do they make a bushing for the upper gimble ring to housing?

[lime4x4]

I have a 86 mercruiser sterdrive. I have a slight water leak from where the steering shaft comes into the boat. If i grease the fitting at the top it doesn't leak water. But that only lasts 2 or 3 trips to the lake. I noticed that if i lift up on the lower leg i have about 1/4 inch of play.Do they make a bushing for the play or i'm i looking at replacing the gimble ring and outer transom plate assembly

 

[stonyloam]

Re: do they make a bushing for the upper gimble ring to housing?

From your question it looks like you have vertical play on the lower swivel pin. If you look at where the lower swivel pin goes through the bottom of the gimbal ring, you will see a washer on top of the ring. There should be between .002" and .010" clearance between the washer and the gimbal housing mount. This clearance is adjusted by loosening the clamping nut on the steering arm shaft and tightening the upper shaft nut, which raises the ring. Service manual #6 section 4B, major transom work describes the procedures involved. You might be able to do it from inside the boat with the engine out, otherwise you have to drill holes. If you have side to side play, try retorquing the gimbal clamping bolts (the two bolts upper part of ring) to 55 ft lb (should be done every year). If you have no side to side play, your gimbal ring and transom plate are probably OK. Mine had similar play this spring, tightening the upper swivel pin bolt brought it into spec. Good luck

 

[jtybt]

Re: do they make a bushing for the upper gimble ring to housing?

Yup! That's the procedure to take the vertical play out of the swivel shaft.

There is something of a seal at the top of the swivel shaft and a bushing. The swivel shaft is only about 1/2"-5/8" in diameter at the top and that seal is one of the weeniest you'll ever see. The only good thing is the top of the gimbal housing(outer transom assembly) is fairly high up and usually out of the water.

Could be the seal fell down the shaft because of the vertical slop.

If you're good, you might be able to use something like carved down chop-sticks to push the seal back up into position. The bad thing is the grease that's up there will probably prevent the seal from staying in place. Last one I repaired was so badly chewed up, I had to build up the itty bitty seal bore with epoxy/silica...or marine BONDO. And that was with only the gimbal housing in place. Engine and even gimbal ring were out so everything could be cleaned