Bravo Gimble Bearing Removal Whipping me

[Mechlawrence]

Hey Guys.<br /><br />I've got an in-laws boat I'm working on and trying to replace the gimble bearing. Have 2 different slide hammers, one with 3 jaw head and one with an axle bearing puller head. One is a 5 pound head and one is a 10 pound head. Can't budge this thing. Tried knocking it in with a hammer and large punch to get it moving as suggested by local marina and still no go. Is there any other tricks to try before I round up materials and build a puller like the one advertised on Mercstuff.com?<br /><br />It's a 98 Mariah with Merc 350 MagMPI on a Bravo One.<br /><br />Thanks for any Ideas

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Bravo Gimble Bearing Removal Whipping me

If it's being that tough it's time for a thread-type puller.Once had one we took the engine out and pounded it out from inside the boat.<br /><br />DHP

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Bravo Gimble Bearing Removal Whipping me

Sometimes in salt water corroded situations, we drill small holes around the aluminum housing flange that surrounds the bearing and chisel it out, then the bearing and tolerance ring comes right out, and you then remove the back side of the flange. Use a bit of sandpaper to clean the bore area, and press in a new bearing assembly.

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo Gimble Bearing Removal Whipping me

Since you already have the slide hammer, use the 3 jaw puller part and make your own puller. A threaded rod about 18" long with the threads for your puller, nuts and washers and a few plates (Or one thick one about an inch thick) and you can pull them all day long a lot cheaper than buying the complete tool.<br /><br />

 

[crawdadric]

Re: Bravo Gimble Bearing Removal Whipping me

When I removed my gimbal bearing I had the same problem. I made a tool like Don S. The only problem I had, it required a fine threaded rod and I had to buy it at a Fastener specialty store. The hardware stores in my area like Lowes and Home Depot only carried course threaded rods. The custom tool can also be purchased on mercstuff.com.<br />click on How do I?, then click on gimbal bearing replacement, click on gimbal bearing removal method B, click on Custom Gimbal Bearing Puller and finally click on click here for prices. Cost about $280. The fine threaded rod only cost me $5, so I would make my own since you already have a puller.

 

[markvictor]

Re: Bravo Gimble Bearing Removal Whipping me

You can also get that rod on just about any tool truck...Snap-on,Mac,Matco etc...Yhe problem with the all-thread is that it isn't tool steel and it may gall and strip... don't scrimp on tools, you get what you pay for....

 

[Mechlawrence]

Re: Bravo Gimble Bearing Removal Whipping me

Thanks for the Replies guys. That's what I've started rounding up the materials to make Don. I've got two plates that are 3/4" thick each and am going tommorow to a metal fastener shop and get the thread rod to make it myself. I saw it on Mercstuff and that's where I got the idea from. I'm an Auto Mechanic and have to make "custom" tools regularly and hate to spend a fortune on something that I can make myself and have as good if not better quality. I've already looked in all the Snap-On and Mac etc. tool books and nothing even comes close to what is required to do this job.<br /><br />Again thanks for the replies guys and I'll let you know how it turns out.<br /><br />Lawrence