4.3 gimbal service: parts, methods etc

[Liquid_force]

Found a tear in my u-joint bellows so will be replacing that and the bearing.

What about the seal 911795? Should that be done preventatively as well? What's the best way to get it out? Seems like a regular puller would just tear it up -- maybe not? Do I need a special driver to install it?

Pulling the bearing -- get the OMC tool or just use a generic puller?
Driving the bearing -- same question?

 

[Lou C]

I would get the tools to make this job easier, there was a recent thread on one of the forums where they showed a Mallory tool to remove the bearing that looks really good, check that out. Also I'd use a bearing driver to put in the new one, make shift methods can damage the bearing. If you use a grease-able bearing don't forget to line up the grease hole with the grease tube in the transom mount. Another trick I have heard works well is to put the bearing in a freezer a day before you install it, that will shrink it just enough to make it go in easier.

As far as the bearing seal, if it was in good shape I might leave it. If not then yes replace...
For the bellows, I would remove the pivot housing (watch those fiber washers that may fall down) and clean the gimble mounting flange for the bellows. Use an OE OMC/BRP bellows, they last a long time and fit well. I used OMC gasket sealer on the flange. Remember that the flange has a groove in it, that a rib in the inner sealing surface of the bellows fits into. The other end of the bellows just snaps into the pivot housing. Put some gasket sealer on the pivot housing bolts (recessed allen heads). The Cobra bellows is asymmetric, there are more folds on one side than the other, the side with more faces down....

 

[Liquid_force]

The boat's an '89.
We bought it in '03 and did a lot of drive maintenance including Gimbal and Bellows in...'05 (?). Don't remember much, but know we had some struggles.
Recently pulled the drive to adjust the shift cable and found the tear. Not sure what brand we used but I was surprised that it had torn.
I do remember pulling the bearing was a ton of work. Seems like I slid that hammer a thousand times.
Just trying to be better equipped this time around.

 

[Lou C]

Where did it tear? The position of the clamp that holds the bellows on to the gimble flange can be a factor here, the factory manual says between 1:00 and 3:00 position...

 

[Liquid_force]

It tore along the bottom closest to the transom.
I'm pretty sure we were aware of the location of the clamp.
What I'm not sure about is the quality of the part we used.

 

[Lou C]

When you install the new one use an OE one and make sure the side with more folds faces down. The last one I replaced was still good and it was 11 years old. Try to store drive down if possible, that extends the life of them.