Lubing the Gimble bearing

[linuxusr]

Sorry if this has already been asked. I want to lube the gimble bearing on my OMC outdrive via the nipple on the outdrive itself.
I am wondering is there a special grease I need or will any good waterproof grease work?
also
When I pump the grease in can I overdo it and blow a seal or something else.
My thought was to just squeeze about three pumps of grease.

Thanks so much everyone.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Lubing the Gimble bearing

i was told i think it was 16 pumps and its greased. not sure on over greasing, most, most zerks it doesnt matter wipe off excess. but i am not going to say that about the gimble bearing because i just bought my first i/o last august and i myself don't know if thats a once a year or... so i am be reading what the experts tell you.

 

[linuxusr]

Re: Lubing the Gimble bearing

bump

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Lubing the Gimble bearing

There are no seals that are going to blow out, the old grease will just get pushed out and goop up inside the u-joint bellows, it won't hurt anything, 15 pumps sounds about right to expell most of the old grease. I myself grease the gimble bearing while the drive is off and catch the old stuff just assume not have the mess laying in my bellows.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Lubing the Gimble bearing

Glad I read this. I pumped in 5 last season, and was afraid I may have overdone it. Good to hear that it will push the old grease out of the way and replace with new grease.

So eventually, you tear it down and have a mess to clean up?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Lubing the Gimble bearing

WEll you should be removing the drive anyway to grease the driveshaft splines and make sure the drive does not get corroded on (just read of this happening on a Volvo, it corroded were the mounting studs meet the drive, because Volvo does not use a gasket there). When I winterize the boat, I remove the drive and check and clean out the bellows, I grease the gimble while rotating it to get the grease all through the rollers in the bearing. You can run the engine on the water hose and grease it doing the same thing. But it is good to do it by hand to check the bearing for roughness. You also want to make sure there is no drive oil in the bellows, if so you have to check the seal around the driveshaft.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Lubing the Gimble bearing

Haven't done that yet. My boat has so few hours on it, I figured I would get it over 200 before i did that. Most likely end of this season, I will do all this, and check u-joints, etc. Previous owner pulled it all and replaced bellows at 150 hours just before I bought it, so I figured 50 hours over 2 seasons should be safe.

But, yeah! I cannot wait to pull that outdrive for the first time! Just to get acquainted and see what makes it all work!