Removing Upper Steering Pin Bushing

[76SeaRay]

Anybody have an easy (or at least a doable) method to get the bushing out of the upper steering pin opening in the gimbal housing (Alpha One Gen One)? I have thought about trying to drill it out with a 11/16 drill bit but those are expensive and I am uncertain about keeping the bit aligned to center. I have tried a hacksaw blade through the lower opening but can't get enough force on the blade to cut a slot in the bushing. No room for a Dremel tool.

 

[carlos515]

I used a small blade screwdriver . I put the edge on the bushing and tapped with a hammer . Then put the blade between the housing and bushing and twisted. Took a bit....but got the bushing out.

 

[jhamblett]

5 min in

 

[76SeaRay]

Thanks for the video but the approach did not work on the upper bushing. It kept chipping pieces off and appears to be frozen to the housing. I tried driving a socket in there to push it through but it appears the socket just shaved off some of the bushing. Looks like I am stuck with trying to drill it out. There may be a replacement housing in my future the way it looks.

 

[76SeaRay]

The new bushing measures 0.724 on the OD. So, looking for a drill bit that is close. A 11/16 bit is 0.687 and a 23/32 bit is 0.719 these bits are special order in reduced shank so I can get the smaller 3/8 drill into the housing to try and get a straight drill. I don't see another way short of replacing the housing.

 

[G1K]

I've use the hacksaw method and an ID bearing puller. The ID bearing puller was a little quicker.

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Ryan

 

[76SeaRay]

I tried my ID bearing puller but it couldn't grip it. The 11/16 drill bit came in today. I had to cut about 1/2 off the reduced shank so I could get the drill and bit into the housing. I went very slowly with my drill set to low force. I drilled most of the way down and finally the remaining thin wall piece of the bushing came loose and out on the drill bit tip. New bushing is now in...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Now install that missing grease fitting

 

[76SeaRay]

Actually, mine had a grease fitting in the head above the upper bushing already.