Gimble housing cracked

[badbowtie]

I pulled the outdrive thursday so I could pull the motor saturday. I noticed a crack in the gimble housing you can see it in the pictures. i am not sure if water leaked in next to the shifter from a bad gasket or shifter cable boot right there and froze and cracked it also. There was no water in the bellows and no signs of water from the grease. I am not sure looks to be cast and not sure if these are able to be tig welded or do I have to replace the housing. So atleast so far I have to replace motor and the gimble housing or weld it if it can be done I hope the outdrive is still good. When I pulled the drain for the oil it was oil atleast and did not see any signs of water. Here are some pics to see what I am talking about. Is there a how to remove the gimble housing on here some were I have never removed on before. I am planning on trying to reinstall the motor in the boat saturday since I have to do it at my dads work in the semi shop. I am not sure if I can replace this gimble housing or do I have to replace the whole piece that is mounted on the transom. Do I have to fix this first before I reinstall the motor. It is a alpha 1 one gen one I am not sure if I could just tap it back straight and even j-bweld it back together just to keep it sealed.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

no pics of the damage.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

I posted them but it says they are doing maintenance they should work when mods get all done.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

test pic from photobucket came up fine, try reposting the pics

 

[achris]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

Pics posted from another site will work, attached pictures on this site aren't, at the moment...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

thanks for the update

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

Well I uploaded thru photobucket and know are working. Thanks for explaining why they were not showing up.

 

[achris]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

That's just the bell housing. You can re-install the engine. If the bell housing needs replacing, then that can be done without removing the engine. It would be worth taking the boat to a welder and have him TIG that crack. If you JB it, it may leak, and water in that area is not good....

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

Any reason why you are saying tig or can I mig weld it with alum spool.

 

[sjohnson44]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

Just my .02...
If you have the equipment to weld it, and I assume you do since your asking if YOU can weld it. I would say give it a try. Whatever you weld on there would be better than JB weld. Tig however would be cleaner and a little less likely to leak.

If you can get your hands on some marine-tex, after you weld it, you can spread some of that on the back side if possible to help seal it even more.

 

[achris]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

Any reason why you are saying tig or can I mig weld it with alum spool.

If it were mine, I'd be TIGing... MIG is too heavy-handed on ali... You need something with a delicate touch. That's only thin metal and it needs to be treated gently..

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

Yes I can mig alum but I do not have tig equipment. I have a buddy that has and can tig really well. But I would have to remove the housing and take it to him because he wants to tig it on the bench in the shop not outside on the boat. I have never removed one of these housings before so I am not sure if all that work is worth taking it off to tig it or leave it on and mig it slowly.

 

[sjohnson44]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

You'd have to buy or borrow that tool to take the hinge pins loose. Its almost like a torx bit except more teeth on it, and then have to take off your bellows. A lot of time involved for about 5 mins of welding if you ask me.

 

[achris]

Re: Gimble housing cracked

You'd have to buy or borrow that tool to take the hinge pins loose. Its almost like a torx bit except more teeth on it, and then have to take off your bellows. A lot of time involved for about 5 mins of welding if you ask me.

Yes, quite a bit of work, but if it's not welded properly, then water will leak in, destroying the shift cable, and causing other problems. Then he'd have the welding to do AND a shift cable replacement. It doesn't matter how much work is involved, fix it now or fix it later. Just if you leave it to 'later' then there is going to be more to do, as well as the original job....

Do it once, do it right, do it NOW....

Chris...........