Gimbal bearing.

[Rranger]

pulled my slant six dodge engine as advised to remove my gimbal bearing. My question is after removing the engine the drive shaft pushed forward and out from rear to front. Now the bearing is in there and I’m not sure the procedure to get it out. There doesn’t appear to be any snap rings, the only thing I see is kind of a fitting I thought was for greasing but no grease fitting, is it some kind of retainer? it’s in the top of the bell housing picture inside of the bell housing. Any help to advise how to get the bearing out would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rranger]

Upon some grease cleanup I see a snap ring accessible from the rear remove that and it should slide out towards the rear by the looks of it. I was advised by two mechanics to remove the engine and now wondering if that was really necessary. If the bearing comes off towards the back could that have been done with the engine and driveshaft in? I’ll find out when I get the right snap ring pliers.

 

[kenny nunez]

If their is only 1 bearing the answer is yes, the bearing can be replaced without removing the engine. Needless to say you have a real relic the last time I had one like that in my shop was over 35 years ago. There should be a snap ring groove on the shaft behind the bearing. The bearing is easy to obtain from any bearing supply house. There also should be a seal also. Good luck finding some of the marine cooling system hardware. That slant 6 is a good engine too bad it was not kept in production.

 

[Rranger]

Thank you Kenny Nunez. Will have a look in the morning and see how she goes. The guy I bought the boat from said two different shops told him the motor had to come out, and the piece of bell housing still attached in the first picture had to also. I guess I find out tomorrow. I’m going to be a little choked if I find out all I had to do was remove that snap ring and shaft and bearing came out the back without pulling the motor. The snap ring at the back sure is not keeping it from going forward.

 

[kenny nunez]

Obviously your boat is a “sweet water” unit from the appearance of the drive. It looks like a AQ 250 or possibly a 270. From the picture of the drive it looks like some heat was applied to the propeller bearing cover. Somehow the picture is reversed as the release button on the suspension yoke should be on the starboard side. The drive looks to be in very good condition and probably is a 1.61 ratio. The same that the V8 engines use. Most Volvo drives outlast the engines so should you have a situation where you cannot get any engine cooling system parts you could replace it with a V8 Chrysler engine or with a adapter plate for a GM engine and space the flex plate back the thickness of the adapter plate.
How about a picture of the boat.

 

[Rranger]

She's a tank which I was looking for. up here, we get some rough stuff on the bigger lakes and this one should hold her ground pretty good. 19' Sangster. Its the 250 drive and.still tight as a drum. got a newer Honda 9.9 for a kicker.

 

[Rranger]

Well removed seal, snap ring and bearing all from the back. Sure wish there was someone out there that knows if I can reinstall the engine which it appears I didn’t need to remove and then when my parts show up from the rear of the boat put in drive shaft, press bearing on, install snap ring, and install seal all from the rear. Three different mechanics said had to pull the motor. Is there a puller that would pull the drive shaft, and.bearing out in one piece from the back?

 

[Rranger]

My bad PDS bearing and only one and only one snap ring.

 

[kenny nunez]

Since there is only 1 bearing go ahead and put the engine and adapter housing back in the boat. Reinstalling the shaft and bearing should not be a problem.