How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

[peteua636]

How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing when the drive is removed from the boat???<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

Stick your fingers in the hole and turn the bearing. It should move easily and smoothly

 

[ctak]

Re: How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

I just replaced my gimble bearing in a Alpha 1 gen II. There was some rubbing noise coming from my outdrive that got louder when the stern was turned left or right. I removed the outdrive and when I put my fingers in the inner bearing and turned it there was some rough spots. What I did was buy a new gimble and compared the two. The new bearing was smooth so I replaced her. To do this you need a slide hammer with jaws that will clamp from the inside of a bearing. Then give her a few pulls and the bearing comes out. To install the new bearing you have to press it back in. Either get a tool to do this or be careful. I used an aluminum tube about the some diameter as the bearing and pounded it in. I had someone hold it in place because is you don't hit it on the outside bearing ring you could damage the seals. That's why the bearing insertion tool works. Anyway it's not that bad of a job. Good luck.

 

[peteua636]

Re: How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

Thanks for your help!!

 

[peteua636]

Re: How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

ctak...<br /><br />how many hours were on your boat at the time of the gimbal bearing failure??

 

[djvan]

Re: How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

Be sure to align the grease groove and hole on the bearing/sleeve to the grease port on the gimble ring. The previous owner of my boat did not do this and the bearing lasted only about a year, I greased it regularily, but no grease was getting into the bearing.<br /><br />DougV>

 

[ctak]

Re: How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

Sorry for the late reply... I have a '94 alpha I gen II. I don't have an hour meter but I probably put about 40 - 50 hours per year on the boat. I'm estimating about 350 - 450.

 

[peteua636]

Re: How do you trouble shoot a bad gimbal bearing

Thanks for the info...<br /><br />I have about 120 hours on this boat....