Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

[phil rogers]

I have a 77 mercury boat 3.0 with r outdrive.I am replacing gimbal bearing and seal.Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing?It looks like you are merely greasing the outside groove and no grease can get to the bearing itself.Someone let me know.Thanks phil

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

If you got it from a mercruiser dealer, then it`s a sealed unit.no way to grease it.Use it till it goes bad then get the better one from Sierra.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

The replacement parts show the same one for all MC-1/R/MR/ALPHA's. On my boat (Alpha-1) it is NOT a sealed bearing.

The outer bearing race has a hole in it that needs to line up with a hole in the gimbal housing. On the right side of the gimbal housing, there is a zirc fitting that will guide the grease to the gimbal bearing.

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

If you got it from a mercruiser dealer, then it`s a sealed unit.no way to grease it.Use it till it goes bad then get the better one from Sierra.

I would say if you got it from a merc dealer that didn't have any old ones on the shelf it's a sealed unit. I'm a merc dealer and still have old style ones. I have yet to see a new sealed one.

James

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

Came in a reseal kit from mercruiser for the Bravo drive.
Wonder how long they`ll last compared to one that can be greased.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

Could someone post of picture of what they are calling a sealed bearing?

I think I am using a different definition.

If the original was a sealed bearing, why would Mercruiser provide the grease port to lube the gimbal bearing? Did they design the gimbal housing with the expectation that the owner would later replace the bearing with a NON-Mercruiser part?

I am all confused...

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

Up until a short time ago the merc gimbal brgs were greasable. From what I hear the new ones now are not.

James

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Is the gimbal bearing a sealed bearing

open bearing:you can see the balls/ rollers
sealed bearing: you cant see anything but the shields
The sealed bearing were talking about is the newest gimbal bearing.
If you were to remove the old bearing from its race you will find a internal grease groove, if you look at the outer part of the bearing you will find a tiny hole in it.this hole lines up in the groove and grease enters the tolerance ring hole,goes around it untill it finds this hole in the bearing and then goes into the bearing.The newest bearing from Merc is a completely sealed unit, you are not able to grease it at all.,there is no grease groove in the tolerance ring and no hole in the tolerance ring.