Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

[outboardnut]

Hi Everyone

I'm having trouble doing my first gimbel bearing. It is an alpha one/gen one outdrive with 4.3 v-6.

According to my manual.....you just remove the outdrive(which I did, no problem) then insert puller number #$@!!!$#$ (that I don't have) into the bearing hole and use the slide hammer to remove.

I put a home-made slide hammer in her and banged the bejezes out of it with no luck.
Next I attached the ATV(it's ok to laugh) and a log chain out of frustration and REALLY hammered it.

Still no budging.

Someone tell me there is a retaining ring or something holding this.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

Ayuh,....

The Really Old 1s had a snap-ring....

Sounds like your's might be Corroded.....

The Worst I've seen is pulling the motor out,....
Then Beating it out with a BFH,+ punch.....

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

To the best of my knowledge there is not a retainer holding the bearing in. Least there was not on mine. I had to use a 3 foot slide and even then it took so much force that the trailer moved. An ATV? Thats kinda funny actually. Although a long continuous pull may do more damage than good (stress fractures, etc). Short heavy jerking seems to break it free the fastest.

 

[outboardnut]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

Is a 1988 condsidered really old?

 

[outboardnut]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

It's a 2 wheel drive recon.......and I did short hard pulls.

Next step I can think of is to hook it on to a damn tree and pull with the truck.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

Is a 1988 condsidered really old?

Nope,... Mid-70s is Old.......

 

[captk]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

Use a threaded rod instead of the slide hammer. A little slower but a lot more power. the manual says slide hammer, but describes the threaded rod.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

Captk has it right. Just changed mine 2 weeks ago. Started whaling on it one afternoon with a normal slide hammer. Broke that. Switched to a BMF slide hammer and beat on it all evening. Didn't budge. Came back the next evening and rigged up a threaded puller similar to what's shown in the manual. Couldn't believe how easily it came out.

 

[buggiedad_67]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

thats the problem it was a two wheel drive, us down here in the south use the four wheel drive, what up with that whimpy stuff, just kidding just keep pounding it took two days for mine to come out.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

thats the problem it was a two wheel drive, us down here in the south use the four wheel drive, what up with that whimpy stuff, just kidding just keep pounding it took two days for mine to come out.

Ummm no Ford's down there huh......

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

If your thinking hooking the boat / bearing to a tree and pulling the trailer you may wind up pulling the boat off the trailer if that thing is really stuck / coroded in there.Be carefull.

Worst case you need to beat it out from inside the boat wich means .........MOTOR PULL.......

Good luck with that....I promiss you once you put in the new bearing the boat will run silky smooth and quiet. You can definetly tell the differance if yours is as bad as mine was and it sounds like it is.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

hay yall watch this, my reply? lemme hold your beer.

keep jacking around and you will post about transom sheild damage and the still stuck bearing.
occasionally one is tight enough that I have to use a threaded rod,a plate and a nut and simply pull the bearing out.
most times the 5lb slide hammer is enough, occasionally the slower but sure method of pulling is what has to be done.
I cant help but laugh with the mental picture of had that bearing popped free and actually made it out of the bell housing and came at you at something close to the speed of sound.
man that may leave a mark
ever google Darwin awards ?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

I remeber an old 68 alpha unit that a friend couldn't get the bearing out. He finally pulled the motor to beat it out, but the bearing still won. He called me up since I've had a bit of experience with them. I blasted the bearing with some old freon and a few taps with a hammer it popped right out. However since the EPA laws of 1992, it is illegal to discharge freon into the atmosphere.

Yep, I've witnessed the chain to the tree method and I still shake my head sideways everytime I think about it.

 

[buggiedad_67]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

Ummm no Ford's down there huh......

fords???? no no no no!! we use dodge v10 hook the trailer to the back of the out house tie the boat down and let her rip. works every time, then all we have to do is super glue the transome back on and head to the pond

 

[baylinerbill]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

make sure you didn't damage the u-joint bellow after do get it out. Would suck to have to do it all over again.

 

[spydermann11]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

Sounds like I am in for SOME FUN!! I am looking to do this job next weekend.
Never seen it done. I do have the Climers manual and some other literature that I have found.
My wife will watch I am sure and be full of suggestions!
I usually can fix anything but reading up on this subject is making me nervous.
I will be replacing the bellows while I am in there.
Any suggestions (not from my or your wife) as far as what to watch for and what tools will absolutely be necessary?
I do not have an ATV puller.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

If either one of y'all uses the "tree method" please record video and post a link to it on this thread...

You have to apply the force in the right direction. A threaded puller is definitely the way to go...

 

[spydermann11]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

video it is. I now see another advantage to that Jet Drive.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

On the same line as SS MAYFLOAT'S outlawed freon......... try packing the bearing with dry ice. I have used that trick several times to free stuck items from bearings to threaded fasteners. I generally reserve it for a last ditch effort. Unless I'm worried about excess heat or blunt force trauma messing something else even worse.................................................. And the left over dry ice is great for stage effects...............and quick cooling adult beverages.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Do I need a bigger ATV to pull my gimbel bearing?

However since the EPA laws of 1992, it is illegal to discharge freon into the atmosphere.

Yup, that is tough, but I can find liquid nitrogen around my area and have used that to do the same, but not on a gimbal. Sometimes, you can find -75 at local autoparts places but it can get expensive.