Gimbal bearing.

[ericcarr]

I will be servicing my bravo three outdrive on my 1990 C race Sundancer. I am going to be replacing all of the Bellows along with the seals. I guess my question is the gimbal bearing that comes in the kit that I am thinking about getting is a non-greasy but one. Does it matter if I get a grease a bowl bearing or are the nine greaseable ones OK?

 

[alldodge]

Do not quite understand your question due to (well re-read your statement)

If you are installing a non-greaseable bearing where one which could be greased, it does not matter

Before you replace it, feel it with your fingers. If its smooth, do not replace it. I sold my 1995 boat last month with the original bearing, and it was still smooth as silk after almost 800 hours

 

[Rick Stephens]

Do not quite understand your question due to (well re-read your statement)

If you are installing a non-greaseable bearing where one which could be greased, it does not matter

Before you replace it, feel it with your fingers. If its smooth, do not replace it. I sold my 1995 boat last month with the original bearing, and it was still smooth as silk after almost 800 hours

You must of never had any kind of bellows leak! Amazing.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I will be servicing my bravo three outdrive on my 1990 C race Sundancer. I am going to be replacing all of the Bellows along with the seals. I guess my question is the gimbal bearing that comes in the kit that I am thinking about getting is a non-greasy but one. Does it matter if I get a grease a bowl bearing or are the nine greaseable ones OK?

I installed a non-greasable last time and have regretted it ever since. Only because it just bugs the crap out of me that manufacturers screw us over with sealed bearings for sales brochures.

Example: John Deere sells 3/4 million dollar combines that allow a farmer to do daily maintenance in about 15 minutes. They did this by replacing most all the greasable bearings with sealed bearings. They never advertise the fact that when those bearings start failing, they ALL start failing. Costs more to replace them all than the machine is really worth at that point. As long as you grease em and don't let em fill with water or dirt, they'll last forever.

 

[Benny67]

I installed a non-greasable last time and have regretted it ever since. Only because it just bugs the crap out of me that manufacturers screw us over with sealed bearings for sales brochures.

Example: John Deere sells 3/4 million dollar combines that allow a farmer to do daily maintenance in about 15 minutes. They did this by replacing most all the greasable bearings with sealed bearings. They never advertise the fact that when those bearings start failing, they ALL start failing. Costs more to replace them all than the machine is really worth at that point. As long as you grease em and don't let em fill with water or dirt, they'll last forever.

Another example...how about those disposable John Deer and Cub Cadets Home Depot sells?
Go with a bearing you can grease. Anything else is designed to be a wear item

 

[Bt Doctur]

When you remove the drive and if you have the remote oil res for the drive CUT the oil hose in half before removing the housing. If you snap the plastic nipple end you may have to remove the motor to fix it. If not the motor then the steering cylinder for access.

 

[Lou C]

Mine was last replaced in…..2005….no bellows leaks in that time…..greased every season….100% salt water use….

 

[alldodge]

You must of never had any kind of bellows leak! Amazing.

Correct, never
Drive comes off every year and when it looked like bellows needed replaced, it was done

Only done once

 

[Lou C]

I did the bellows in 2005 and again in 2016 when I noticed small cracks forming in the folds. That’s a sign the rubber has oxidized and is getting stiff. If you can store the boat with the drive down they can last longer but 10 years is a long time for rubber components.

 

[ericcarr]

Do not quite understand your question due to (well re-read your statement)

If you are installing a non-greaseable bearing where one which could be greased, it does not matter

Before you replace it, feel it with your fingers. If its smooth, do not replace it. I sold my 1995 boat last month with the original bearing, and it was still smooth as silk after almost 800 hours

Hmmmm ok…I just felt it with my finger tips, it does spin smoothly & quiet. I just thought it was a part that should be replaced if you had the drive & engine out..

 

[alldodge]

Hmmmm ok…I just felt it with my finger tips, it does spin smoothly & quiet. I just thought it was a part that should be replaced if you had the drive & engine out..

The old saying, if it isn't broke don't fix it

For me, I have a older greaseable one, and would install one of those before using a sealed one

 

[Lou C]

Keep in mind that your vehicles have many bearings that last the life of the vehicle. If a gimble bearing does not get contaminated with water it can last the life of the boat. What makes them last is changing the bellows on time.

 

[ericcarr]

OK, I finally got around to getting my Bellows off. The bearing seems smooth and quiet so I think I’m gonna just leave that alone. Do you guys have a suggestion on where to get a Bellows came from?

 

[Rick Stephens]

I bought my last one as and from a genuine Quicksilver/merc dealer off eBay, but that was several years ago. You can go to any of the Merc dealers, I usually use performance pro tech but other like other dealers.

 

[achris]

For me, I have a older greaseable one, and would install one of those before using a sealed one

Why? Non-greaseable is plenty good enough. The vast majority of gimbal bearings are replaced due to water ingress, not from wearing out. And when water gets in the betraying, doesn't matter if it's geaseable or not, it's gonna die...

 

[alldodge]

Why? Non-greaseable is plenty good enough. The vast majority of gimbal bearings are replaced due to water ingress, not from wearing out. And when water gets in the betraying, doesn't matter if it's geaseable or not, it's gonna die...

A sealed bearing will last so many years and will need replacing, a greaseable one will not need to be replaced with good maintenance. And again from previous post, I have never replaced a gimbal on my boat, including the 27 year old boat I just sold, never any water

 

[achris]

A sealed bearing will last so many years and will need replacing, a greaseable one will not need to be replaced with good maintenance. And again from previous post, I have never replaced a gimbal on my boat, including the 27 year old boat I just sold, never any water

I'd rather buy a boat with sealed bearings that I know won't be seized than a boat with geaseable bearings that are shot because the owner was allergic to grease guns...

The sealed unis and gimbal bearing in my boat are 16 years old, and still going strong. I really can't see the benefits of a geaseable bearings anymore....

 

[alldodge]

I'd rather buy a boat with sealed bearings that I know won't be seized than a boat with geaseable bearings that are shot because the owner was allergic to grease guns...

The sealed unis and gimbal bearing in my boat are 16 years old, and still going strong. I really can't see the benefits of a geaseable bearings anymore....

Not surprised we have difference of opinions, cheers

 

[Lou C]

Well I like the grease-able but here's a data point:
our oldest Jeep is a 1998 Grand Cherokee purchased new 24 years ago. Current mileage is 180,000. Front wheel bearings are the sealed type never been replaced and this has been driven through many north east winters and on the beach (salt water environment) many times (but not IN salt water lol).
Same Jeep also has all sealed u joints, all original.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Example: John Deere sells 3/4 million dollar combines that allow a farmer to do daily maintenance in about 15 minutes. They did this by replacing most all the greasable bearings with sealed bearings. They never advertise the fact that when those bearings start failing, they ALL start failing. Costs more to replace them all than the machine is really worth at that point. As long as you grease em and don't let em fill with water or dirt, they'll last forever.

Because comparison sites like Consumer Reports / JD Powers, etc gives products negative values for maintenance points and the marketing department is trying to push sales........ lower quality competitors are doing it and getting better comparison scores on maintenance for less points to touch.

so grease nipples go away, oil changes are pushed from 3k to 10k, winterization is pushed from 5 points to a "single point drain"

so the first owner of a product doesnt do any maintenance, sells the product (car/boat/lawn mower/etc) and the next guy gets it and has to replace parts because a shot of grease is needed, or a hypercomplexificated cooling system single point drain plumbing nightmare is plugged with debris.