Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

[greg82255]

Hello,

Just bought a new boat at the end of the season. 1986 Formula 206 Spider with a Merc 260/Alpha One. The previous owner claims to have had the boat dealer serviced for its entire life, and that maintenance was done as needed, but who knows. I want to check out the gimbal bearing and bellows to see if they need replacing b/c I have no idea when they were last done, if ever. What should I look for when inspecting these parts? Is replacing the 3 bellows and gimbal bearing a fairly easy job? Ive heard that getting the gimbal bearing off is hard, and have read the posts in the adults only section about making a puller. The Seloc manual I have makes everything seem so complicated. Is there a better manual out there?

 

[telstar1]

Re: Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

Replacing bellows is a hateful task at the best of times but doable,lots of helpful advice on this forum.Gimbal bearing less hateful. There is a shortcut method you could consider after reading pros and cons on forum.Its REAL easy if you do the shortcut. What to look for?Water in u joint bellows or rust on components inside it.Is bellows cracked or worn anywhere? U joint bellows is the big worry, the other two are less critical.Gimbal bearing: is it smooth when you stick fingers in and turn it? any slack?
Some will tell you to change everything even if it looks good. Me I wait till there an indication of a problem sometimes that is years down the road.Its kind of a personal/priorities decision.
Check alignment.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

Bellows are no fun, but I would change them for piece of mind. U joints I would check for ease of operation and lube and reinstall if they are good. The gimbal I would go ahead and replace. Check the alignment and for the most part you are good to go for five years or more. I have checked my alignment for three years and it never changed. Bellows still look new. I will wait a couple of years before I tear it back apart. Think of this some cruisers are ten years old and have never been pulled for a bellows replacement.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

Alright, I think I'd like to replace the gimbal either way. But don't you need to remove the bell housing and bellows to get at the gimbal? It seems like it would be pretty hard to do it with the bellows still in place. And if I have to take them out, might as well replace them right?

 

[6meter]

Re: Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

I have a 1986 boat with a 260 and an Alpha I. Three years ago I replaced the gimble bearing for the first time. Wasn't rusty. just dried out. No rust or indication of water in bellows for 25 years. Now, the boat isn't used much an sat in the garage for 9 years. What is this replace the bellows every couple of years thing? I do understand the "lets not sink it cause I'm lazy thing".

 

[6meter]

Re: Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

Alright, I think I'd like to replace the gimbal either way. But don't you need to remove the bell housing and bellows to get at the gimbal? It seems like it would be pretty hard to do it with the bellows still in place. And if I have to take them out, might as well replace them right?

Hey, Tewksbury here. The gimble bearing gets replaced with just the outdrive off, through the bellows. You will need a puller and installation tools. I couldn't get mine out with the puller I had so I had the marina pull it out and replace it. I had the outdrive off, and they charged me a half hour labor.

 

[6meter]

Can't find the delete button

 

[kmarine]

Re: Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

I recomend pulling the drive and inspecting the bearing every coupple of years. If you have no play, and no bearing noise comming from transom when turning you may not need a new bearing. Inspect bellows, are there cracks? any signs of water intrusion? What do your universal joints look like. Has everything been properly greased? I have had people trash a coupler on a 5 year old boat because no inspection was completed. If the components are good, why spend money to replace them. The key is to pull the drive and see problembs before they become bigger problembs.

 

[6meter]

Re: Gimbal Bearing and Bellows

That gets done every year.