JR Marine Kit in Australia

[Mischag]

Hi there, first post but have been using this site for nearly 2 years to keep up maintenance and my love for my boat. But now I need to do the major repair of the steering arm/lever/pin.
I have a 3.0l Mercruiser Alpha Gen II in a Sea Ray 180BR and am wanting to use the JR Marine Kit to access everything at the back without removing the engine. My closest mechanic that COULD look at it is 600km's away, and then it'll be a $2,500 repair job apparently.
My views are that I could do it for under $1,500 using the kit, as my boat is in quite good shape and corrosion isn't huge as it's never been in saltwater in 16 years.
I have tried to contact JR Marine via email but it just bounces, and so am wondering about any other sources to access this kit? I can get the Mercruiser kit locally online, but like the idea of the JR Marine kit more.

Can anyone help me by pointing me to a US shop that sells the JR Marine kit that will ship to Australia? I will probably be ordering parts and things as well from the US, so even a one-stop-shop that has most of it would make it easier.

I have all the parts and numbers needed. Have researched like crazy, and just now need to bite the bullet and starting ordering things so I can get this done before I start losing too much summer time!!

Please help!!

Thanks heaps,

Mischa

 

[Pete104]

Have you looked at it really close? It is a good alternative to Mercurys method. If you can do the repair, why can't you make pieces? Ain't no biggy.

Try calling?

 

[stonyloam]

When I did mine (Mercruiser method), I simply saved the two round cutouts from the housing sides, made a couple of thin aluminum backing plates, epoxied them in place in the housing and used JB Weld to epoxy the cutouts back in. Sanded smooth and painted, even left the dimples in. You would never know that it had been drilled. I personally would not use the plastic plugs. I have some photos somewhere if interested.

 

[Mischag]

Pete104, I have looked at it closely, and have nearly resigned myself to making the parts up myself. all it really looks like is a rectangular shaped gasket with 4 holes in the corners, and a piece of sheet aluminium that goes over the top? If that's all it is, I can probably do it myself. I have found two places that sell the kit in the US, but at $100 a pop with postage, I think I could do it for cheaper... Just was hoping someone could help in providing the kit stuff in Australia for cheaper before I bit the bullet and went and made it myself... Thanks also to stony loam, have thought about reusing the bits and JB Welding them back...could be another cheaper option!

 

[Pete104]

When I did mine (Mercruiser method), I simply saved the two round cutouts from the housing sides, made a couple of thin aluminum backing plates, epoxied them in place in the housing and used JB Weld to epoxy the cutouts back in. Sanded smooth and painted, even left the dimples in. You would never know that it had been drilled. I personally would not use the plastic plugs. I have some photos somewhere if interested.

Very clever! I hate those plugs.