Gimbal bearing installed backwards???

[bw13aq18]

Recently purchased this as a project boat. It was manufactured in 1998 and has a Mercruiser Alpha1Gen2 3.0. I'm replacing the u-joints, bellows, gimbal bearing & seal and water pump. While pulling the gimbal bearing, I noticed it may have been installed backwards. Notice the notched edge on the upper right side of bearing carrier in picture. I'm not an expert but based on the info for installing a gimbal bearing in the mercruiser manual, this appears to be true. There was quite a bit of grease on the bellows side of the bearing. The boat has been sitting for the last 5 years and was severly neglected by the previous/original owner. When I bought it, I was told nothing had ever been done to the boat except winterizing it every year. I'm guessing the bearing was installed this way at the factory.
Hopefully the picture is big enough to see what I'm talking about.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Gimbal bearing installed backwards???

Really dosent matter with the slots. Some take time to line up the grease hole but thats not critical either.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Gimbal bearing installed backwards???

My dad purposely installs gimbal bearing backwards. Never been a problem for him.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gimbal bearing installed backwards???

Being installed backwards will not cause problems with how the bearing works. All it does is makes it possible to install the inner part of the bearing only.
Install the new one correctly and forget about how the old one was installed. Who knows if what the previous owners says is true or not. Especially since it doesn't matter.

 

[bw13aq18]

Re: Gimbal bearing installed backwards???

My dad purposely installs gimbal bearing backwards. Never been a problem for him.

Why would he purposely install it backwards??

 

[bw13aq18]

Re: Gimbal bearing installed backwards???

My dad purposely installs gimbal bearing backwards. Never been a problem for him.

I guess Don S kind of explained the reason. I don't see the benefit. I will install the way the manual shows. Thanks for the info.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Gimbal bearing installed backwards???

it makes no difference which way it's installed. slot out or slot in. slot out allows replacement of the brg. only. which according to s/m 85-26 is a no no. mostly because the brg and cartridge are a mated set. + they (mercruiser) don't want ya to miss with the grease hole when installing the brg. only. so, replace the hole thing. slot in is correct because then yer forced to R&R the whole brg. and cartridge as an assy. i'm guessing the grease hole has now been rendered academic as i understand the new gimble brgs are now permanently greased, like in no grease hole period. good luck..