Bearing driver tool,will it work?

[flyer4ever]

I'm looking at a gimble bearing tool on E-Bay. It looks like a collar that slides over your alignment tool to drive in a bearing. Has anyone used this tool. I'm a little concerned about hammering on my alignment tool and damaging it. Also I'm worried about the end that goes onto the coupler. Seems if your alignment is off ,your driving it into the coupler and causing damage to it. Is there a better way? Thanks Ernie.

 

[ErieRon]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

Can you post the link to the tool you're talking about?

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

You need to make sure you drive the bearing in on the outer bearing race not the inner. You drive the bearing in on the innerrace and you put shock loading on the bearing its self and damage the bearing.
I used a pice of heavy wall exhaust tubing that was the same diameter as the outside of the bearing. It worked but I was changing the bearing in the boat parking lot 200 miles from home. Bought a bearing, slide hammer to pull the old bearing and exhaust tubing. Thought my bearing was going out. Boat made the same noise when done and found out when I got home the noise was actually comming from the upper gears in the outdrive. Did not know that at the time and I had never changed the gimble bearing and I bought the boat used.

 

[bw13aq18]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

I bought an alignment tool similar to your description from Ebay member whoya2350. My drive is a Mercrusier Alpha1Gen2. I haven't used the bearing and seal driver yet. However, the bearing driver appears to be well machined for only contacting the bearing carrier when installing the gimbal bearing. The seal driver is equally well machined as it will only contact the backside of the seal face when driving into place. The alignment bar is extremely heavyduty. You would have to beat the crap out of it to do any damage.
I checked my engine alignment before I pulled my old gimbal bearing. When I reinstall my new bearing, the alignment bar will slide right into the engine coupler. Shouldn't cause any problem. All this being said though, if your still concerned, just buy the mercury tool that was made to do the job. You definately won't have problems then.
Also judging by this guy ebay feedback, a lot of other people have been happy with the alignment tool and drivers.

 

[Fisnfool]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

Here is a simple tool I made out of 3 inch plastic pipe, scrap wood, and a 3/4 dowel.

The outer circle of wood on the dowel handle is the outer diameter of the plastic pipe. The inner circle of wood inside the plastic pipe is to prevent driving the dowel forward.

I used epoxy to glue all the wood pieces together. I did smear plastic pipe cement on the outer edge of the inside wood circle before pushing it down to the other wood block. The outer block is edge glued to the pipe with plastic pipe cement. Once all is epoxied, the wood is locked together.

The pounding force is transmitted to the pipe by the outside wood circle. Sand, or grind a taper on the edge of the pipe to fit to OUTER BEARING RACE. Light tapping with a ballpeen hammer was enough to set the link belt and seat the bearing. You can buy a short section of plastic pipe at Home Deopt. You do not have to by a full 10 foot section.

It worked great. Used it with the bell housing OFF, so I could reach the bearing comfortably.

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss102/jjcastings/tool7.jpg

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss102/jjcastings/tool2.jpg

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss102/jjcastings/tool1.jpg

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss102/jjcastings/tool4.jpg

 

[Big Boat Bay Buster]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

Do I recommend it?---NO! Did it work?---YES!!!

 

[Fisnfool]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

You have to be a plumber. I was too cheap to pay for the reducer etc. at retail.

PS to my other post. I do have the Merc alignment bar.

It does not matter if you check the old bearing, the new one will need aligned.

 

[mslater]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

What size pipe is that?? I am needing to make one.

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

OK, I'll date myself here but we always used the wood end of a hammer to "hammer" in the gimbel bearings on the old alpha drives. Getting the lock ring out and back in was the bigger issue as I recall. The bearing almost fell in once the seat was cleaned up. They're usually over greased by 10 pounds.

BE SURE (what ever method you use to hammer the outer bearing housing home) that you install the outer race so that the inner bearing will come out at 10 & 4 or 2 & 8. Some mechanics put them in at 3 & 9. The manual tells you about that. Replacing the outer is not always needed, it's the inner "sealed" bearing that usually goes bad. The inner comes out by rotating the inner bearing to the 10 & 4 position (whereever the inner bearing cut outs are) and then yank it out.

As for buying that bearing- we went over to Bearings Inc and bought the parts. WAY cheaper than Mercruiser parts and they were the exact same part.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Bearing driver tool,will it work?

The alignment tool is for alignment only!!!!!!!They sell another handle/rod that you can use a hammer on.Sorry I don't know the part #.J