Gen 2 gimbal ring hinge play

[greno]

I have an early Gen 2 gimbal ring (greaseable) with too much hinge play.
Has anyone milled these holes out and installed the bushings that are in the 98+ Gen 2 Design II greaseless gimbal rings?
I may even try to keep the greaseable aspect by drilling the tiny grease hole right through the bushing.

 

[harringtondav]

Interesting. I have a '96 Gen II and getting the pivot pins lined up after a bellows job is still tight. What are the symptoms? Do you have the fiber washers in place between the ring and bell housing?

 

[greno]

Symptoms are as you'd expect. 1/8" too much play at hinges. Wallowed out. At the prop you can swing the outdrive left and right by 4-5 inches. Since I'm in here for other reasons I'm going to get all this tightened up. Either by trying this bushing fix or with a new gimbal ring.

 

[harringtondav]

Wallowed pin holes can be bushed. I've found Motion Industries catalogue bronze bushings for slop problems on other applications. The two bolts at the top of the gimbal ring can add side to side slop if loose. Also the gimbal ring's swing pins and bushings can also wear. May as well check everything while you're deep into the assembly. Also the steering arm can loosen on the top swing shaft.

 

[greno]

Yep. Already doing the upper and lower bushings.
I'm going to try the Merc bushings to start with since I know they'll fit the hinge pins.