Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

[matthysone]

Anybody want to weigh in on the reasoning to replace the entire gimbal bearing housing requiring a puller versus just replacing just the bearing insert? On my pre-alpha (MR1 ?) I can reach through the bellows, with some tools for leverage, and rotate the bearing on its outer race to the cut away slots on the gimbal bearing housing, allowing the bearing to drop out. New bearing goes back in in reverse order. Total time 15 minutes. Plus you don't have to worry about properly driving the new housing back in straight. I imagine one concern may be the seal condition in front of the bearing?

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

No need to go over this again as it just came up a few days ago. See this thread; in short: bad idea.

Mark

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=548905

 

[matthysone]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

Thanks for the link Mark.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

On the seal part of the question - that's no big deal. It's my understanding that it is really more of a dust seal than anything else.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

I agree the seal is to keep extra grease from lubing the bearing from migrating up the driveshaft, and more importantly (IMHO) it would slow the water flow into the boat, should the driveshaft bellows fail.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

stony, there are 2 holes in the housing before the seal, so slowing the water should not happen
the very early merc manuals (1970`s)had you replace just the bearing IF it had not spun in the tolerance ring. the reason it was changed was because people never lined up the grease hole in the bearing with the grease groove in the tolerance ring.if the bearing was installed reversed, no grease would get into the bearing and it would fail in a short time.Using a drift to move the bearing sideways for removal also increases the risk of a wrong hit damaging the tolerance ring.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

Thanks for the correct information.

 

[achris]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

Hey Terry,

Have a read of this Merc service bulletin... It should clear this question up once and for all....

View attachment 85_26.pdf

Chris..........

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Gimbal bearing replacement. Just the bearing insert vs bearing and housing.

Selectivley fitted, ya right.