Idiots Rundown on Boat Mechanics?

[KnotConnected]

Hey ya'll!

Been on the forums about 6 years here, and have owned my boat roughly as long. I'm no mechanic, so at this point in my boating life there is a vague image floating in my mind about what the core mechanical components are and how they work / what they do, largely because half of them have outright failed on me and have had to be replaced, and largely because I've heard of / read of how-tos and people asking questions.

Is there a sticky, or does someone want to provide an idiot's run-down on what the basic pieces of the power train are in an I/O, and what needs to be maintained regularly or replaced periodically? Specifically, I'm wondering what the Gimbal housing is and if that needs maintenance or rebuilding regularly, and the same about the bellows? Also, do shift and steering systems need to be tuned or replaced regularly?

 

[Silvertip]

Buy a service manual for your specific drive system. It tells you all you need to know.

 

[ahicks]

For maintenance schedules and such (like how to care for shifting and throttle mechanisms) , most OWNERS manuals lay that out fairly well, and are generally available to download for free. Just do a Google search on your engine's manf and model number.

SERVICE manuals generally must be purchased and go into much more detail. They are often required when service schedules (spelled out in the OWNERS manual) are not followed closely.

 

[alldodge]

Here is a link to the owners manual for 1994 motor and drive

http://download.brunswick-marine.co...mercruiser/1996/gasoline/sterndrive/52756.pdf

Look through it and let us know if it does not cover all your questions and we can assist

 

[KnotConnected]

Thanks guys! I've read the original Larson manual cover to cover, but it's somewhat vague and seems to be written to cover any express cruiser between '94-'04. The Merc specific manual was much more helpful.

 

[ziggy]

you might also try chapman's piloting and seamanship book. it's expensive to buy, so maybe the library.
it has a wealth of info in it. all aspects of boating.
a link to info on this book

 

[DouglasW]

Is there a sticky, or does someone want to provide an idiot's run-down on what the basic pieces of the power train are in an I/O, and what needs to be maintained regularly or replaced periodically? Specifically, I'm wondering what the Gimbal housing is and if that needs maintenance or rebuilding regularly, and the same about the bellows?

First let me apologize if this seems way too basic for the experienced guys here.

I can appreciate your questions about this one. When I bought my I/O, I was confused about exactly what major parts were in the assembly and how they fitted together and so I looked all over for a simplified diagram, to no avail.
To put it simply, there are 4 major parts in addition to the basic drive. The transom plate (#1) is on the inside of the transom and the gimbal housing (#2) is on the outside and they are bolted together. The gimbal housing has holes in a vertical format to fit the gimbal ring (#3) which fits inside of it, allowing the gimbal ring to pivot left or right. The gimbal ring also has 2 holes on left and right that accept the bell housing (#4) inside of it that allows the bell housing to pivot up or down, in addition to left and right. The 3 bellows allow the driveshaft with u-joints, the shift cable, and the exhaust to pass through all this without getting wet ;-) The drive shaft is supported in the middle of all this mess by a bearing in the gimbal housing. Everything is designed to pivot around the center of the U-joints, which are on the driveshaft/yoke inside the large bellows.

As far as maintenance, most folks recommend at least an internal inspection yearly to check the bellows and gimbal housing bearing. That requires removal of the drive.

Again, I apologize if this was way too basic.