Grease type for gimbal bearing

[df909]

Hey Guys-

Does the type of grease really matter for the gimbal bearing? I had one boat shop tell me not to use anything with graphite or teflon because it will cause the bearing to stop spinning and the shaft to just slide on the bearing, thus wearing stuff out. Another said it doesn't matter. So....what do you greasy people say?

 

[dan t.]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Quicksilver 2-4C or Wynns ultra synth or any good quality grease

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

To quote an iboats guru...... Bond-o ANY GREASE is better then no Grease!! The suggestions above will work fine

 

[Bondo]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

So....what do you greasy people say?

Ayuh,....
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[ziggy]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

hard to argue with any grease is better than no grease. surely that's true.. however i've read about the drawbacks of teflon also. i think 2-4-c has teflon in it.

myself. i just make it easy on myself. i use what the oem suggests. for my mercruiser that's mercruiser gimble brg. and u joint grease... then i don't have to think about is that the right thing to use. imho of course.

 

[Don S]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

DO NOT use 2-4-C grease, and here is the Mercruiser Service bulletin that states that. The reason, (not in the bulletin) is because the teflon that was added to the 24C grease caused the bearings to slide instead of rolling as they should.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/94/94_13.pdf

 

[captain zac]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Sir

Just had my G bearing replaced 6.2 B3 (has not been run since replacement)
question
if they used the 24c is there a way to replace it?

Hary

 

[Don S]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Sure, just remove the drive, then pump the proper grease into the gimbal bearing, turn the inside a little and pump some more, do this until all the 24C is out. Wipe out all the old grease.

 

[captain zac]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Thanks

I will ask the service department today

Harry

 

[dan t.]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

So, how many thousand owners manuals out there tell you to use 2-4C ? Mine does, and funny thing is, the gimbal bearing and u-joints are still there and working just fine.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Refer back to Bondos post any grease is better than none.

 

[Don S]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

So, how many thousand owners manuals out there tell you to use 2-4C ?

And just how is Mercruiser supposed to go about changing all the owners manuals that recommend 2-4-C in 93 and older manuals ???????????

Refer back to Bondos post any grease is better than none.

Any food is better than no food at all.
Any car is better than no car at all.
Any gasoline is better than no gasoline at all.
But we all still have our favorites

Does the saying Jack of all trades Master of none make any sense to you.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Does the saying Jack of all trades Master of none make any sense to you

Heeeyy,.... I resemble that remark,.....

 

[Don S]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Does the saying Jack of all trades Master of none make any sense to you

Heeeyy,.... I resemble that remark,.....

And so does your grease

 

[captain zac]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

don

My service guy said that he uses the new grease
he said that the SB came out in 94 and that is why you should use a certified Merc. Tech.
I know that he costs me more but if he is going to school every year then I figure its worth it
because he's got my back

Harry

 

[telstar1]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

I use whatever is in my grease gun at the time,usually heavy equipment gease. Never a problem, going on 40 years of Mercruiser use, 365 days a year, greasing yearly or whenever drive is off for other reasons.Im in Bondos camp on this one.
btw Have replaced a few gimbal brgs, always due to water ingress, Have NEVER had to replace a u joint, even after serious water in boot issues/.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

I use marine wheel bearing grease for all the outdrive grease fittings. Lubrimatic I think is the brand.
So far 5 years of use no bearing failure due to anything but water due to a mysterious split in the u-joint bellows.

 

[Richeskis]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

Marine wheel bearing grease is OK for the gimbal bearing, is it the Blue colored stuff ?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

I have owned i/os for over 20 years and have always used the 3 bucks a tube marine wheel bearing grease(corrosion control) and have never repleced a gimbal bearing.I think the key is greasing as soon as you pull the boat in the fall before winterizing instead of waiting for the spring.I grease it a little in the spring too....I cant help myself.Charlie

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Grease type for gimbal bearing

I use the cheap marine crap from walmart... It's blue.. Smells like grease.. Slick like grease.. I am pretty sure it's grease and will do the job.. Comes in a pack of 3