Re: gimbal ring play
I would suspect the gimbal ring. You are the one looking at it and I am NOT an expert. I cannot diagnose it for you, I only have
my recent experience with the same vintage, '79, assuming yours is Pre-Alpha and has not had parts changed/updated.
Is you ring the old style spline? If so, the splines may be starting to wear in the ring causing the play.
Do you have any port/starbord play? This could also be related to the gimbal splines failing, among several other possibilities.
quote:
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Do you think that I should take it apart or just tighten the nut up to the spec?"
Search the forum for 'loose steering' or something like that and you can get alot of info about the gimbal ring. Not very likely that the nylock nut loosened on it's own, but after 30 years it may have worked loose. (if the gimbal ring has not been removed since new) I learned a tremendous amount by reading previous post and looking at other websites (mercstuff.com)
Before you tear into it, get a good knowledge base of what you are looking at so you can diagnose it.
Mine was in extremely bad shape when I decided to change it. It moved up and down the complete distance between where the lower spindle shaft passes through the transom housing and it had very loose steering. I took a picture the old ring showing the damaged splines.
No amount of tightening would have helped my gimbal, it was too worn and required replacement. And it was dangerous running it the way it was. I could have lost complete steering ability at cruising speed and put myself and passengers in danger if the splines completely stripped out.
quote:
The PO had the engine replaced is this something that may have happened at that time?
I don't see any reason the swivel shaft nut would have been messed with for an engine change, but I wasn't there to see what they did.
