Volvo Penta Sx-M 1.97 Gimbal bearing + Transom Seal

[Vparzial]

Hello,

My gimbal bearing blew on my 2003 Stingray, where it was making audible noise when turning. I pulled the lower and the bearing was barely together. I purchased a bearing puller and it came out quite easily. But it had obvious signs there were other issues. There was lower unit grease in there meaning that the seal on the lower where the shaft is connected was blown. I have also ordered new seals for that.



Next is where I am asking for some help. After a bunch of research, I discovered that my transom seal is part number 3852548. I did as much cleaning as I could around the seal and PbBlastered the crap out of it. I saw some videos where people used a 3 claw puller to remove it and for them it seamed very easy but after looking at all this dirt, I know it is going to be a struggle. I am attaching a pic of what it currently looks like inside. I still have some more cleaning to do and I need to replace the bellows.



I would love to remove the bellow right now but I can not loosen the transom bolts to pull the outer covering. The bolts are sitting in PbBlaster as well.



I picked up this boat used 2 years ago.

Thanks for any tips or tricks.

 

[Vparzial]

Just realized I forgot to ask the main question. How do I pull the transom seal?

 

[Vparzial]

Brief update:
I took the bellow off and the outer housing. The inside of this piece has me very worried. The bellow still seals around the housing but this thing was poorly taken care of.



I still can't get the seal out and I am thinking about maybe using a fine tip Dremel to just cut it out.. Any other ideas?

 

[Horigan]

Hate to say it, but you need a new gimbal housing that bolts to the transom. The U-joint bellows seal interface is corroded or broken away and you'll never be able to get a good seal on the bellows. "Luckily", this foregoes the need to remove the seal as you'll need to install a new seal onto the new housing.

Overall there is significant corrosion on your drive, indicating poor anode maintenance. You need to clean up the corrosion and repaint the rest fo the drive if you want it to last much longer.

 

[Vparzial]

Hate to say it, but you need a new gimbal housing that bolts to the transom. The U-joint bellows seal interface is corroded or broken away and you'll never be able to get a good seal on the bellows. "Luckily", this foregoes the need to remove the seal as you'll need to install a new seal onto the new housing.

Overall there is significant corrosion on your drive, indicating poor anode maintenance. You need to clean up the corrosion and repaint the rest fo the drive if you want it to last much longer.

Yeahhhhh... I kind of figured that. I just picked this up knowing it needed engine work but never checked these areas until I went to do all the regular maintenance after rebuilding the entire motor. Which clearly was the first time anything has been done to help this poor boat out.

I trailer it currently and do not plan on keeping it in the water which should help it out.

 

[Lou C]

Agreed you need to replace the gimble housing, for sure, is your rebuilt motor already installed? Because getting at the mounting nuts on the inner transom plate can be very difficult (perhaps not impossible though) with the engine in place.

 

[Vparzial]

Agreed you need to replace the gimble housing, for sure, is your rebuilt motor already installed? Because getting at the mounting nuts on the inner transom plate can be very difficult (perhaps not impossible though) with the engine in place.

Yeah I already rebuilt the motor at the end of last season and was able to do some decent wakeboarding. I only decided to start this project because once I got the motor working, I discovered the gimbal bearing was shot.

I am looking into something called a Sleeve for the bellow fitting a marine mechanic recommended I look into it.

Right now the bellow does fit past the cracks. I wire brushed the entire inside to almost a shinny finish. Still cleaning it up until I have the time and money to do a swap of the plate.

Update on pulling the seal:
I was finally able to get the seal out. I used a razer to cut out the rubber on the seal and then took a dremel and cut it until I was just about 100% through then took a screwdriver and hammer and I was able to bend it inwards, then tried again with the 3 arm hammer puller and it finally came out.

Picture below is of the housing after I removed the seal but before I wirebrushed it to a shine.

 

[Choate_22]

Yeah I already rebuilt the motor at the end of last season and was able to do some decent wakeboarding. I only decided to start this project because once I got the motor working, I discovered the gimbal bearing was shot.

I am looking into something called a Sleeve for the bellow fitting a marine mechanic recommended I look into it.

Right now the bellow does fit past the cracks. I wire brushed the entire inside to almost a shinny finish. Still cleaning it up until I have the time and money to do a swap of the plate.

Update on pulling the seal:
I was finally able to get the seal out. I used a razer to cut out the rubber on the seal and then took a dremel and cut it until I was just about 100% through then took a screwdriver and hammer and I was able to bend it inwards, then tried again with the 3 arm hammer puller and it finally came out.

Picture below is of the housing after I removed the seal but before I wirebrushed it to a shine.

View attachment 336162

have you found a sleeve to go over the gimbal to get good seal with bellows? my gimbal exploaded last year on the water and ate the transom plate up and i dont have the money for a new shield. so if they make a sleeve that can be installed im interested to know whats its called and where to get one.

 

[Lou C]

There is no such thing that will work. You can try to get it aluminum welded but I’d replace it. BTW I have a 1988 OMC Cobra used in salt water (moored there each year) and that area is still fine. I was able to buy a very good condition complete Cobra transom assembly for about $450 for spare parts that looks like new; with inner and outer transom shields and trim rams and hoses. They are out there look on eBay. Cobra parts are cheaper but if you keep looking you’ll find it.

 

[Vparzial]

have you found a sleeve to go over the gimbal to get good seal with bellows? my gimbal exploaded last year on the water and ate the transom plate up and i dont have the money for a new shield. so if they make a sleeve that can be installed im interested to know whats its called and where to get one.

Sorry for the delay, I have been enjoying the water. I purchased a sealed gimbal bearing and then my buddy who is a mechanic recommended Loctite 660 Press-Fit Repair (runs like $30). I cleaned the surface really well and then covered the bearing and the housing with the loctite 660, put the bearing in and let it set for 48 hours and it was solid as a rock in there. I had a .01 in gap and it filled it in nicely.

Hope this finds you along with some success.

I was not able to find any transom assemblies for $450 like the previous posted suggested. I was finding them for close to 2k before putting in all the work of swapping it out.