Replacing gimbal bearing NO Grease Zerk! 1977 Grew

[joeyr]

~~After two long weeks of disassembly. Building the custom tools and picking at my pre-alpha's (1977 Grew) outdrive to replace the gimbal bearing. I've finally removed the old gimbal bearing. The bearing removed was a rounded edge gimbal bearing with a plastic housing which also had a tin layer around the plastic (just for model reference). The new gimbal I received is the flat edged with a ruffled tin and grease port. Everything I read including the manual says line up the gimbal bearing's grease port with the grease zerk inside the gimbal housing between 3 and 4 o'clock. I do not have a grease zerk inside my gimbal housing?
Where should I line up my gimbal bearing grease port. AND how do I go about greasing this bearing? I can post pictures later if need be.
Boat and drive details:
1977 Grew
inline 6 GM 250
mercruiser Pre-Alpha outdrive (MR series perhaps)

 

[Davcar]

joeyr....The grease fitting is on the outside of the gimbal housing, in close next to the boats transom kinda at 4 oclock. It may have a small plastic/rubber cover over it that slides off to reveal the actual zerk. If you want to see where this fitting "feeds" the grease into the gimbal bearing area before putting it in... hook up your grease gun, and put a pump or two of grease in while looking down into the inner gimbal housing. You'll see the grease coming out and this is where you align the port of the new gimbal bearing.

 

[joeyr]

You would think that spotting the grease channel from inside the gimbal housing would be obvious... I've looked and I see nothing. Is it possible that my model of gimbal housing has no grease channel at all?

 

[Bt Doctur]

You don't have that on your early drive. You need to install the new bearing with the slots facing aft if you have a greasable bearing. If you have the non-greaseable one, just install it anyway. You can easily make a tool to grease the bearing. I can send you the tolerance ring to make this.

 

[Bt Doctur]

private message still is not working so find me at marine engine dot com, same screen name

 

[joeyr]

just for future boaters using this msg - I did not end up having a grew port for my boat. PRE alpha MR series. I purchased a sealed bearing (grease inside already).

Joe

 

[achris]

If the drive is a 1977 it's an MC-1, not an MR....