Rusty Gimbal Bearing

[Bkforce9]

Hello all,

I'm new here, thank you for the opportunity to join the community.

I have just nearly finished swapping out old for new longblocks on my twin Volvo Penta 5.7l engines, and getting ready to put them back in and realign them. One outdrive was very hard to remove, and turns out has a stuck and rusty gimbal (see pictures). I can't move the gimbal with my fingers, and there is a bunch of sand or corrosion dust in there. That driveshaft is also rusty, but still rotates great and articulates at the joints good too.

I'm assuming I will need to replace the gimbal, correct? Do I need to replace the bellows as well? What would you do to the driveshaft (just clean it up?)? Here is a picture of the bad gimbal, driveshaft, and also the seemingly healthy gimbal from the other drive that still spins like a top with fingers. Thank you very much in advance for any advice.

 

[alldodge]

Gimbal and U joints need replacing
Bellows may also need replacing, look at them and if its nice soft rubber after cleaning then maybe. It doesn't look good in the pics

 

[Chris51280]

yup, that looks like an overhaul needed. Gimbal bearing and bellows along with the u-joints. Since you are in there, when was the last time you changed the shift cable? The bellows for the cable comes in the set as well and since it is out, might as well change it too.

 

[BRICH1260]

That looks like a mess. I would replace the drive shaft and U joints along with the bearing and bellows. Also from what I can see of the drive in the picture, it needs a good cleaning and re-painting too.

 

[Bkforce9]

One a side note, concerning the U joints, when I grease the U joint zerks only clean grease comes out. That change anything? It seems that the u joints are the type without snap rings, and therefore you'd have to replace the entire shaft assembly... I definitely could be wrong about that, just seems that way to me.

 

[alldodge]

Pumping in grease may not change anything if water had already made it into the bearings. Move the joints around and feel if they are smooth. If they feel smooth you can roll the dice and they may be ok, maybe not

 

[harringtondav]

I don't know the VP assembly, but the U joints were pressed in at factory assembly, so they can be pressed out. I think I see inside snap rings buried in the rust. No need to replace any shafts or the cardan unless their U joint bores are wallowed out. But the gear yoke may need to be replaced because of the rust. I've seen rust on this shaft take out the oil seal.