Mercruiser gimbal bearing

[rustytomato]

I got a new gimbal bearing from Stern drives Incorporated for my Mercruiser 888 it has a hole in the side of the outer housing that appears to be for a grease port. I've tried to erase it but it won't take any Grease I took it back out I was looking at it and tried to blow through it and can't blow any air. I believe Mercruiser has changed these to a sealed bearing. Looking at the bearing it appears it may be a sealed bearing is anyone familiar with the sterndrive Incorporated replacement bearings and if they are sealed or greasable. I will try to post pictures of it.

 

[rustytomato]

Here's a link to the pictures

https://goo.gl/photos/Fra2CGSafCbMiP4DA

 

[markhodges78]

Looks like it needs to be greased did you have it lined up right with the gear port in the gimbal housing

 

[rustytomato]

Yes I market where the grease port is on the bearing and the gimbal to make sure they were lined up and double checked it when I pulled it back out. You could see that grease went in the hole on the picture. After I cleaned it I wasn't able to blow air through so it may be a machining problem.

 

[alldodge]

The bearings with holes like yours are not sealed and need to be greased. I assumed you took the tolerance ring off the bearing for the pic.

If it won't take grease and it is lined up then there is something wrong with it. The new style bearings are sealed and cannot be greased

 

[Bt Doctur]

This is what the inside looks like, the grease enters the hole and travels in the groove untill it finds the tiny hole in the outer race.then into the bearing

 

[Pete104]

Something that old you can count the zirc being corroded shut. Make sure you push grease thru the fitting while it's removed.