Worn Gimble Ring quick fix?

[pktaske]

The square hole on my gimble ring is starting to wear where the swivel shaft goes through. Play is very slight and boat is still very controllable. I've read that the only way to really fix this is pulling the ring and replacing or rebuilding it. It seems to me that if you could get a very thing piece of hard metal in there it could shim it enough to get a good portion of that slop out. More drastic would be to drill through the ring itself and tap a SS bolt against the swivel shaft. I'm sure I'm not the first one suggesting this so there has to be a very good reason why this is a no-no (right?)

 

[Bondo]

Re: Worn Gimble Ring quick fix?

It seems to me that if you could get a very thing piece of hard metal in there it could shim it enough to get a good portion of that slop out. More drastic would be to drill throught the ring itself and tap a SS bolt against the swivel shaft.

Ayuh,....I'm Sure it's been Tried,.....
But,... We don't get to hear the stories about whether it Worked,.. or Failed,.. Nor how Badly.....

Alpha transom assemblies are around for $250. to $500....
Why screw around,... Do it Right....

 

[pktaske]

Re: Worn Gimble Ring quick fix?

I'm not all that hot on pulling the engine out of this sucker just to address some steering slop. I'm gonna try to tap a 7/16" SS bolt in there and I'll let you know.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Worn Gimble Ring quick fix?

They make a gimble ring kit for this that requires drilling 2 1" holes in the housing to work through without pulling the engine. I have done it, took an entire weekend and was tedious, but do-able.

Depending on the year,

#1 drive=88302A1
A1 GenII=865328A01
Alpha 1=94993A7

Here's an instruction link that has been posted here before http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=41709:

http://mercstuff.com/gimbalringinst.htm

 

[pktaske]

Re: Worn Gimble Ring quick fix?

I'm having my local machine shop drill it out and putting in a bolt. $40. We'll see what happens. I'm still going with my gut that this is a simple leverage problem.