Drive question

[lamphega]

I am working on replacing gimbal bearing and bellows. I have the outdrive off and am working on hinge pins. I have the older style with nail through pin and am having the devils time getting nails out. I can't pivot the gimbal ring enough to get to the bent pin end. Any tips? Should I take the gimbal ring off? And how difficult is that?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Drive question

Hey lamp - Since this is an I/O question you might have better luck posting in the Mercruiser forum for better visibility. I don't have the answer for you but the guys over there will be able to help you. Good luck.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Drive question

Should I take the gimbal ring off? And how difficult is that?

while i've not done that. i've read the instructions some in the s/m. from memory of reading, removing the gimble ring is gonna be one big pain in the bottom to do on our nineteens. best i can see, one thing ya need to do to remove the gimble ring is to remove a plug that sits at the very top of the gimble housing. this plug is right up against the transom. above the mercruiser sticker, but on the top of the gimble housing. ya remove this plug with a flat blade screw driver. then ya drift the top pivot pin that holds the gimble ring to the gimble housing through to the inside of the gimble ring. we can't do that. with our curved transoms and the one flat spot for the gimble housing to sit flush against. that screw is inaccessible. there may be a 1/4 to 1/2'' of space between the boat and the gimble housing. a flat blade ain't happening, a drift punch aint happening. best i can see it's a no go all around for removing the gimble ring. short of... pull the drive, pull the engine, pull everything else on the inside so ya can remove the gimble housing. inner transom plate has to go. to me it looks like the full monte for labor intensive. everything has to go. then ya can do it (remove the gimble ring)on the bench.

least that's the way it looks to me as to how it gets done.

ya get them nails out yet?

 

[lamphega]

Re: Drive question-Got them

Re: Drive question-Got them

Thanks for the help. After much effort I got the hinge pin nails out and the hinge pins slid right out. Now I can clean out good, replace gimbal bearing and all the bellows as well as hose. The drive bellows had holes in it and I guess that is what cooked the bearing. Next stop-AutoZone to rent/borrow a slide hammer. I wonder if I should replace shift cable while I am here-seems OK but as long as drive is off... Nasty, dirty job all in all but next year my baby is going to be set for a long summer of use.
The port nail is in rough shape-the other is nicer. Hope I can reuse.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Drive question-Got them

Re: Drive question-Got them

After much effort I got the hinge pin nails out

way to go lamphega. patience has it's virtues don't it.. good job.

and the hinge pins slid right out

to me, that might be something to be concerned with. i know on my drive, i'm concerned. i have a little up/down slop in my drive. i think it's coming from the hinge pins. mine came out easy too. your supposed to have to use a slide hammer to remove them. mine were not that tight.

Now I can clean out good, replace gimbal bearing and all the bellows as well as hose.

have fun with the hose. you'll know what hosed is before ya get done with that. imho. get the oem hose. it's real thick and stiff. a real mother to install. also, i'm a by the book guy. but in this case start at the gimble hosing side first and route back to the bell housing. i say this because yer gonna be twisting and pushing to get the hose on the gimble housing end. if it's already connected to the bell housing, imho, this will lead to a kink. it did for me anyways. i got to do mine twice.

The port nail is in rough shape-the other is nicer. Hope I can reuse.

i hope so too. like i said, i think the small nails are nla. imho, if it pins the hins pin + bends over on the sharp end enough so as to not work it's way out. it's serviceable. good luck. sounds like yer doing much of the same i did to mine when i got it.

if ya had water in the bellows. be sure to pressure test the drive. water in bellows leads to a rusted drive gear yoke, which leads to a shredded ft. seal of the drive. the seal is fun to replace too...

 

[lamphega]

Re: Drive question

I noticed when I first started this job that when I drained the lower unit it seemed to be as much water as gear lube. Bad seals?

 

[lamphega]

Re: Drive question

But then again I also notices that neither fill or vent screw had a rubber washer on them

 

[ziggy]

Re: Drive question

I drained the lower unit it seemed to be as much water as gear lube. Bad seals?

could be...

But then again I also notices that neither fill or vent screw had a rubber washer on them

oh, that'd lead to water intrusion too. fwiw. be sure the seal didn't stay with the drive when ya removed the screw. mine like to stay with the drive and ya gotta remove them with a pen knife of the likes. typically the seal is blue, sometimes yellow...

imho, do a drive pressure test after reassembly. it'll make ya feel good that your not likely to get water intrusion again because ya know it's sealed..