Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

[GA_Boater]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

.Its a perma-lube bearing...so I don't have to worry about aligning it with the grease hole.....I did find it interesting that they include grease passage plug retrofit....so basically they want you to remove the grease zert and put a plug in its place....Not sure I want to do that..what if I don't have a perma-lube Gimabal the next time I change Gimbals.... is there a reason to put the plug in place of the grease zert?

If you're like me, if I see a zerk fitting it's gonna get grease shot into it. If it won't take grease, I'll be tearing things apart to find out why. Also using a high pressure grease gun may deform the gimbal part of the bearing and damage the bearing.

 

[Searay D]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

The instrutions state: Using your alignment bar insert it through the gimbal bearing and just so it starts to go into your coupler. (approx. 1/2 inch)

Using the palm of your hand, give the alignment bar a couple of "whacks" on the top,bottom and both sides of the bar. This will ensure that the gimbal bearing is at the correct angle to your coupler.

I've done this and I have spline marks about 1/2 to 3/4 inch on the tool...I cant pull it out with two fingers but can with a closed fist... so I think i'm just off a bit.....when I'm right on the money should i be able to insert farther then 1/2 inches in the coupler....becuse it stops at 1/2 to 3/4 inch in.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

It should go all the way in just like the drive shaft. Normally for up and down you adjust at the front of the engine.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

If you decide the bearing is good and go ahead with the adjustments keep track of the adjustments you make.Adjust the nuts one flat at a time and equally on both sides.If alignment gets frusterating and very time consuming we are here to help so if some thing doesn't seem right just sound off.Search my alignment thread it might be worth reading to you.It was my first time as well.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

If you can get it in 1/2", the angle of the bearing itself in the pivoting gimbal is already set fine. Now its time to adjust the engine.

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

I'm pretty sure I did....but can't hurt to go back and recheck..Do you how far I should be able to insert the tool?

When you get finished with the alignment, the bar will slide in all the way to the first ledge on the bar. (assuming your bar is made to OE specs)

It's imperative that the engine is aligned properly, you will smoke the coupler in very short order if it's not.
Been there, done that, wasn't fun at all.

 

[Searay D]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

When you get finished with the alignment, the bar will slide in all the way to the first ledge on the bar. (assuming your bar is made to OE specs)

It's imperative that the engine is aligned properly, you will smoke the coupler in very short order if it's not.
Been there, done that, wasn't fun at all.

How do you know when you have smoked your coupler?

bsepth: read your old post...thanks that gives me a lot of insight.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

How do you know when you have smoked your coupler?

bsepth: read your old post...thanks that gives me a lot of insight.

Ayuh,... The motor will run, but the boat will go Nowhere, the drive won't be turnin', 'n the motor will over-heat from a lack of water flow,...

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

Smoke and burnt rubber smell from behind the engine, and the boat will not move, feels like it is out of gear. If this happens you need to shut down immediately because the impeller is not turning and you will quickly overheat. The good thing is that coupler failure is a fairly rare occurrence, and if properly aligned the coupler should last the life of the boat.

 

[Searay D]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

I keep seeing the term FLATS in relation to adjusting the engine mounts....what does that mean please.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

I keep seeing the term FLATS in relation to adjusting the engine mounts....what does that mean please.

I believe folks are talking about one "flat" side of a hex bolt (nut). In other words, when adjusting the mounts do it 1/6 of a turn at a time. A very small adjustment can make a big difference when doing an alignment.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

yep

 

[BigDog98]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

Ii'm a decent mechanic...but new to wrenching on boats..(funny thing is I've had 4 or 5 boats but never had any issues till now....I'm a little confused on the inner hole of bearing lining up with the hole in the actual Gimbal....Please elaborate.... or are you talking about the grease filler hole....If so I did my darndest to align it...but the mark came off during installation (thanks to Bruce s suggestion that won't happen again)
As for my tool its an after market...its what I could afford...so I need to make it work.

Yea that is what i am talking about. And the aftermarket part should do but i never seen one before. yea i know all genuine mercruiser tools are expensive. Good luck. Hope you find where you went wrong.

 

[Searay D]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

It just keeps getting better....the mounts are rusted! and don't want to budge....I soaked them for 2 days with PB blast....It doesn't help that this is a 7.4 mercruiser...so its very tight in the well....Kind of have to lay on top of the motor and try to reach the mounts.
Not enough room to get any leverage.
The way the make mounts are with a little ramp all the way around except for a small area...making impossible to use a closed in wrench....so I have to use a socket....finding it impossible to keep the socket straight and apply pressure to the end of the wrench with one hand...which is all I have room to work with.
I think the boat wins today.

 

[BigDog98]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

It just keeps getting better....the mounts are rusted! and don't want to budge....I soaked them for 2 days with PB blast....It doesn't help that this is a 7.4 mercruiser...so its very tight in the well....Kind of have to lay on top of the motor and try to reach the mounts.
Not enough room to get any leverage.
The way the make mounts are with a little ramp all the way around except for a small area...making impossible to use a closed in wrench....so I have to use a socket....finding it impossible to keep the socket straight and apply pressure to the end of the wrench with one hand...which is all I have room to work with.
I think the boat wins today.

Get PB and get freeze off from CRC and spray then on the bolt at the same time. After take a impact drill and try and brake it loose. Keep repeating the process until you get it off. It will budge.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

It just keeps getting better....the mounts are rusted! and don't want to budge....I soaked them for 2 days with PB blast....It doesn't help that this is a 7.4 mercruiser...so its very tight in the well....Kind of have to lay on top of the motor and try to reach the mounts.
Not enough room to get any leverage.
The way the make mounts are with a little ramp all the way around except for a small area...making impossible to use a closed in wrench....so I have to use a socket....finding it impossible to keep the socket straight and apply pressure to the end of the wrench with one hand...which is all I have room to work with.
I think the boat wins today.

Ayuh,..... Did ya beat back the little lockin' tab,..??

Extensions, wobblies, 'n possibly a crows-foot might make life easier,...

Put a wrench to the lower nut, 'n break it free, that'll relieve some tension on the top nut,...

If it's a saltwater boat, ya might have to dig deeper,...
Havin' to replace the motor mounts, because of rusted threads, Ain't unheard of,...

 

[thumpar]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

I was going to suggest crows foot also.

 

[Searay D]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

Ayuh,..... Did ya beat back the little lockin' tab,..??

Extensions, wobblies, 'n possibly a crows-foot might make life easier,...

Put a wrench to the lower nut, 'n break it free, that'll relieve some tension on the top nut,...

If it's a saltwater boat, ya might have to dig deeper,...
Havin' to replace the motor mounts, because of rusted threads, Ain't unheard of,...

The top nut doesn't have a tab the the adjusting one does have a tab...I'll pry back the tab and try relieving some tension.....
I also went to HF and bought an impacting wrench call "The Earthquake" had great reviews....because of its flat design I was able to fit it up under the manifolds and get a good shot at it....unfortunately it still wont budge (and I'm on the least rusty of the two sides) I think I can get more torque on it with the impact wrench then with a crows foot...but I'm willing to try anything at the point.
Is there anything besides PB Blast someone could recommend that might break it free.

And sadly yes this is a saltwater boat.

 

[BigDog98]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

The top nut doesn't have a tab the the adjusting one does have a tab...I'll pry back the tab and try relieving some tension.....
I also went to HF and bought an impacting wrench call "The Earthquake" had great reviews....because of its flat design I was able to fit it up under the manifolds and get a good shot at it....unfortunately it still wont budge (and I'm on the least rusty of the two sides) I think I can get more torque on it with the impact wrench then with a crows foot...but I'm willing to try anything at the point.
Is there anything besides PB Blast someone could recommend that might break it free.

And sadly yes this is a saltwater boat.

Yes use Freeze Off From CRC. It works every time. And if nothing at that point works then just torch it.

 

[Searay D]

Re: Gimbal bearing install gone bad?

Yes use Freeze Off From CRC. It works every time. And if nothing at that point works then just torch it.

as in cut it out...or just to heat it up?
thanks for the crc freeze suggestion.