Sloppy Gimble Ring

[spydermann11]

I am replacing 3 Bellows and Gimble Bearing on an 1987 Alpha 1(1) and the Gimble Ring seems to have a lot of play.
Side to side (turning) and verticle (up and down on the swivel pins).

On the swivel pins, I can move the Gimble Ring up .090" from where it is resting.
I can turn the Gimble Ring a couple degrees each way.
How much is normall or acceptable?
Can I shim the lower pivot pin (under the Bimble Ring)?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sloppy Gimble Ring

Did you try torquing the two bolts on the top of the gimbal ring to 55#?...​

 

[spydermann11]

Re: Sloppy Gimble Ring

Haut, I have not tried anything to this point. It sounds like you are talking about the bolts that clamp against the square upper pin?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sloppy Gimble Ring

Yup.......
Another place would be where the steering arm meets theupper shaft....
As far as the up & down play, I forget the tolerance of hand, but it is small....
I would try shimming as a last resort after everything else has been tightened up.....
I don't see why you could not shim it if done properly, but be real careful removing that lower pin, if you break the casting, you are in for a new gimbal housing......
I'm thinking that if everything else is tightened shimming won't be neccessary....​

 

[spydermann11]

Re: Sloppy Gimble Ring

Thanks Haut. I appreciate the advice and will give it a try.

 

[spydermann11]

Re: Sloppy Gimble Ring

I finally got to tightening the bolts against the square upper pin. You were 100% correct. They were not clamping the pin at all, the bolts were basically sitting there for show. I now have almost 0 side to side (turning) slop. This will be a great improvment for wandering!
I do still have .090" of play vertically. When the ring is sitting (relaxed), I can move it upward with no pressure. Is this a problem that I should dig into or not a big deal?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sloppy Gimble Ring

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf
Click on the lettered section on page seven of the link above.....
You want to view section 4B, page 31.....
That should explain it......