gimbal bearing alignment

[ricodudink]

So I've been working on a restoration on a classic 17ft Browning monte carlo for months. So now I have arrived at replacing all the bellows and gaskets. When removing my sterndrive from the gimbal housing, my bearing stuck to the shaft. I found this strange as you see people everywhere using a pulley puller to remove it from the housing. In addition, the bearing looks brand new to me but it looks like it is not properly aligned. Therefore, I would like to hear from your experience and knowledge how this is actually supposed to be.

So
1. So could it be that the bearing can be pulled out by hand.

2. Could it be that the bearing is slightly out of alignment.

3. Should I replace the bearing since it looks brand new.

 

[Bondo]

1. So could it be that the bearing can be pulled out by hand.

2. Could it be that the bearing is slightly out of alignment.

3. Should I replace the bearing since it looks brand new.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... What vintage is that ole MC-1,..??
How 'bout a picture of the transom housin', where the gimbal bearing goes into it's pocket,..??
Is it damaged, or wallowed out at all,..??

#1, Nope, it should be driven it, tight,....
#2, My guess is, the outer housing was not installed properly, so the alignment is irrelevant at this point,....
#3, Can't answer that just yet,...... possibly,.....

 

[flashback]

The bearing in the pic of the drive shaft is way too close to the u-joint, I bet it is new as I don't think it has ever been installed in it's proper place. Like Bondo said, need a picture of the transom housing.

 

[achris]

That's an MC1 drive shaft housing (upper) with an MR or Alpha One gear housing (lower). It looks fairly old, so I'm positing that the gimbal bearing has come out because the (transom) housing has in the past been flooded and the land area for the bearing has corroded to the point of not holding the bearing properly, or it's seriously rusted to the input yoke. The last person in there didn't really do a good job. See that rubber ring around the front cover (castlated) nut? That should have been glued into the bell housing... If it's REALLY old there may be a circlip groove just aft of the bearing to hold it in place.

Either way, you have a lot to do.

(The bearing is in the right place on the yoke)

Chris....

 

[ricodudink]

with an MR or Alpha One gear housing (lower)

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... What vintage is that ole MC-1,..??
How 'bout a picture of the transom housin', where the gimbal bearing goes into it's pocket,..??
Is it damaged, or wallowed out at all,..??

#1, Nope, it should be driven it, tight,....
#2, My guess is, the outer housing was not installed properly, so the alignment is irrelevant at this point,....
#3, Can't answer that just yet,...... possibly,.....

 

[achris]

Nope, 'new' style transom housing, no circlip groove...

 

[ricodudink]

Nope, 'new' style transom housing, no circlip groove...

So what do you guys advise me to do now. I ordered a new bearing so I think I'll just try that one on and see if that goes better.

Also, while I'm at it, replace the rubber ring behind it as well or is that not necessary?

 

[ricodudink]

Soon i will make my mega post about my project.
Here a little sneakpeak

 

[ricodudink]

My full project post