Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

[Dave-R]

I pulled the outdrive on my 2003 Volvo SX , and the gimbal bearing came off with the drive shaft. It is nestled up against the u-joint yoke. The boat is only one year old, with a year left on the volvo warranty. The bearing looks new, the grease seal looks perfect. The u-joints look new, and the bellows look new with no signs of water. I wiped all the grease from where the gimble seats. Not sure if I should re-seat the bearing or call volvo see if it's covered . Also I'm not sure if the bearing goes right up against the seal.I have a C.D. manual, but it's real vague about the gimbal. Any help is good.
Thanks all Dave R.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

Volvo manuals are real vauge about everything....

Even if you took VP classes.... the manuals aren't as great as others.

I doubt the whole bearing came out... you probably just got the guts and the race in still in the transom. That will happen from time to time.... I have to ask... how hard was it to pull that drive? Take a pic or two if you can.
If the whole bearing did come out you may have bigger problems.... You may be looking at a transom plate. Lets see some pictures.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

By any chance has the boat been run in the "trimmed up" or trailer position? Reason I ask is , I bought a boat several yrs ago and when we sea trailed it I noticed the owner started it and then trimmed it down. (boat only had 39 hrs on it). Not long after I bought the boat the gimbel bearing worked its way out of the transom shield and obviously caused vibration issues. When I pulled drive the bearing was on the shaft. I checked the transom bore and it was still round, but I was unable to find what the max. bore DIA tolerance was so I reinstalled a new bearing and crossed my fingers. I have put nearly 800 hrs on the boat since and has been fine. Moral to my story/ theory is running it at those drive positions puts large strains on the bearing due to driveline angle and can work bearing out. Just a thought.

 

[Dave-R]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

I pulled the bearing off the shaft , and it came off okay. When rolled around it has quite a wobble, like it was driven on at an angle by the inside race. I will buy a new one and install it. Does the bearing sit right up against the seal? Thanks Dave R.

 

[buggiedad_67]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

i would still call, the dealer or volvo and tell them what has happened, and let them check to see if something is wrong, it shouldnt i would think come apart like that after one year, if you go ahead and fix it now and next year it does the same thing then you havent solved the problem, and then warrenty wont cover it at all,

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

Call the dealer!!!! If you install the bearing there is a special tool to put it in.You can put it in without but you might damage the bearing. It will only go in so far,then stop. Make sure when installed the grease fittings and holes line up.
The dealer will have the tool to install the bearing.If it's under warranty they probably will install it for nothing.It takes 2 min to put it in.Jerry

 

[phillyc1]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

OMC's are not much different in the gimbal bearing setup. I agree that you should check for the warranty to take care of it. If not, and i will ketch hell for this, but what I did, mix some west system epoxy resin, coat the inside of the bearing housing. Be sure to acetone the housing first and clean it before putting the epoxy in there. tap the bearing in the housing until it presses against the backing inside the housing. let it sit for 24hrs and I guarantee you will not have that bearing come out ever again. For removal, take a map gas tourch and melt the resin. That's the only way to remove it.

 

[buggiedad_67]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

why micky mouse when you could do it right and not have to worry about setting your boat on fire,

 

[phillyc1]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

Well, Like i said, I knew I'd ketch hell for this suggestion. I was using the map gas thing as an analogy. You won't set the boat fire.

Mickey mouse, yes. affective, yes. If volvo fixes it, great. If the don't, short of replacing the whole housing is the only "non-mickey mouse" way of fixing this. Something hammered out the bore to the point where it won't hold the bearing. Good luck and I hope the warranty covers it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

If not, and i will ketch hell for this, but what I did, mix some west system epoxy resin, coat the inside of the bearing housing. Be sure to acetone the housing first and clean it before putting the epoxy in there.

No wayyyyyyyyy!

 

[phillyc1]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

Bruce, yes way. Either its a stroke of genius or plain silly, but so far it worked on my rig. I could not keep that bearing in place. it kept sliding out. Its a temporary fix til I buy a new housing.

 

[buggiedad_67]

Re: Gimbal bearing help (Don S)

philly i am sorry i was so negative on you, but too many times i have seen folks do things and tear something up worse because it only hid the problem, i have made many micky mouse repairs in my lifetime some worked great and then some bit me in the bu** i mainly work on old stuf and cant find parts so we do the best we can with what we have.