1999 SX drive u joints have zirk fittings; does that mean they've been replaced?

[insttech1]

So I bought the boat this summer, and ran it until winterization time.

I got the drive off, with the intention to replace the bellows, gimbal bearing, and inspect the u joints.

U-joint area is packed full of green grease; to me that means they topped it off each season, but didn't
replace the bellows often. There is no standing water in there; there is enough grease in the bottom
of the bellows to lube the bearing 5 times over....I can barely see the edge of the gimbal from all the grease....
so I'm also wondering if I should replace the gimbal, or just repack it?

But the u joints have zirks, look to be in good shape, and I don't think they need anything more than a
good cleanup and repacking. But I thought the originals didn't have zirks?

Thanks for the info!

 

[Don S]

Re: 1999 SX drive u joints have zirk fittings; does that mean they've been replaced?

Have you owned the boat since 99? They may have been replaced before. maybe for water in the bellows.
If you have too much grease in the bellows, it probably came from the gimbal bearing, unless people overfill the ujoints and not wipe off the excess.

 

[insttech1]

Re: 1999 SX drive u joints have zirk fittings; does that mean they've been replaced?

No Don I just bought it this summer. I had planned on replacing the u joints as a preventative measure, along with the gimbal bearing, just because I don't know the full history of the boat. I wanted to check it out and see what type of joints were in there (inner or outer clip) so I didn't have to pay $400 for the whole assembly, when I discovered the zirks on there, which I wasn't expecting.

The PO told me about replacing the power steering pump, and how much time had been spent maintaining the boat, but the bellows obviously hadn't been done in a few years, as they were dry-rotted, but not compromised.

Thanks Again.