Gimbal bearing grease injection question

[Dtruedog]

This may sound a bit naive, but the replacement gimbal bearing I bought has no lateral thru hole in the carrier ring (from outer circumference surface into the bearings). It has the corrugated band that snaps around it. With the grease tube going into the upper housing on the starboard side, how does the grease get into the bearings? Is the tube offset between the bearing and grease seal to cause pressure forcing grease into bearing from behind when the shaft is installed, or what?

Also, is there a correct orientation for the corrugated band when installing the bearing?

 

[Don S]

Re: Gimbal bearing grease injection question

Then you bought the new style sealed gimbal bearing that you don't grease. What part number did you buy?

 

[Dtruedog]

Re: Gimbal bearing grease injection question

I believe it is a Sierra 18-2100, AKA OMC 983937

The bearing came as part of a repair kit replacing:
•911826
•3854127
•914036
•3853807
Supposed to be correct for Cobra transom mounts from 1986-1993. Mine is a 1989 hooked up to a Ford 2.3l.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gimbal bearing grease injection question

Well, it looks like Sierra went the way of Merc and Volvo using only the sealed bearings now. The 18-2100 used to have the holes for grease, they do have a new 18-21001 bearing that is sealed and has an allen screw to replace the grease zirk.
They might just be putting the new bearing in the kits and haven't changed all the literature yet.
Hard to say for sure, they never tell us anything. Just go ahead and use it, as long as it doesn't get water in it, it should be fine for many years.

 

[Dtruedog]

Re: Gimbal bearing grease injection question

Thank you for the info. In a picture of the bearing I do see that there seems to be a rubber or neoprene seal installed. Since they are using the sealed bearings it becomes all the more important for owners to pull the outdrive unit every season to make sure no water has infiltrated and the bearing is good. I've had very mixed experience in the automotive world with sealed bearing life vs the good ol' fashioned push the grease through types.