Few questions about bellows and gimble bearing replacement.....

[bluemarshboater]

Hello all,

(5.0 mercuiser alpha 1 gen II)

First time doing the gimble, bellow, shift cable. I have a few questions that I hope I can get answers to here.

1.) I have read that the while doing the gimble you need to align..... I have an alignment bar that came with the boat. My question is, the gimble goes into a machined housing so what and how exactly do you align it...... do you pound the gimble into place while the alignment bar is in place? Do you put the gimble in all the way or just until the inner race is flush with the gimble housing? Any tricks / advice on proper alignment?

2.) Do you use any sealant between the bellows and the bellows mount surfaces? Quicksilver bellows sealant, rtv?

3.) Any tricks to getting the lower shift cable thru the transum and get it to make that 45 degree turn? I see that I can probably reroute the cable so that it goes between the exhaust and motor mount (V8) instead of making that hard turn and running along the exhaust. Must it take that one certain route that seems like a major pain in the @55 to get?

TIA
Dave

 

[victorc1]

Re: Few questions about bellows and gimble bearing replacement.....

Hello all,

(5.0 mercuiser alpha 1 gen II)

First time doing the gimble, bellow, shift cable. I have a few questions that I hope I can get answers to here.

1.) I have read that the while doing the gimble you need to align..... I have an alignment bar that came with the boat. My question is, the gimble goes into a machined housing so what and how exactly do you align it...... do you pound the gimble into place while the alignment bar is in place? Do you put the gimble in all the way or just until the inner race is flush with the gimble housing? Any tricks / advice on proper alignment?

I have a 3.0 with an alpha one gen II, I replaced the gimbal bearing and seal using a 2" pvc sch 40 tube. I pushed them all the way to the end. If you don't have the tool to remove the hinge screws use a 1/2" allen wrench. If the axle bellow has an aluminum ring, I used a 3" pvc connecter and a lot of dish soap.

2.) Do you use any sealant between the bellows and the bellows mount surfaces? Quicksilver bellows sealant, rtv?

What I understand is the sealants are a precautional measure just in case the clamps break or come lose. Do not use rtv.

3.) Any tricks to getting the lower shift cable thru the transum and get it to make that 45 degree turn? I see that I can probably reroute the cable so that it goes between the exhaust and motor mount (V8) instead of making that hard turn and running along the exhaust. Must it take that one certain route that seems like a major pain in the @55 to get?

Can't help you here.