

Anyone ever use a ghr gimble repair kit?
If so what do you think of the repair kit.
www.ghrkits.com
I watched the u-tube video and e-mailed ghrkits a question on if a replacement bellows is available. They responded that they use a standard bellows with an expander tool to get the bellows over the sleeve.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Looks OK, but I defiantly would have paid the 50 bucks for that gimbal ring tool COOL!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

I thought it was OK till I saw the price YIKES!!! $310 for: a $50 Sierra bellows, lets see that is $260 for a plastic ring and a tube of epoxy. I don't think so!

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Ok but your other option is the pull the motor and replace the gimble housing. That well exceeds $300.

Can you replace the corroded ring in the gimble housing with a new ring?
It appears there is a o-ring behind the corroded gimble ring where the u-joint bellows seals. If I had to guess that is where my leak is comming from.

It looks like there is two pieces, the metal gimble ring that is corroded and the gimble housing that bolts to the boat.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

It appears there is a o-ring behind the corroded gimble ring where the u-joint bellows seals. If I had to guess that is where my leak is comming from.

I believe that the grove there is for the matching ridge on the inside of the bellows.

Not saying that it is not a less expensive option, just seems to be awfully expensive for what it is. $100 for the kit it would be great.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

You are correct that is a groove and it was full of bellows glue. I used a small wire brush in the dremel and cleaned the groove out. Since the corrosion has not gotten to the groove I plan to try and get the bellows reglued and clamped on the existing gimble housing.
I agree a $100 for the repair kit is reasonable, I talked to the ghr guys and they use a standard bellows, so you are spending a lot for a pvc ring and expoxy. However if the kit works it is worth the money because you are going to spend $300 or so on another gimble housing and then the pvc will not corrode again. If you where to pay someone to change the gimble housing it would be expensive, so at $300 it might be worth it. I just hate to spend $300 on a $5 piece of plastic.
If I use the kit I will post the results.
I think like a stainless steel speedy sleeve might work if you could find one the right size. Use some good glue to install the sleeve with, this would add minimal diameter and should still allows you to use the standard bellows.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Yeah I think if you can get the area directly under the clamp good and clean you should be in good shape. I suspect that it wouldn't take much time for someone that knew what they were doing to duplicate that ring on a lathe, even starting with a solid piece of PVC. I am sure that it wouldn't be too hard to find a appropriate epoxy. Just a thought. With a little torch work and a cutoff wheel, I could probably make one of those gimbal ring wrenches too.
Good luck!

 

[jze1212]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

I have got the same problem, right around where the groove is. I saw that kit and the price just blew my mind! Even though it is definitely cheaper than having the motor pulled, etc, I just put my motor in and did not catch that until after the fact. Rookie mistake I guess.. I repaired mine with JB weld, that's right, JB weld.. I used the marine grade stuff. I made a mold then filled it up with the weld and then a few days later I pulled the mold and ground it to shape. See pictures. This late in the season I am only going to trailer it so I'll do a more permanent repair over the winter time but I would be willing to bet that JB weld repair would hold up for a very very long time. What are your thoughts? - Justin

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

I think it looks like an option that is worth trying. I am going to use the bellows with no groove and push the bellows all the way on up against the 3 stops. On mine this still allows the full hose clamp to clamp the bellows.
See my other post Bellows adhesive anything better
I am looking at filling in the corroded area after I install the bellows with a polyurathan sealant Vulkem 116 caulking to creat another gasket seal on the inside of the bellows.

I also plan to check the hose clamps every spring to make sure they are tight, I think my leak came from a loose hose clamp. I changed the bellows 5 years ago according to the book and never had water in there before this year. But I never retightened the hose clamp.
I plan to run my boat for a day, pull the drive and see if any water is in there. I just ordered a gimble bearing, and 2 gasket sets. I hope all goes well.
I also thought what a rip off for the repair kit.
What I think you need is a stainless steel sleeve to drive over the gimble to create another clamping surface, but you would have to find just the right size that would drive over the gimble ring tight, probably use some glue also. I measured and it looks like 4.5" exhaust might work, but I have not got the dial calipers out so see.

 

[jze1212]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Yeah, definitely worth trying. I have the same plan as you, drop her in the water, run , take out and inspect. I will probably engineer something more permanent over the winter time but I feel very confident that this will hold without any problems. You every see what people do with JB Weld?? This is nothing! I'll keep you posted

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

If I find a piece of stainless steel for a sleeve I will post the results. I still think a stainless steel speedy sleeve would work great, put on with epoxy, then coat the inside of the gimble area with rust bullet. Good luck, I just placed my order at iboats for gimble bearing, bellows glue, and few other items last night. The vulum stuck ok to the bellows, so I am going to use bellows glue and then add a good bead of vulkem caulking on the inside area and let cure. Safe boating, we will have to compare repairs at the end of the boating season.

 

[jze1212]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Sounds good. We'll definitely compare results, good luck with yours and I'll post mine back up in this thread when I finish!

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Set back on my repair. I got my parts today but when I inspected my bellows again I found a bad spot. I had looked my bellows over and over prior to ording parts but missed a bad spot.

However this bad spot may be where I tested the vulkem caulking. I am going to retest the caulking on the old bellows to verify if the bellows are not compatible with the caulking. I would be shocked if the caulking is what caused the bad spot.

The bad spot is not worn through, put looks like a small tear in the crinkle where the wire sets. But it does not look worn through from the inside or outside. This could explain how water got in. These bellows are only 5 yrs old, stored inside out of sun light all but 20 days a year, always stored in the down position. The rubber looks good, no cracks except for this one bad spot. Just placed an order on iboats for a bellows, hopefully get it by the 28th.

 

[jze1212]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Bummer! At least now you will know you have all new one's. I am HOPING to have the time to finally get mine put together this week..

 

[bjf001]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

I have got the same problem, right around where the groove is. I saw that kit and the price just blew my mind! Even though it is definitely cheaper than having the motor pulled, etc, I just put my motor in and did not catch that until after the fact. Rookie mistake I guess.. I repaired mine with JB weld, that's right, JB weld.. I used the marine grade stuff. I made a mold then filled it up with the weld and then a few days later I pulled the mold and ground it to shape. See pictures. This late in the season I am only going to trailer it so I'll do a more permanent repair over the winter time but I would be willing to bet that JB weld repair would hold up for a very very long time. What are your thoughts? - Justin

jze1212,

Based on your experience in using JB Weld Marine on your gimbal housing, Do you think my gimbal housing repair would be a good candidate for this technique? See attached photo of the rust damage after it has been wire brushed.

My concern is that the epoxy would crack under the pressure of the Stainless Steel Hose Clamp once pressure is applied by the clamp. Maybe that is why the PVC ring is used. Your thoughts??

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

I think jb weld might work if you clamped like a piece of bleach jug so you had a lip to simulate the bellows, then build jb weld up in layers until you repair the bad spot and have the jb weld about 1/4 inch thick. Leave enough room to get the gimble bearing out and the snap ring.
If you have a exhaust repair shop nearby that has 4" stainless exhaust you might beable to find a piece that will fit tightly over the remaining lip and thus you create a new lip. Use some formagasket to install it and it must push on tight like a speedy sleeve. Or I guess the pvc ring is better than pulling the engine and replacing the gimble housing. The pvc ring uses a standard bellows, but the cost just seems horrible. I guess they can charge that because it would cost soo much to pull the engine and replace the gimble housing that $300 is cheap when you are paying for labor.
What a poor design that this area was not made to be replaced. I am starting to see why people do not like I/O boats in general.
I have just enough lip left for the clamp to fully clamp on the lip with a none groove bellows, little more expensive but this will allow me to push the bellows all the way up against the 3 stops.
I just got mine today from iboats. sierra 18-2752

 

[jze1212]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Hey bjf001,

I actually did similar to what Elkhunter said when I repaired mine except I used some thin aluminum and some hose clamps to make the template, then lopped the JB weld in there nice and heavy in layers. Unfortunately I have not been able to get her in the water yet due to other priorities so I have not been able to test. Since my last post I have got the bellows and all related components, shift cable, out drive, etc, installed and it is rock solid. The clamps are all good and tight , I have the drive up as far as it can go ( trailer mode ) and the bellows are good and tight. I have tugged away at them while drive is up, which in my opinion would be much more severe than any normal operating environment. I still have hope to drop her in for a test run before November so I'll re post then. Keep me posted

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

I got mine back together a week or so ago. I bought a bellows with no groove and pushed the bellows all the way on, so I was able to get a full clamp surface without repairing the bad spot. I slathered silicone on the inside so it will not corrode anymore if water gets in there again.
I plan to try it soon and then pull the outdrive to see if everything is dry. All went back together ok and I had enough clamp surface left using the bellows with no groove.

 

[jze1212]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

Great news, definitely post up after you get her in and let us know how it goes!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: ghr gimble repair kit

silly cone?
gauranteed leak.
love dem backyardigans.
makes me sum tonnes o cash money.
silicone doenst seal well underwater and IF salt OR brackish water silly cone reacts with aluminium and accelerates corrosion.