rot hole in the gimbal housing

[scutly]

my buddy picked up a cheap 93 celebrity stratus 240 with a merc 5.7 I/O alpha gen 2 drive that needs some work. first job we must tackle is this one and a half inch round rot hole we found just under the mercury sticker on the flat part of the top of the gimbal housing. this pic is NOT his housing. just a pick for reference

we plan on trying to marine epoxy an aluminum plate over the hole with four screws before he decides if its worth replacing the whole housing. any thoughts or ideas?

 

[Don S]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

we plan on trying to marine epoxy an aluminum plate over the hole with four screws before he decides if its worth replacing the whole housing. any thoughts or ideas?

That's what I would do. That part of the drive really shouldn't be under water anyway.

 

[JustJason]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

uhmmm.... they usually don't rot up there. Does it look like somebody used a hole saw?
How is the steering? Have somebody hold the steering wheel while somebody else shakes the drive side to side... any clicking? how much play?
Any chance you can put up a pic of your actual drive?

 

[jtybt]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

That's where one of the better ideas for accessing the steering/upper swivel shaft is. I would cut it out some so you have good access to the top of the steering nut and get that aluminum plate and screw it to the gimbal housing. A little silicone would be all you need to seal that area...or cut a piece of rubber gasket material to fit.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

I wouldn't silicone it - in addition to the screws, use something permanent like JB Weld or Marine Tex.

 

[scutly]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

ok now im starting to think maybe somebody did use a small hole saw on the housing. why? i dont know. steering nut? hmm...we got plans to tackle it this saturday and ill post some pics. he will feel confident that everyone agrees on the plate and screw repair. thanx guys. oh yeah, drill and tap? self tapping?

 

[JustJason]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

make sure the steering is tight before you cover up the hole.

Personally I would scrape all the paint off the area, and make sure it's flat with no ridges. Drill and tap for some stainless 1/4x20 bolts. Make up an aluminum cover panel, and unlike what others have said, I would use something non permanent. I bet if you covered the housing and the panel with some perfectseal and bolted it together nice and tight the water would stay out. Only reason I wouldn't us jb weld is incase you ever have to make a steering repair again.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

My best guess is that someone was trying to access the gimbal ring pivot pin nut. You can patch it with an aluminum plate and silicone as JR Marine suggests here (and they know what they are doing) http://www.jrmarine.com/instructions.htm (Don,t see any reason to enlarge the hole at this time) Good luck.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: rot hole in the gimbal housing

now see I would probably have it welded BUT a 3/16 alum plate cut to fit and 4 counter sunk machine screws along with a rubber gasket (inner tube) would be pretty trick.... I had a gimbal housing that someone drilled holes in either side of the same area and thy "patched" with jb weld and two pipe plugs... It bugged me so I pitched it and replaced but I just happened to have another so no cost was incurred..... best of luck with your fix