New Gimbal Won't Turn After Install

[Bkforce9]

Hello everyone!

I just went through the ordeal of replacing my gimbal/oil seal/bellows on my SX-MLT transom. The new gimbal bearing was perfectly smooth and functional out of the box. I just fully seated it and now I cannot turn it with bare fingers... I tapped it in with the alignment tool, however I just used a couple of standard large washers on the end of the alignment tool, so the force was being exerted on the inner ring/protrusion of the new gimbal, not the outer race as if one used a piece of abs pipe or something. Will it be ok and free up on its own? Is something wrong? Does this happen to you guys sometimes and you know of a good way to test it? I don't think I'm talented enough to pull it back out without damaging the rubber on the new oil seal.

Many thanks. Hope summer has already brought many smiles to you all.

 

[dypcdiver]

I think you should put this down as part of the learning curve. Why did you did you not put pressure on the outer race as per the manual? It is now up to you to decide if you can get it to rotate, to use it or change it and install another correctly. Sorry but it is a bit basic.

 

[Bondo]

so the force was being exerted on the inner ring/protrusion of the new gimbal, not the outer race as if one used a piece of abs pipe or something.

Ayuh,..... You ruined it,.... Get another, 'n drive it on the Outer race,.....

 

[Bkforce9]

Thanks guys. When I went to pull it out, on the first turn on the puller tool it made a little pop sound and freed up and can now be turned with fingers again.

It definitely was a brain dead moment when I put it in that way. Hopefully it is ok now.

Thanks again.

 

[ripjmk]

I wouldn't trust that bearing after that! Pull it and install a new one correctly.