Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

[ShaneCarroll]

First off, let me say I did look at the service manual, but it wasn't very clear on this process. I took my Alpha I Gen II outdrive off today, in hopes to change the bellows and possibly the gimbal bearing. I notice there are two separate bellows, a small one on the bottom, and then a larger one up top. They still seem pretty difficult to get to, is it necessary to remove the gimbal housing as well? I looked on there, and it looks like there are the two bolts on the top and a pin on the bottom, anything else?
Also, is that larger bellow the exhaust bellow, and if not, what is it called? That is my main problem, as Don S pointed out to me before about water in the bellows, the entire top of that one looks like a blown out tire or something. I ordered a new exhaust bellow off eBay, but it looks like it is the smaller one.
One last thing, is a slide hammer really necessary to remove old gimbal bearing, or is there an alternative that one might already have laying around the house? I just hate buying all these tools for something I hope to not have to do very often, or anywhere in the near future (say, 5-8 years).

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Upper is shaft and lower is exhaust.
Click on this link.

http://www.mercstuff.com/howdoi.htm

 

[mark1905]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Upper is shaft and lower is exhaust.
Click on this link.

http://www.mercstuff.com/howdoi.htm

Nice walk through actually..

..and no.. I have never heard of anyone successfully removing a gimbal bearing without the help of a slide hammer. In fact, it took 3 of us taking turns trying to get that sucker out of there last time and thankfully the lucky one to finally pop it out wasn't me because the guy went flying backwards when it came and about knocked himself out. Brace yourself.. lol...

 

[dominic5050]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

save yourself the headache and find a local marine mechanic. Should be able to find some one to do the whole job for around 500.00. You will also need some special tools to remove gimbal housing and r&r bellows.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

One last thing, is a slide hammer really necessary to remove old gimbal bearing, or is there an alternative that one might already have laying around the house? I just hate buying all these tools for something I hope to not have to do very often, or anywhere in the near future (say, 5-8 years).

You can make a puller out of some all thread and some big washers. But you can also go to Autozone and "rent" a slide hammer for free. They have a loan-a-tool program. You essentially buy the tool, use it, then return it. (And no, you're not cheating - that's a program they offer!)

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

You can make a puller out of some all thread and some big washers. But you can also go to Autozone and "rent" a slide hammer for free. They have a loan-a-tool program. You essentially buy the tool, use it, then return it. (And no, you're not cheating - that's a program they offer!)

+1. make it easy on yourself and rent the tool.

 

[mark1905]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

save yourself the headache and find a local marine mechanic. Should be able to find some one to do the whole job for around 500.00. You will also need some special tools to remove gimbal housing and r&r bellows.

If you don't have all the tools and aren't totally adept to taking that outdrive on and off, I second this.

It's pretty labor intensive, and there are tons of little details that need to be paid attention to that you could seriously screw up. Grease holes lining up, not messing up your shift cable when you pull the outdrive, engine alignment, getting the bearing in just right.. tons of things. I would bite the bullet and pay someone to just do the whole job right and know that it's all done right.

Get your parts though online, as they are way cheaper. You can get a complete bellows, gasket, u-joint and gimbal set for $60 shipped from Jim Hall.. great guy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GIMB...3461076QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear

 

[meesh]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Only problem with buying your own parts is you will probably have to find a mechanic doing side work. Most shops want to sell you their parts and I dont blame them for that. They know the part will fit and they also make some money on the parts, that's how they stay in business.

 

[mark1905]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Only problem with buying your own parts is you will probably have to find a mechanic doing side work. Most shops want to sell you their parts and I dont blame them for that. They know the part will fit and they also make some money on the parts, that's how they stay in business.

That's why most people around here use mobile mechanics. Lower overhead = better rates = easier to work with.. as long as you know who you are dealing with.

 

[Sirbb]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Did you decide to do the work yourself or get it done. Im at the same point and think I will do it my self and buy the tools nedded. I checked with my local shop and they want ~1000.00 to do the bellows and bearing/seal. If you have done it, do you have any advice for me?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

$1000 seems high, get a complete transom reseal kit that has everything needed for under $200,make a few simple tools(pic`s on request) and plan on spending 2-4 hours

 

[mark1905]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Should be around $500 in labor..

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

I decided to do it myself. I removed the outdrive, got all the components I needed, just waiting on that "special hinge pin tool." You know, it really "grinds my gears" that these companies do stuff like this. To replace the bellows with the gimbal ring on, you must have the bellows expander tool. Or, to take the gimbal ring off, which I've heard is the easier method, you must have the "special hinge pin tool." I am also gonna try to change the u-joints myself, picked up the u-joints, gimbal bearing, alignment tool, exhaust and drive-shaft bellows, gaskets, and now this tool for a total of $205. Not too bad, considering the shop wanted $300 for parts plus labor.

 

[Glastron_V210]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

My opinions only (I did this job about 6 months ago on an alpha 1). I may miss a couple of steps, so be carefull!

1a) Forgot to mention to remove the shift cable. Make a shift cable nut removal tool by welding three cheap deep sockets together! Works good. Check the shift lever seals while you are in there (They are a common point of failure). Replace the shift cable if it binds at all, or looks shoddy.

1) Slide hammers suck...they won't pull a really stuck gimbal bearing, which is likely what you have with water in there. However, a 'screw' type puller will do the job about 90% of the time without too much trouble. My puller has a rod with a large (1.5") threaded end with nut, and a smaller threaded end. The smaller end has different sized 'grabbers' which connect to it. Choose the right on for the gimbal bearing hole. Now, what to pulll on? I got a 4x4, about 18" long and drilled it for the 1.5" shaft. Place the 4x4 across the bell housing, et voila, an anchored puller, rather than a slide hammer. As you do up the nut on the outside of the 4x4, the grabbers will try to extricate the bearing with force being generated against the bell housing. The bell housing has to be on for this to work. It's the part the outdrive bolts onto...the one with the fancy headed pins holding it on.

2) After you get the bearing out, pull the bell housing with the special tool. You may need to apply heat judiciosly(I broke 1 tool before I applied heat......It's finally coming...bang...nope, tool was giving way!) Remove the pins with the special tool, and then remove the bellows (Both ends). Check the mating surfaces for corrosion. Rebuild bellows area. USE bellows adheisive!!

3) You can use a square cut 4x4, with the end shaved into a circle with a depression in the middle to drive the new gimbal bearing into the seat. Works good, but get the tool right before you drive it. If it's going in crooked, STOP, and try again.

4) After the gimbal is in, use an allignment tool as follows. Insert tool as far as it will go. If it doesn't bottom, GENTLY tap around the perimiter of the tool with a hammer. this will allign the bearing in the carrier. Repeat until the tool bottoms, and slides in and out with gentle force. If you don't get it to be gentle, the outdrive input shaft will buck and the universals will scour your bell housing and transom fitting when you tilt.


Those are the hard bits. Good luck.



Chay

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

My opinions only (I did this job about 6 months ago on an alpha 1).

Thank you for the help. Was that your first time ever changing that stuff? If so, about how long did it take you? After heeding advice from many experienced in this department, the best advice I have gotten was to clear your schedule for the day, and have some form of stress relief, or be prepared for many flurries of flying profanities.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Instead of the special tool to remove the hinge pins, you can use an allen wrench - 1/2 inch I believe. Not only does it work, from what I understand even the pro techs use it instead of the official tool. Also, for what it is worth, a typical cold chisel shaft just so happens to have the same dimensions as the allen wrench.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Thanks, that's good to know. Unfortunately, I just ordered the hinge pin tool, it only set me back $15 so it wasn't that bad.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Changing Bellows and Gimbal Bearing

Bt Doctur,
Does that device help pull the old one much easier? I like that idea, just slightly curious as to how you would get it through the gimbal bearing with both pieces attached.