Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

[Liquid_force]

Hey guys - owned this '89 omc for 3 yrs now. Decided to do gimbal service this spring. We removed the pivot housing and the gimbal bearing -- the surface behind the gimbal bearing shows some stress-type cracks. They're not on the machined surface, but on the rough casting surface - if that's of any significance.<br /><br />The pic isn't perfectly in focus but I think you can see what I'm concerned about...do you think I should be??<br /><br />

<br /><br />One other question - the part I circled - isn't that where the shift cable bellow should be? <br />

<br />There was nothing there when I pulled the pivot hsg. Could not having that part installed for 3+ yrs cause any problems?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

unlikely. the last one i did had a water leak trouble. the hose that the shift cable passes thru fron inside the boat screws in the rear of what you have circled. the hose itself was leaking.that rubber boot you show went on the inside of the boat where the shift cable exits the hose.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

That gimbal bearing is so rusted from having water in the bellows it's no wonder there are cracks. The bearing needs replaced, along with the bellows and most likely the ujoints.<br />The cable is also toast. You can see swelled areas from rust and water intrusion where the cable goes into the transom shield.<br />That bellows small shift cable bellows goes on the hose the cable comes out of on the inside of the boat.

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> That gimbal bearing is so rusted from having water in the bellows it's no wonder there are cracks. The bearing needs replaced, along with the bellows and most likely the ujoints.<br />

That's not rust - it's the black rubber seal behind the gimbal bearing. The bearing isn't pictured. I'm not sure why it's so brown, I guess the grease, dirt, and bright light just added up to brown in the pic.<br /><br />We're replacing the bearing, I did the u-joints last spring - looking directly at it (not through a computer monitor and slightly out of focus pic) I can see no signs of water intrusion.<br /><br />

Originally posted by Don S:<br />The cable is also toast. You can see swelled areas from rust and water intrusion where the cable goes into the transom shield.<br />

I'm surprised you believe that cable's shot.<br />There's no rust on it. There's a lot of dirt/dust from it rubbing the walls of that hole as we took retaining nut off the back side of the pivot hsg. I can't remember for certain, but it's quite possible the shop that replaced the gears in the lower unit 2 seasons ago also replaced the shift cable.<br /><br />

Originally posted by Don S:<br />That bellows small shift cable bellows goes on the hose the cable comes out of on the inside of the boat.

Ah, I see. I should have looked closer at the exploded view of the transom mount parts.

 

[Donald Terrell]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Liquid, I am planning on removing my outdrive for service and to try and find out why shifting is so difficult. I have an 88 OMC Sunbird Corsair with the 4.3 as yours. If I may ask, how much did it cost to have the gearset in the lower unit replaced? In your picture, it looks as if there is another hole which is not aligned, behind where the gimball bearing was removed? When removing the gim bearing, did you have to remove a race? Do you have the alignment tool to align engine and drive shaft? I have the transom service kit and I to would have guessed that the small cable bellows you pictured would have went on the outside as you thought, In my boat, access to the rear of the engine is limited even after removing the carpeted panels. See my post which is something like,"Finally made some progress with proper tune up. Donwon Good Luck!

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Originally posted by DonWon:<br /> Liquid, I am planning on removing my outdrive for service and to try and find out why shifting is so difficult. I have an 88 OMC Sunbird Corsair with the 4.3 as yours. If I may ask, how much did it cost to have the gearset in the lower unit replaced?

Well, we had found the gearset on ebay for around $200, and from what I've seen the normal price would be closer to 400, and luckily for us our mechanic had no problem installing parts from other suppliers. Also, we had entirely disassebled the lower unit before we took it to the shop. It seems that would save them some time, but it may not have effected our bill.<br />Anyway - we were charged $6xx, I don't remember the exact total, but I believe it was less than 650.<br /><br />

Originally posted by DonWon:<br />In your picture, it looks as if there is another hole which is not aligned, behind where the gimball bearing was removed?

No, it's aligned, it's just the angle of the camera that makes it look offset.<br /><br />

Originally posted by DonWon:<br />When removing the gim bearing, did you have to remove a race?

No - it came out as one piece.<br /><br />

Originally posted by DonWon:<br />Do you have the alignment tool to align engine and drive shaft?

Getting one off ebay this week.<br /><br />

Originally posted by DonWon:<br />Donwon Good Luck!

Good luck to you as well.

 

[Donald Terrell]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Thank you Liquid_force! It sounds like if I need the gearset installed I am taliking 1000 to 1500 dollars, maybe even swapping out for a rebuilt one. How is the alignment tool used. I remember helping my Pop change motors in a 69 ford econoline van one time and we had to buy a tool to align the cluth plates before installing the transmission. I was hoping that this was a step I could skip assuming nothing has changed concerning engine position. I supose worn motor mounts could effect the alignment and are what is used to sraighten it. My boat has always slipped once every time I throttled up, a thud like noise, maybe the clutch dog gears slipping before completely engaging. As long as I went on and throttled up quickly I would hear no more noises. I had it a Marina once and they said maybe they could tighten the shift cable which they did and for a couple seasons it made no noise, my question is what did the marina do to tighten the shift cable and eliminate the thud noise if only for a couple seasons?

 

[Donald Terrell]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Liquid_force, Did you find the alignment tool on ebay which was half the price of the original. I found one which was black instead of plated like on ebasic power's web site.I don't want to say much until we have ours. The part number matched and this person had several. I guessed that you were the one that asked about buying one and having it shipped out to use this week. It looks simple with a two stepped tapered end and a roughened handle. Do you think this person machines these, and are you concerned that they are black unlike the plated originals. I am still a little confused if the engine is aligned now and I remove the drive why would I need the tool. How do you use the tool? I am guessing that the tool can be helpful to align the new gimball bearing if having trouble getting the drive back on. Thanks for responding to me!

 

[Donald Terrell]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Liquid_force, Did you find the alignment tool on ebay which was half the price of the original. I found one which was black instead of plated like on ebasic power's web site.I don't want to say much until we have ours. The part number matched and this person had several. I guessed that you were the one that asked about buying one and having it shipped out to use this week. It looks simple with a two stepped tapered end and a roughened handle. Do you think this person machines these, and are you concerned that they are black unlike the plated originals. I am still a little confused if the engine is aligned now and I remove the drive why would I need the tool. How do you use the tool? I am guessing that the tool can be helpful to align the new gimball bearing if having trouble getting the drive back on. Thanks for responding to me!

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Originally posted by DonWon:<br />How is the alignment tool used. I remember helping my Pop change motors in a 69 ford econoline van one time and we had to buy a tool to align the cluth plates before installing the transmission. I was hoping that this was a step I could skip assuming nothing has changed concerning engine position. I supose worn motor mounts could effect the alignment and are what is used to sraighten it.

I haven't used one yet, only read about the procedure. Search "omc alignment" or just "alignment" and I'm sure there's tons of info on using one.<br />Most of the tech's on here continually beat it into people's heads that you REALLY need to check alignment any time the drive's removed, and certainly when the gimbal brg is pulled. According to them a few thousandths of an inch could mean a new engine coupler ($200+), which requires engine removal.<br /><br />

Originally posted by DonWon:<br />My boat has always slipped once every time I throttled up, a thud like noise, maybe the clutch dog gears slipping before completely engaging. As long as I went on and throttled up quickly I would hear no more noises.

Sounds exactly like what ours did for a few months leading up to gear replacement.<br /><br />

Originally posted by DonWon:<br />my question is what did the marina do to tighten the shift cable and eliminate the thud noise if only for a couple seasons?

I have no idea - I'd say they may have tried to compensate for a worn transom shift cable. I would think eventually adjustments will no longer help.

 

[Donald Terrell]

Re: Pulled gimbal bearing - stress cracks on hsg (pics)

Thank You, Liquid, I was hoping that removing the outdrive would expose why the shifting is so difficult, but it seems that I may soon need lower unit work. The previous owners of my boat said that it had always made that noise, one thud on take off and the marina said not to worry until it was a problem at higher speeds. When I say marina, I mean a local marine dealer which no longer works on IO's. Fortunately I have a connection to their former IO tech which is working from his home now. For the past couple of seasons my boat has been running very poorly, however after doing a proper, complete tune up it once again is running good. I am planning on taking the family out before removing my drive incase the drive is off for an extended period. It's okay as long as we don't want to put around slow, and who wants to do that, Ha Ha. Thanks again for talking with me and for the picture you posted. Donwon