Re: Installing gimbal bearing and new seal tomorrow, any tips?
Just did mine, used a piece (about 2' long) 3" PVC Schedule 40 pipe to drive it in. Make sure you have the cut ends of the pipe square and flat, I cut mine with a compound miter saw. Put the bearing in the freezer overnite, the guys on here say it shrinks it a little. I had to hand push on it, hard to get it to stay put so I could get the pipe on it. Once i hit it to make it stay in place, I had a friend hold a piece of 2x6 against the end of the pipe while I held the pipe tight up against the bearing. I used a 10 lb. short handled sledge and gave it a few good wacks, then I would reach in and feel around the outside of the bearing, making sure it was going in straight. Wasn't the easiest way, but we got it in. You gotta keep hitting it until it seats all the way in, your hits will definitely feel different when you bottom it out. The seal was easier, I had a threaded rod with a 2" round flat base of a gear puller, tapped it right in.
