Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

[mpdive]

Ok. I have decided to pull the outdrive this year before the season starts. 2003 Alpha One Gen 11. The bellows visually still look great and flexible but I still want to do it as a preventative maintenance item. I dont think it's ever been pulled. I have the merc manual 14 and after working on cars for 30 years I'm not scared. I have a couple of questions I need answered before starting the project.
I am a little confused on the purpose of the alignment bar if the gimble is not being replaced. In my mind, yoke out, yoke in and nothing should change. What am I missing? If the gimble was replaced, how are the adjustments made? Motor mount shimming, etc.....Just confused on the process.
Secondly, can the complete bellows kit with exhaust, shift cable, and all necessary parts be purchased minus the gimble, or is it a package deal?
Other than that I want to order stuff and get moving. This drive looks like showroom still, and I'm hoping it's easy on and easy off. If this was motor related I wouldn't have to ask so many questions, but I am totally unfamiliar with outdrives.
Thanks for any help!

 

[rickryder]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

I'm sure someone offers just a belows kit.....

Checking alignment needs to be done even if the gimbal wasn't changed.... If you look at your engine mount you'll see its adjustable....if something got loose,sunk etc. you will be out of alignment....if your going in that far on the out drive why not change the bearing while your there....also change your impeller while your at it.....all of this is preventive maintenance. just my .02

 

[mpdive]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

I'm sure someone offers just a belows kit.....

Checking alignment needs to be done even if the gimbal wasn't changed.... If you look at your engine mount you'll see its adjustable....if something got loose,sunk etc. you will be out of alignment....if your going in that far on the out drive why not change the bearing while your there....also change your impeller while your at it.....all of this is preventive maintenance. just my .02

Thanks for the reply. I already have the impeller kit. I may just change out the gimbal while I'm in there.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

If the gimbal bearing is PERFECTLY smooth, you need not replace it, any hint of roughness, out it goes. IMHO spend the bucks for OEM mercruiser parts, much better quality. I would not bother replacing the exhaust bellows unless they are in bad shape. Extra cost? Yeah it will amount to about the cost of 2 gallons of gas a year. Good luck.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

After you replace the bearing and bellows grease the end of the bar and slide it through the gimbal remove slowly and try not to move it (pull it straight back) and look at the tracks left on it from the spline if it the marks are heavy on the top for instance you will have to lower the adjustments to raise the rear of the engine and before that put the bar back in and jar the gimbal bearing down by hitting the bottom of the bar to tilt the bearing down which will allow the bar to go into the splines without hitting the top of the splines as much and visa versa if the marks were intialy heavier on the bottom of the bar. Hope this helps and post back the results Good luck!

 

[mpdive]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

If the gimbal bearing is PERFECTLY smooth, you need not replace it, any hint of roughness, out it goes. IMHO spend the bucks for OEM mercruiser parts, much better quality. I would not bother replacing the exhaust bellows unless they are in bad shape. Extra cost? Yeah it will amount to about the cost of 2 gallons of gas a year. Good luck.

Thanks Stonyloam. Any good places to get OEM. Everthing I keep seeing says Sierra....Thanks again for the reply. I will probably replace everything as long as the beer hold out.

 

[mpdive]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

After you replace the bearing and bellows grease the end of the bar and slide it through the gimbal remove slowly and try not to move it (pull it straight back) and look at the tracks left on it from the spline if it the marks are heavy on the top for instance you will have to lower the adjustments to raise the rear of the engine and before that put the bar back in and jar the gimbal bearing down by hitting the bottom of the bar to tilt the bearing down which will allow the bar to go into the splines without hitting the top of the splines as much and visa versa if the marks were intialy heavier on the bottom of the bar. Hope this helps and post back the results Good luck!

Thanks fat fanny. Now it makes sense. Just needed it defined. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

Once you pull the drive check the gimbal bearing, there are gimbal-bar-driver packages on e-bay that you might want to look at.
Before removing the gimbal bearing, stick the alignment bar into the coupler. That way you have an idea of how you started out. If the motor or the gimbal are misaligned the bar might not slide into the coupler easily. This can make setting the new gimbal more of a task. So set the engine alignment 1st. The alignment check has to happen anyway, and if it's correct before you remove the old gimbal bearing, that's one less problem.
You can buy an alignment bar online, there are some that can be combined with a bearing driver to install a new gimbal too. But if you already wrench, chances are you may have a bearing driver in your stuff that will do the gimbal.
To set the gimbal bearing angle you stick the bar into the center of the bearing and pivot the bearing to the angle which most smoothly allows the bar into the coupler. It works a lot like a drivetrain carrier bearing in a car or truck except that it can pivot in it's fixture.
The gimbal bearing fits snug into it's tolerance ring. So it can take some effort like the heel of your hand or a hammer tap to move the gimbal to the desired angle.
The engine alignment is done by raising & lowering the side mounts on the motor, the rear mounts are set in place & they just pivot. If you have to get the mounts way down the thickness of a standard wrench can be too great. To get all the way down you'd need skinny farmers wrenches or maybe get a cheapo wrench at the auto parts and grind it thin, that's what I had to do.
It's not as complicated as I make it sound, when you look at it & start working with it, you will catch on pretty quickly.

 

[mpdive]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

Thanks to everyone for the help. I'm still finding Sierra parts or unsure of Oem when looking at the listings. Anyone familiar with the Merc OEM number for the complete transom kit? Outdrive # OM547928 Engine# OM374747
Thanks in advance. I will keep tryin to find it. I definately want OEM if I'm going to take time to do it. You know, do it right the first time.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

Any good places to get OEM. Everthing I keep seeing says Sierra....Thanks again for the reply. I will probably replace everything as long as the beer hold out.

I really like this site: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/ lots of good diagrams and part numbers. The other thing that I have found is that when I have gotten parts from my local Mercruiserer dealer they have been pretty happy to give advice if I have a question on instillation. Saved my butt a couple of times. I got my bar off of e-bay too, works just fine.

 

[tylermcclintock]

Re: Pulling outdrive/Bellow replacement

You can definately get the bellows with no gimbal bearing in the combo. As far as alignment, its always good to check while you have the outdrive off, just as preventative maintenance. Being out of alignment will eat away at your engine coupler as well as your gimbal bearing. Plus if its out of alignment at all its going to be next to impossible to get your drive back on. You can get an alignment tool on ebay for around 20-30 bucks. And when you do your bellows dont forget your bellows adhesive! Nothing worse than hearing of people backing their boat in and suddenly their bilge becomes a swimming pool!

Best of luck!