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- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 25
Did a search of the forum for this and came up pretty dry on my specific question...
How much play is acceptable between the upper swivel pin and the steering lever on a Mercruiser Alpha 1?
I am familiar with 3 differernt upper swivel pin designs: a splined/splined upper shaft, a square/splined design and a square/square design. Mine is the square/splined variety - the pin to gimbal ring have a square interface and the pin to steering lever interface is splined.
A couple things I am certain of:
1. There is NO play between the swivel pin and the gimbal ring. The 2 aft-facint bolts on the gimbal ring are properly tight and there is no relative 'play' between those components.
2. The play I am questioning comes from the actual splined interface between the upper swivel shaft and the steering lever. There is probably +/- 3 degrees of play between the lever and pin with the lock bolt on the steering lever torqued to spec.
Should there be NO play between the steering arm and the upper pivot pin? Replacement parts for my application are going to run around $400 ($250 for the upper pin, $130 for the steering arm). Just want to be certain my existing parts need to be replaced before I lay down the clams. I have to yank the engine to replace the coupler, so I'm not out much aside from the $ to swap the steering lever / upper pin at this point, but if the existing parts are still good I don't see a need to replace.
The splined components (the male splined part of the pin and female splined part of the lever) do not appear to be worn.
In order to change out the pin and lever, I have to replace both - the square / splined pin and splined steering lever are obsolete parts and no longer available.
Thanks!
How much play is acceptable between the upper swivel pin and the steering lever on a Mercruiser Alpha 1?
I am familiar with 3 differernt upper swivel pin designs: a splined/splined upper shaft, a square/splined design and a square/square design. Mine is the square/splined variety - the pin to gimbal ring have a square interface and the pin to steering lever interface is splined.
A couple things I am certain of:
1. There is NO play between the swivel pin and the gimbal ring. The 2 aft-facint bolts on the gimbal ring are properly tight and there is no relative 'play' between those components.
2. The play I am questioning comes from the actual splined interface between the upper swivel shaft and the steering lever. There is probably +/- 3 degrees of play between the lever and pin with the lock bolt on the steering lever torqued to spec.
Should there be NO play between the steering arm and the upper pivot pin? Replacement parts for my application are going to run around $400 ($250 for the upper pin, $130 for the steering arm). Just want to be certain my existing parts need to be replaced before I lay down the clams. I have to yank the engine to replace the coupler, so I'm not out much aside from the $ to swap the steering lever / upper pin at this point, but if the existing parts are still good I don't see a need to replace.
The splined components (the male splined part of the pin and female splined part of the lever) do not appear to be worn.
In order to change out the pin and lever, I have to replace both - the square / splined pin and splined steering lever are obsolete parts and no longer available.
Thanks!