Gimbal Bearing Blues

[KWG]

(Cue blues harmonica music here)

Before putting my newly sealed water pump/drive back on the boat (see "Mystery to be solved" post) I decided to pull the ten year old gimbal bearing and replace with the new gimbal bearing I received for free when I bought my bellows kit earlier this year.
After purchasing a 5lb slide hammer and removing the bearing I then installed the new bearinng being careful to align the grease fitting holes ... after it was all the way in it appears as though the holes didn't stay lined up (grease shot out the front edges of the bearing carrier and it didn't feel as though grease was going in the bearing) so I pulled it out and realigned it and tapped it back in. I didn't have the tool made for installing it so I gently tapped at opposing sides a little at a time with a bar stock until it feels like it is seated against the lip behind it.
I used a dead blow hammer and didn't want to really hit hard as to not break the lip.
I feel it is against the lip and when measured against the edge to the carrier it is within 1/10th of a MM all the way around, but when I put the alignment tool in I have to give it a good shove to get it to go all the way in.
My question is should I keep trying to monkey with the gimbal bearing or just go ahead and start with the engine mounts (up or down) to get the alignment correct.
At one point when I thought I had the gimbal bearing all the way in I could put the alignment tool in with one hand ...then I took some measurements from the bell housing face to the bearing center sleeve and it looked like it would be close. So I tapped a little more on the bearing and now that measurement looks good but the alignment tool is stiffer going in.

Thoughts

Thanks
Kirk

 

[searay3]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Blues

You have to give the alignment bar some hits on the outer end (handle) side to side and up and down to center the 'gimble'. A little grease on the bar will show clearly where it is tight. Then go to the engine mounts and make adjustments accordingly so it's even all the way around. Turn the motor 90, 180 etc and check again. It's not a five minute job but a little patience and you'll have it....

 

[KWG]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Blues

Sounds logical to me ...I will give that a try,
Thanks Chief,

Kirk

 

[KWG]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Blues

Wow,
I just went back out to the boat and tapped on the handle like you said and just that alone helped tremendosly!!
I coated the end with grease real good and the spline marks are heavy on the bottom and light on the top. So I guess I have to come up some with the engine. I will do that tommorrow.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Kirk

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Blues

Don't wanna be the bearer of bad news but it is not advised to remove a GB and reinstall it.

Manual says damage to the bearing MAY result.

Good chance the bearing race might be mis shaped and added pressure on the bearing results in possible in early failure. Hopefully you will get lucky

 

[KWG]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Blues

Yeah, I thought about that but the bearing came back out with only three swacks of the slide hammer and I examined it real good and no damage occured to the carrier and the bearing still seemed real smooth.
But if she growls then back in I'll go.

Thanks
Kirk

 

[KWG]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Blues

Has anybody else had any problems with reusing a good gimbal bearing?

 

[KWG]

Re: Gimbal Bearing Blues

Hmmmm, I guess not.