Alpha I Gen I Hinge Pin 'bushings' ?

mtnhillsman

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Doing a Bellows and shift cable job on my Mercruiser Alpha I Gen I and i notice the bellhousing/gimbal hinge pins are a bit loose. By that i do not mean they were not torqued properly or are falling out I mean before disassembly there was play/slop between the tight hinge pin and the gimbal ring hole where the bellhousing pivots. I'm trying to figure out if there is a bushing in there that should be replaced because once i have the bellhousing off this would be super simple to do however i do not see any bushing in any of the parts diagrams.

Appreciate any guidance here.
 

Pmt133

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So you're talking the area under the limit switch cap has slop? Or that the bell housing moves side to side?
 

mtnhillsman

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before removing the hinge pin (yes under the limit/trim sender switches) there was both up/down and side to side slop between the hinge pin and the gimbal ring. See pic. Is that bushing replaceable? I can't imagine the hinge pins wear much themselves being stainless. I would think instead there would be a softer material bushing like brass inside the red circle.
 

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Pmt133

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Also, is it the pin moving in the bore or the whole ring moving on the steering pins. There is a free play for that too.

If its the ring its repair or replace. I think JR marine still repairs them.
 

mtnhillsman

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Also, is it the pin moving in the bore or the whole ring moving on the steering pins. There is a free play for that too.

If its the ring its repair or replace. I think JR marine still repairs them.
The pin is moving in the bore. Maybe this is a dumb question but why isnt anybody drilling these out (precisely... like by a machine shop) and putting bushings in that are press in and replaceable?
 

Fun Times

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Check through the links at JR Marine to see if that fits any of your findings for repairs…

 

alldodge

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The pin is moving in the bore. Maybe this is a dumb question but why isnt anybody drilling these out (precisely... like by a machine shop) and putting bushings in that are press in and replaceable?
Don't know why Merc didn't add a bushing with the Alpha, Bravo's have a bushing. As FT mentioned, a good machine shop could add one, and while they are at it, could redo the upper steering pin area. But redoing both could just get a new one
 

Scott06

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Also the older alphas had a grease nipple there as well. gen 2 and up have none of the grease points anymore. Machine shop or replace the ring are the two options
 

mtnhillsman

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OK thanks for the replies all makes sense. So now onto how to remove the gimbal ring. Sounds like it's either pull engine to gain access to the back of the transom assembly or figure out a process to drill an access hole from the back. Not much info out there on the old Alpha 1 Gen 1. Some forums mention an official mercruiser proceedure listed in some manual but I can't tell if that's specific to the Gen 1.
 

Pmt133

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If you grind a wrench paper thin you can drop the steering pin without removing the engine. That being said, depending on access, you're better off pulling the engine.
 
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