Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

J

jee70611

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
226
Hi guys, <br /><br />I've got a problem. I was trying to remove the outdrive on my 1986 Alpha One 140 and I couldn't get it to seperate more than about an 1\8 to 3\16 of an inch. I did look up, underneath the drive at the shift shaft coming out of the lower unit and it is facing the right way. I think the driveshaft may be rusted to the gimbal bearing. The reason I think that is because the transom is rotted and the goofball that had it last just put a bunch of silicone around the transom assembly. I believe water may have gotten on it that way. I also remember hearing quite a bit of noise coming from the rear of the engine the last time it was run. Do any of you have any tricks I can try to get it out or am I stuck with pulling the engine out first then beating it out? Also, will I be able to remove the engine with the outdrive still attached? :confused: <br /><br />Thanks for any help,<br /><br />James
 
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rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

hello<br /> DO NOT PRY<br /> make sure the unit and the shiftlinkage is in fwd gear. if the unit still wont come off then it is time to play. are the front motor monts still solid? particularly the stringer area that the mount rests on?<br /> it may be that the engine is out of alignment. if the shifter is in fwd then it will come off. and yes I have had to pull engines due to suck gimbals. usually due to the bearing cocked due to the retaner housing notches facing aft. <br /> good luck and keep posting
 
B

BRIAN03

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Oct 17, 2003
Messages
284
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

If you are 100 percent the drive is in foward. The gimbal bearing is holding the drive on. If you feel you can do the work. Here how to pull a stuck gimbal bearing holding the drive on. 1. Remove all the nuts that hold the drive on six. 2. Remove the trim rams leave the trim lines on the rams. front and rear pins and clips. 3. You need two people and a two by four. (pressure treated )if you can find one. (two by four about a foot long). 4. Next put the two by four at the top of the drive side ways so that it hits the top of the drive and the transome bracket.5. lift up on the drive till the two by four is on the top of the drive and the transome bracket it should be most of the way raised up. 6. When the two by four is in place now pull up on the drive and it will pull the gimbal bearing out on the input shaft of the drive. It has always worked for me. If the two by four is in the correct place.
 
Walt T

Walt T

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 16, 2002
Messages
1,369
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

sometimes doing what Brian says and dropping the drive a couple times will jar it loose. Be careful.
 
T

tylerin

Commander
Joined
Jul 25, 2003
Messages
2,368
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

I've had this problem where the gimbal was stuck to the shaft and I did as DieselWalt said and lifted the drive up a little and dropped it a few times. What makes it difficult is you're pulling the gimbal which will be stuck to the shaft. After you get the drive out you'll need to heat up the bearing to remove it from the shaft. This is if the gimbal is actually stuck to the drive line
 
S

Seaboo2

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 25, 2003
Messages
158
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

My clymer manual actually recomends (as a last resort) dropping the outdrive as mentioned above. I had to do it to mine (gimble rusted) and it was really easy and effective (just a little scarry). I've talked to several others that have done the same and none of them have dammaged anything either.
 
J

jee70611

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
226
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

Thanks for the replies everybody. I tried the 2x4 trick to no avail. I kinda think that the transom is flexing too much to get a good whack at it. I guess I'll just pull the engine out first then knock it out. It has to come out anyways so no biggie.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />James
 
J

jee70611

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
226
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

SUCCESS!!!! :D I thought for a minute today and decided to use the 2x4 trick again. This time I decided to use those two wonderful hydraulic presses that, for some reason, just fit it perfectly LOL :p . Well, I just trimmed it up and off it came. I also found out what that hellacious racket was from the rear of the gimbal area. I have this strange feeling that I MIGHT need new u-joints :p :rolleyes: . Glastron Pics The last five pics at the bottom are of the u-joints and bellows. Thanks for all the help.<br /><br />James
 
C

CCrew

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 10, 2003
Messages
416
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

Naa those are still good, put 'em back in and run with them! (at least maybe a foot or so!) :D :D
 
B

BMDODGE

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 16, 2003
Messages
157
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

maybe it's just the picture...but are some teeth broken off the retainer nut ??? see pic #10 - maybe it just looks like it because the seal is still in place ??? - thanks,bruce
 
J

jee70611

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
226
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

LOL CCrew. I'm just glad I didn't try to run this boat yet. Bruce, now that you mention it, I checked and yes some of the teeth are broken and/or ground down. I hope I don't have any problems getting it off. The rest of the drive seems to be in great shape. I changed the gear oil and it looked fine so hopefully the drive is fine. <br /><br />James
 
B

BRIAN03

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Messages
284
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

I always use the rams. I thought that you couldnt do any real damage if you did it wrong. Its hard to explain some times what you are thinking. Good job.
 
R

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
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Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

hello<br /> wow<br /> there are 2 things I will gaurantee. one is that you will have to cut the spanner nut off. and two the seal surface on the input yoke will fail and your first clue will be when the upper case fails. if the yoke ever rusts like that then the rust will get uder the input seal and the upper drive oil will leak into the bellows. if your not going to fix it now at least install a lube oil level monitor kit and try to save your drive. man that is some wicked damage.<br /> good luck and keep posting
 
J

jee70611

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
226
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

Hi rodbolt, I'm glad you mentioned the shaft seal. I intend to go over it meticulously. I was going to change out the seals anyways. It sat up for a long time and I hope that is the cause of the rust. Also, I don't see any lube leaking out of it. As long as it's not going to cost too much to get it back in service I'm gonna go ahead with it. The engine runs great and the boat itself is in really good shape except for the wood under the floor. I called Glastron and if the technician I talked to can find the original diagrams for that hull he said he would mail them to me :D . I sure hope he can. I don't really "need" them, but it would make it easier. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />James
 
R

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

hello<br /> the cause of the rust was water in the drive bellows. the water can come from the bellows leaking, from an upper shift shaft seal and a drive gasket failure. or it sank on the trailer and filled the bellows with water. this happens a lot.looks like the shift slide pocket has had water intrusion as well. time to make a careful inventory of repairs needed. I hope it was all fresh water and not saltwater :) <br />good luck and keep posting
 
J

jee70611

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
226
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

Hi rodbolt. Sorry it took so long to reply. You're right about the bellows. There's a big crack in it that let the water in. Hopefully there aren't any major problems, but I do intend to go over it well. It'll definitely be resealed at the least. Even if I do have to replace the input shaft, it would still be worth fixing. I've only got $800 in the boat so I'm in a pretty good position financially with it. <br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />James<br /><br />PS: It is a fresh-water boat.
 
Liquid_force

Liquid_force

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 7, 2003
Messages
318
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

I know I'm barely getting in on the tail end of this, but I have a quick/hopefully simple question.<br /><br />Someone mentioned earlier making sure the drive is in fwd gear. I pulled my drive unit in the fall and don't remember doing that, but it still came off ok - a little force, but not too bad.<br /><br />Do I need to make sure it's in drive when I reinstall it and might I have damaged something by not putting it in gear?
 
D

djvan

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 3, 2003
Messages
411
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

Yes put it in forwad gear on the shift lever and turn the lower unit gear shift to forward gear also. Some people use a rubber strap on the prop to keep it in gear (you'll understand once you get into it), or a helper can do this also.<br /><br />HTH's <br /><br />DougV>
 
R

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Stuck Gimbal Bearing?

liquid_force<br /> if yours is a cobra leave it in nuetral. if it is an alpha place in fwd. if its a bravo leave it in nuetral.<br /> good luck and keep posting
 
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