Quiet Straight Ahead, Rumbling in the turns? change your u-joints

J

jimi

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jul 28, 2003
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147
A mechanic once said this was the rule. Is it true that with a good gimbal bearings and bad u-joints, it will be relatively quiet when the engine is straight and then get noisy when you turn? Or is this nonsense?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Quiet Straight Ahead, Rumbling in the turns? change your u-joints

jimi said:
A mechanic once said this was the rule.
Click to expand...

It's a rule-of-thumb not a hard fast, can't be changed, or nothing else can happen rule.

Another rule of thumb, if the ujoints are bad, the gimbal bearing is probably bad too and vise versa.
To often gimbal bearings get replaced because of water in the bellows, but the ujoints "Feel Good" but in the end, they will end up getting replaced too.
 
J

jimi

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
147
Re: Quiet Straight Ahead, Rumbling in the turns? change your u-joints

Thanks Don that makes sense,

Funny part is the guy who said that changed my u-joints and then said we'll need to keep your boat for another week becuase your Ginbal seems bad.... bang head.jpg

In your experience, is there any harm in changing just the u-joints and taking the boat for a test drive? Or will a bad gimbal ruin new u-joints right away?
 
Don S

Don S

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Joined
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Messages
62,321
Re: Quiet Straight Ahead, Rumbling in the turns? change your u-joints

Just reach in and turn the gimbal bearing. If it turns absolutely smooth, there is nothing wrong with it. If you feel any roughness, slight catches or kind of a gritty feel when turning it, replace it.
 
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