'99 BIII Help

[Eyeman]

I sure goofed.:facepalm: While removing the bell housing, I snapped the fitting in the gimbal housing where the gear oil tube connects. Anybody know how to get the fitting out of the gimbal housing? I could also use some guidance on replacing the shift bellows. Do I need to locate the linkage under the hood, disconnect it, pull it out of the gimbal housing and then slide the bellow on from the linkage end?

 

[Don S]

Re: '99 BIII Help

I snapped the fitting in the gimbal housing where the gear oil tube connects.

No way you could have prevented it from breaking. Another triumph of engineering. Very thin plastic fitting, and a stiff hose that you can't take off. Then to make matters worse, there is an E clip (#9) on the inside of the transom shield and a quick disconnect on the inside hose both of which you may or may not get to without pulling the engine. Just depends on the access of your engine compartment.
Here is a picture of it. Your local Merc dealer probably carries 10 on the shelf. Get extra snap rings and tie a light string on it for when you drop it half a dozen times.

 

[Eyeman]

Re: '99 BIII Help

Really. It almost makes a guy want to abandon the reservoir. Thanks for the guidance Don. It's time to go stand on my head, with a mirror and trouble light.

 

[Eyeman]

Re: '99 BIII Help

No way. The boat is powered with a 5.7L, power steering and is sea water cooled. Would it make sense to remove the steering assembly and/or the exhaust tube(s) and/or the sea water hoses? This work will need to be done blind, so I'll have to get the part and practice with my eyes closed. Batteries, water heater and holding tank will for sure need to be removed. Maybe even the trim/tilt unit. Who designs this stuff? Have they ever spoken with a mechanic? I'm a mechanical engineer by education and I'd be ashamed to have designed something like this. Rant over.... and to think the MerCruiser factory is less than an hour from here.

 

[Don S]

Re: '99 BIII Help

Who designs this stuff? Have they ever spoken with a mechanic?

LOL, they don't want to talk to us. They would probably suffer sever knots and swelling about the head and shoulders.

I doubt that any of them ever passed engineering school.

 

[Eyeman]

Re: '99 BIII Help

Score!!! After bloody knuckles, torn pants and a bump on the knoggen that little plastic dewhinkee is finally out. Next stop is a machinist to fabric something that is real. After that I'm headed to Fon du lac, WI (MerCruiser) to have a frank discussion with Engineering. Hey Don, if they offer royalties you're in for a cut. Thanks for the help.

 

[boat127]

Re: '99 BIII Help

what i do to install the jesus clip is i glue a tie strap to it with some locktite 499 or equilvant and you can bent the tie strap a little and use a long skinny flat blade screw driver and gently get it into place it itsnt easy but it works and be patient once you get the clip in place i hold it in place with the screw driver and yank off the tie strap

 

[Eyeman]

Re: '99 BIII Help

I think I have it figured out. It's a conspiracy or better stated a collaboration. These guys are good. "Make it so it breaks, get the okay backyard mechanics really p****d off so they take it to a dealer next time." It's the dealers that are driving this. Those SOB's. I'll bet the factory gets a cut of the dealer service labor too.

Thanks for all the advance folks.

 

[Don S]

Re: '99 BIII Help

It's the dealers that are driving this.

What ??????? are you on drugs?????

They don't want to pizz off their customers like that either. When a guy brings his boat in for a new bellows and gets a call back that the engine has to come out to replace a cheap plastic fitting. You can bet the customer will not go back to that guy again, and shops don't really like loosing customers.
Put the blame where it belongs, the idiots that designed it, or I should say redesigned it. The fitting used to be made of brass and didn't break.

 

[Eyeman]

Re: '99 BIII Help

Humbled.:redface: You're right, it's those d*** engineers and that's where it stops. And you are absolutely right-on with Joe boater not understanding pulling an engine to replace a piece of plastic.

Seriously. If I get a machinist to fab one of these, is brass the answer? Maybe aluminum?