Gimbal bearing stuck

[PJT8362]

I am replacing the gimbal on my 88 Sundancer with a Merc 260 Alpha One. Drive and bell housing are out. The Gimbal bearing looks very clean, except for the grease, and is slightly rough when pressure is applied while turning, so I am replacing it. I have broke several pullers trying to remove the bearing, and have an idea which I would like to pose. I am thinking of getting a very large bolt, and putting it through the bearing, and the seal behind the bearing, through to the inside of the boat. Them put a large washer with the nut. Then from the outside rig up a chain to the head of the bolt, hook the chain to the truck, and pull that bearing and seal out. I just was not sure which side of the transon the seal came out of. It appears it comes out through the drive side of the transom. If it does this seems like it would work. I would have to replace the seal as well.

How does my idea sound?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

Some of those have a Snap-ring retaining them,.......

If that's not the Problem,......

Ayuh,.......
I've used Trucks,+ Trees in Extreme Cases.......

 

[PJT8362]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

Do you know if the seal behind the bearing comes out through the drive side of the transom? I can not get the bolt between the bearing and inner seal. Does the repair manual show the seal, and which side it is removed from?

Thank you all!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

Click here for the OEM Service manul, and go to section 4A. It shows the gimbal bearing puller and how the bearing and seal sit in the housing.
Below is a picture from that manual of the special tool. If you have the 3 jaw puller head from a slide hammer you can make one from some threaded rod and some steel plates.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

you can make one from some threaded rod and some steel plates.

bingo!
If you pull straight and smooth - the bolt doesn't even need to be that fancy - I just bought a cheap 1/2" X 12 or so galvanized lag bolt from Home Depot in the deck and fence section. After beating on the gimbal with a slide hammer for half a day, it pulled out like butter in 5 minutes. I couldn't believe it. mine had a snap ring. wear safety glasses.

 

[MJ76]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

I use a similar type of setup, but instead of the 3-jaw puller, I use an expanding bearing puller. I think it's the one meant for pulling driveshaft bearings out of a Bravo drive, but it works great on the gimbal bearing. I'll never go back to the jaw puller, and I'll certainly never go back to the slide hammer. Ouch! Just thinking about it makes my elbows sore...

Have to admit, though, the chain / truck idea makes me smile. Straight out of the redneck shop manual. I love it...

 

[Don S]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

Would this not be a good time to bring up the truck ripping the boat off the trailer, or the truck pulling a portion of the transom and transom shield off the back of the boat??????

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

Would this not be a good time to bring up the truck ripping the boat off the trailer, or the truck pulling a portion of the transom and transom shield off the back of the boat??????

And all of it flying through the air and smashing the back window out of the truck!

 

[Don S]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

And all of it flying through the air and smashing the back window out of the truck!

Usually it never does anymore damage than loosing a tail light or a big dent in the tailgate. But, if you video the process and someone gets hurt or the truck gets damaged, you can usually get some money from places like utube, break and some other places like that.

 

[uaw9fan]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

I usually use an axle bearing puller on the end of my slide hammer. If you grind down the small one just a bit you can get it through the bearing and use a long screwdriver to hold it up while it folds down between the seal and bearing.
Since no one else said it. The seal comes out the drive end.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

If the last installer didn't reverse the bearing carrier, then you will see two notches 180 degrees from each other. If you see them, spin the bearing sideways to align up with the notches and pull the bearing out. If the carrier is still good, just use the new bearing in the old carrier. If the carrier looks iffie, then take a sawsall with a long blade and cut section out and remove it by hand. Had to do one that way earlier this week except the notches was facing the other way.

 

[Windykid]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

The whole truck pulling thing is an accident waiting to happen???

 

[mike456]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

Just an FYI to anyone reading this, if you live near and AutoZone store they have the slide hammer puller that you can rent for free. I used it on mine last year and it worked perfectly. bearing popped out with a few hits of the hammer.

 

[MJ76]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

I've had some that came out easily with a slide hammer, and others that you could pull your arm out of its socket and never budge it. Go ahead and try the hammer if you've got one.

The whole truck pulling thing is an accident waiting to happen???

Oh come on, where's your sense of adventure?...

 

[PJT8362]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

Thank you al for your suggestions. I did finally get it out. I had to get a very large bolt, put it through the bearing and the seal so the end went inside of the boat. I put a large washer, then the nut. Then I hooked my truck to the bolt with a chain, and pulled the bearing and seal right out. Worked like a champ, only took 5 minutes to hook up, and did not have to break any more pullers.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

I've never seen a 4WD diesel powered bearing puller

 

[vegas_storms]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

What part of the South do you live in?

 

[Coors]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

The deep south; where we don't deal with states that pull sucker gamblers in, in order to tax them. We just git 'er done.

 

[Coors]

Re: Gimbal bearing stuck

"fog horn leghorn" it was a joke, son just a joke