Tearing down transom assembly

[todhunter]

Can't seem to find the Adults Only thread - it's not showing at the top of the sub-forum. I was looking for the videos that achris put up about tearing down a transom assembly. I've got a Mercruiser Alpha One Gen 1, off the boat currently, and was going to break it down to go through it.

 

[Bondo]

Can't seem to find the Adults Only thread - it's not showing at the top of the sub-forum. I was looking for the videos that achris put up about tearing down a transom assembly. I've got a Mercruiser Alpha One Gen 1, off the boat currently, and was going to break it down to go through it.

Ayuh,..... Right at the bottom of my posts,.....

 

[todhunter]

Ayuh,..... Right at the bottom of my posts,.....

Not sure what you mean at the bottom of your posts. I thought there used to be some "sticky" threads that stayed at the top of the forum...I'm not seeing those any more.

 

[Bondo]

Not sure what you mean at the bottom of your posts. I thought there used to be some "sticky" threads that stayed at the top of the forum...I'm not seeing those any more.

Ayuh,..... In my signature is a link to the Adults Only section, 'n the stickies are still at the top of the various forums, so I'm guessin' you have a browser problem,......

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ayuh,..... In my signature is a link to the Adults Only section, 'n the stickies are still at the top of the various forums, so I'm guessin' you have a browser problem,......

or he is using a phone which doesnt show signatures.

 

[todhunter]

Thanks guys. I see sticky threads in the restoration forum, but not this one for some reason. I have signatures turned off because it makes reading the forums easier - less scrolling. I'll turn them on to find the link in your signature.

 

[todhunter]

Definitely a browser issue - can't see anything in the Adults Only thread on Google Chrome. Looks fine on IE.

 

[todhunter]

I've been making progress getting this transom assembly torn down - not all the way there yet, but getting there. It's dirty, but overall the condition seems good.

I have the transom repair kit (30-803097T) which includes gimbal bearing, bellhousing gasket, o-rings, water hose, and bellows. I also have a new lower shift cable I'll be installing as well as the seal that goes against the hull (65533A-1), and the exhaust block-off plate seal (41802). There are some places where the paint is knocked off and the raw aluminum is showing - I'm hoping to just spot paint those areas with some 2-part enamel (I think Majic is the brand I was looking at). I got the gimbal ring out this morning (no pictures yet) and the steering arm and upper swivel pin seem good, but I'll look closer tonight.

Three questions:

1. My lower swivel pin is rusty on the ends, but the outer diameter seems fine. Should I replace it? It looks like Mercruiser has a steel and aluminum version - if replacement is suggested, which one should I go with?
2. What all small items should I look at replacing while I've got it this far torn apart? On the exploded view it looks like there are oil seals in the shift shaft (1x), lower swivel pin (2x), and upper swivel pin (2x) - replace these? Anything else?
3. I've already pulled the gimbal bearing, and it looks like there is an oil seal behind it. I think I've read that I should knock this out and not worry about replacing it...is that the case, or should I put a new one in? My transom repair kit didn't come with one.

 

[todhunter]

Still looking for input on the following:

1. Should I replace or do-away with the seal that resides behind the gimbal bearing?
2. I'm going to replace my lower pin because it's pitted. Should I buy a steel or aluminum pin?
3. On the gimbal ring, there is a needle bearing that the above pin passes through. It's kind of rough feeling. Should I change to the nylon bushing, or go back with the needle bearing?
4. This is the lower starboard side of my gimbal ring. The drive was obviously rubbing on this. What can cause this?

I cleaned up my outer transom plate and it came out good. I'm still going to touch up paint in a few places.



I think the upper steering pin looks good enough to re-use. There is some surface rust on the very bottom, but the rest of it is fine. There was no play between the steering arm/pin or the gimbal ring/pin.

 

[nola mike]

Still looking for input on the following:

1. Should I replace or do-away with the seal that resides behind the gimbal bearing?View attachment 337955
2. I'm going to replace my lower pin because it's pitted. Should I buy a steel or aluminum pin?View attachment 337952
3. On the gimbal ring, there is a needle bearing that the above pin passes through. It's kind of rough feeling. Should I change to the nylon bushing, or go back with the needle bearing?View attachment 337950
4. This is the lower starboard side of my gimbal ring. The drive was obviously rubbing on this. What can cause this?View attachment 337951

I cleaned up my outer transom plate and it came out good. I'm still going to touch up paint in a few places.
View attachment 337949


I think the upper steering pin looks good enough to re-use. There is some surface rust on the very bottom, but the rest of it is fine. There was no play between the steering arm/pin or the gimbal ring/pin.
View attachment 337953

View attachment 337954

Only question I can answer there is that the gimbal grease seal isn't needed with a sealed bearing.

 

[MichaelBC]

Only question I can answer there is that the gimbal grease seal isn't needed with a sealed bearing.

I did replace mine last year, even I did put in a sealed bearing.
My thinking was that it is easy to do, doesn't cost much and doesn't harm if it is there.

But if the bellows gets damaged and water comes in then this seal might prevent my boat from sinking very fast as I could not imagine that the gimbal bearing keeps the water out.

 

[nola mike]

.

But if the bellows gets damaged and water comes in then this seal might prevent my boat from sinking very fast as I could not imagine that the gimbal bearing keeps the water out.

Yer going down either way. There are vent holes in the transom plate connected to the bellows cavity. That's why getting a lot of water in your bilge is a sneaky way to take out your outdrive, ujoints, gimbal,etc

 

[Alumarine]

That seal in front of the gimbal bearing is only to stop excess grease from "flinging" into the bilge area.
It will not stop water from entering.

 

[MichaelBC]

Ok, but I think it does not harm to have it and I will not remove it now.

 

[todhunter]

OK, reading in the Mercruiser manual, you cannot go to the new nylon lower pin bushing if you have the old style needle bearing like mine. I've decided to leave the old seal behind the gimbal bearing in place - if I don't need a new one, no harm in leaving the old one there, right? I also decided to just order the aluminum lower pin and see how it goes. Worst case I've got to buy a steel pin and it puts me back by about a week. I got the gimbal housing/gimbal ring/bell housing fully disassembled and ready to prep for paint.

This is the "old sytle" spacer/seal/needle bearing/seal that goes in the lower part of the gimbal ring for the lower pin.

 

[todhunter]

Well, I took my first stab at repainting part of my transom assembly. There were several small areas with corrosion, so I figured I'd let the gimbal ring be the guinea pig. I stripped it of all hardware, cleaned and degreased it, then sanded the whole thing, being more aggressive on the corroded areas. I used the Majic brand primer, enamel, and hardener, and used naphtha as a reducer since Tractor Supply was all out of reducer. I laid one good coat of primer and let it sit for 24 hours, then tonight I sprayed the black. I'm just a hack with a paint gun, and I'm certainly not painting in a dust-free environment, but if it looks as good dry as it does wet, I'll be happy.

After prep:



After primer:



After paint:

 

[todhunter]

Pulled tape this morning. 12 hours drying and the paint is fully hard (fingernail doesn't leave an impression). It's not a show piece, but it's certainly good enough. I've now got the confidence to move forward with painting the bell housing and the gimbal housing.

 

[todhunter]

More Mercruiser parts showed up today.



Old steel lower pin on the left, new aluminum lower pin on the right:



I got the new seals installed in the lower part of the gimbal ring where the pin goes.

 

[Paintman1960]

Nice, I just painted my stuff with the same paint, looks good!

 

[todhunter]

Got my new gimbal bearing installed. It is the sealed kind...that's what came in the Quicksilver kit. I've still got the old one - it still feels good and is the kind with a hole so you can grease it. Not sure if pulling the old bearing out (by the inner race) damages it to the point I should just throw it away... @achris ?