Help with Gimbal Housing 95 Cobra

[mikelosey]

Have not owned the boat that long and today went to replace the u joints and the gimbal bearing. This boat is a 95 and by the looks of the u joints those have never been replaced. The gimbal finally came out but before I started I noticed that the flange that the bellows goes over has basically disintengrated. There is still enough left that i probably can get the bellows and the clamp back on it and sealed but I dont know. The pieces were in the old bellows when I took it off. Any suggestions except buying a $1700 gimbal housing assy?

 

[Don S]

Re: Help with Gimbal Housing 95 Cobra

Any suggestions except buying a $1700 gimbal housing assy?

Ebay, and local marine shops are good places to check for used parts.
Ujoints and gimbal bearings when lubed and checked yearly will last many, many years. But let the ujoint bellows fail and water gets in and it all goes downhill in a hurry. Especially if you are in salt water.
5 years max on the bellows, and they are so easy to change, even for a DIYer.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Help with Gimbal Housing 95 Cobra

Double check your serial numbers, but a 95 Cobra, (unless its a King Cobra) is a joint venture drive. It is basically a Volvo penta SX drive. After you verify that it indeed is, it should give you more leeway on parts to buy. Even though the OMC and VP parts are identical, sometimes they are priced differently.