gimbal bearing housing

[jitan2004]

Hi, i bought a used boat one year ago. The boat model is SeaRay 220 bow rider, year is 2002 and has 5.0L engine. It has alpha one gen II drive. I hear some noise from transom so I decide to service my boat to inspect gimble bearing and ujoint. After I took out the out drive to inspect the gimble bearing and ujoint bellows, I found that gimble bearing housing where the ujoint bellows attach is partly broken.
I believe that is why water is going into the gimble bearing from the bellows and cause this issue.

It will be very costly to change the entire gimble housing since I need to take the engine out to get to all 6-8 bolts.

1. What is the best way to fix this issue?
2. Can I weld the broken part and reshape? It looks like aluminum and can I use aluminum welder to buildup and use the grinder to reshape the broken lip when ujoint bellows sit.

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: gimbal bearing housing

That damage was caused by starting the engine with the drive in the full up position.

Can you fix it? Hard to say, Give it a try and find out.

 

[jitan2004]

Re: gimbal bearing housing

I was able to weld after removing all the oil and paint around the broken area. The aluminum welding works well after the area was cleaned.