1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

[bryank75]

So I had bought new U joints and gimbal bearing, bellows and took outdrive off and the original 1992 components look and feel as tight as the replacements I had purchased a couple months back. This is a trailered boat that only sees occasional use in warm freshwater only. I am going to replace the trim senders and I've sneaked the new wires up with help from the old wires. I've felt the gimbal bearing over and over side to side and can't feel any roughness or play. Bellows had no water, just a butload of grease near the bearing and that's due to me sealously greasing that thing. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Bryan

 

[achris]

Re: 1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

The place to check the bellows on the Gen IIs is where they rub on the end of the hinge pins. That's where they go through. If you check that area and find it thin, replace now rather than wait until they fail and fill the bellows with water...

If the gimbal is good, you have a nice new spare...

Chris......

 

[tpenfield]

Re: 1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

If it ain't broke . . .

I will say that the bearings may feel very good to the touch, but if you are noticing 'growling' from the outdrive on turns and in high trimmed positions, then maybe the bearings/ujoints are ready for replacement.

If all is fine, I'm not sure why you purchased the new stuff

 

[bryank75]

Re: 1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

Because yes I was hearing growl from hi trim position. This was my first I/0 boat and would let it idle often at trailer position... Learning curves.


Bryan

 

[mark1905]

Re: 1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

Because yes I was hearing growl from hi trim position. This was my first I/0 boat and would let it idle often at trailer position... Learning curves.


Bryan

From the highest TRIM position or when you had it all the way up in the TRAILER position.. as in.. the highest it would go..?

You should never, ever start the motor all the way up in the trailer position. If you did, then that growling you're hearing is normal as you're straining the heck out of your u-joints. Which... is precisely why you should never, ever do that..

 

[bryank75]

Re: 1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

I bought the boat from an individual, not a dealer, wasn't schooled on all the in's and out's of I/O sterndrives. Yes I would frequently run the boat on trailer position. I learned.

 

[mark1905]

Re: 1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

I bought the boat from an individual, not a dealer, wasn't schooled on all the in's and out's of I/O sterndrives. Yes I would frequently run the boat on trailer position. I learned.

Yup. That would be your problem. Think about what the drive shaft looks like when you're running the motor with the out drive all the way up.. it's doubled back at a 45 degree angle or so. U-joints aren't meant to accommodate such huge degree of angle offset.. and that's why they're clacking like crazy. Anytime you start the motor, it needs to be at very minimum at the top of the trim range..

I cringe to the point of almost tears sometimes watching these drunken dummies at the sandbar start their motors to charge their batteries with the out drive all the way up and the u-joints screaming for miles... REV REV REV.. *cringe* *cringe* *cringe*

 

[tpenfield]

Re: 1992 4.3LX gimbal bearing, u-joints look,feel perfect

Because yes I was hearing growl from hi trim position. This was my first I/0 boat and would let it idle often at trailer position... Learning curves.


Bryan

Yup, technically, you should not run the engine with the outdrive up in the 'trailer' range. . .

I do it occaissionaly when I have to get to my mooring at low tide. If you ran it for extended periods or frequently in that position, then yes, probably ujoints would be in order.