Tearing down transom assembly

[Bt Doctur]

I would add the missing grease fitting

 

[Bt Doctur]

add the grease seal

 

[todhunter]

@Bt Doctur - not sure what you're talking about.

 

[Bt Doctur]

the grease fitting when grease in injected will keep the seal and pin from being damaged from corrosion

 

[todhunter]

Yep. There is already one on my gimbal housing. Where do you see one missing?

 

[todhunter]

Circled it in green and drew an arrow - or were you talking about something else?

 

[Bt Doctur]

If your upper pin is not drilled to allow grease into the seal area and bushing area ,its useless. The fitting that high can only lube the upper most pin area.
installing one for the bushing and seal makes better sense and will keep the corrosion to a minimum.

 

[todhunter]

Ah, I see what you're saying. I'm pretty sure the steering pin is hollow and has a "port" to dispense grease to the lower bushing area. Did Mercruiser really design this with no way to grease the lower bushing on the upper steering pin? I'll have to look at the parts when I get home.

 

[Bt Doctur]

they even eliminated that fitting,

 

[Rick Stephens]

If I was as far into it as you are I'd make sure I had grease zerks and passageways to the upper and that lower needle bearing. I can't believe they have needle bearings without grease. Super easy to drill while all the way apart.

 

[todhunter]

If I was as far into it as you are I'd make sure I had grease zerks and passageways to the upper and that lower needle bearing. I can't believe they have needle bearings without grease. Super easy to drill while all the way apart.

The only needle bearing I've found is at the bottom of the gimbal ring - it already has a zerk and passageway. Is there another one somewhere? I'm down for drilling through the case and bushing to put in a zerk if needed for the steering pin.

 

[Rick Stephens]

The only needle bearing I've found is at the bottom of the gimbal ring - it already has a zerk and passageway. Is there another one somewhere? I'm down for drilling through the case and bushing to put in a zerk if needed for the steering pin.

Oh cool. I didn't see the zerk for the lower needle bearing. Good deal. That thing gets dry it will eat that soft aluminum pin. And yeah, drilling the upper steering pin bushing adding a zerk and a grease groove on the pin will definitely help up there.

I take issue with the trend in all equipment manufacturing to advertise how low maintenance something is because they use sealed bearings. I see it with half million dollar John Deere combines. A couple hundred sealed bearing and JD tells us how low maintenance they are for everyday use. No sh%↑. Unfortunately once they start failing the combine is basically sold off at scrap price because they all need replacing at once. It is very easy to hit the grease zerks once or twice a year on a sterndrive.

 

[todhunter]

OK, I looked at the upper steering pin and thing I understand their design. The one zerk for the top bushing lubes the top bushing. Excess grease goes past the top bushing above the steering pin, down through the hollow inner diameter, and out through through the hole to lubricate the lower bushing for the steering pin. The "pocket" above the upper bushing is sealed off by the steering pin, so the grease only has one way to go - down the inside of the pin and out to the lower bushing on the pin. Maybe not the best design, but I can follow Mercruiser's logic.

I'll think about adding a 2nd zerk to feed the lower bushing directly.

 

[todhunter]

Got the new upper shift shaft bushing/seal installed tonight - thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[todhunter]

More reassembly tonight. Got the new lower shift cable (no pic) and the shift shaft in the bellhousing, and also got the gimbal ring installed into the gimbal housing, with clearance set and everything torqued. I verified my trim limit switch functions and the sender sweeps from about 1-200 ohm, so I figure both are working. I also installed the new water hose and shift cable bellows.

Also...I verified that the grease fitting at the top of the gimbal housing greases both the upper and lower bushings for the upper steering pin - grease was coming out by both bushings, so no 2nd grease fitting needs to be added.

 

[GSPLures]

More reassembly tonight. Got the new lower shift cable (no pic) and the shift shaft in the bellhousing, and also got the gimbal ring installed into the gimbal housing, with clearance set and everything torqued. I verified my trim limit switch functions and the sender sweeps from about 1-200 ohm, so I figure both are working. I also installed the new water hose and shift cable bellows.

Also...I verified that the grease fitting at the top of the gimbal housing greases both the upper and lower bushings for the upper steering pin - grease was coming out by both bushings, so no 2nd grease fitting needs to be added.

View attachment 339772

View attachment 339773

Looks good!

 

[todhunter]

Got it all back together. Managed to scratch the paint some while wrangling the bell housing back on. My boat has thru-hull exhaust, so no exhaust bellows to worry about. But still...lots of hose clamps and reaching into tiny cracks to get it all back together...glad to be done with it.

 

[GSPLures]

Good job. I need to do mine but I'm a little gun shy. Im a mechanic just not on boats, so I am always a little weary tearing into stuff for the first time.

 

[todhunter]

Thanks. It wasn't too bad, but trying to get the u-joint bellows on before the adhesive set up and get the water hose on the bell housing and hose clamps oriented correct, etc...it was a little nerve wracking. I'm sure it gets easier the more you do it. Also, the folks at BAM Marine (mercruiserparts.com) were great to work with to make sure I got the right parts.