Gimbal bearing install fail?

[Boatpuller]

I installed my gimbal bearing last night after letting it chill in the freezer for a couple of days. I made the mistake of installing the bellows first which made it harder to see my marks for the grease hole alightnment. It went in beautifully but after getting it installed I realized that I was about 1/8” off my mark for the grease port and grease hole in the bearing. I went to pump in some grease and sure and it seems to all be coming out the back between the housing

 

[Boatpuller]

Adding to the above - it seems to all be coming out the back between the housing and the bearing. I checked the front behind the grease seal and none seems to be coming out of the bearing itself. I’m thinking I should have bought a sealed bearing and not let myself screw this up!

 

[Scott06]

Adding to the above - it seems to all be coming out the back between the housing and the bearing. I checked the front behind the grease seal and none seems to be coming out of the bearing itself. I’m thinking I should have bought a sealed bearing and not let myself screw this up!

Yes the grease is not getting into the bearing. Not sure if you can pull it without damaging the bearing. Would always prefer a good quality greaseable bearing vs the non greaseable.

I just replaced the non greaseable u joints on my gen 2, one o two of the crosses on each bearing the grease was black and the cross was rough. SO basically no grease required, just toss the u joint out ...

 

[Dubed]

Its upsetting and aggravating. But.... get a new bearing and install it properly. Theyre not too expensive. Consider t a lesson learned. You wont make the same mistake again. If the old one comes out unharmed (doubtful), youll have a spare

 

[Boatpuller]

That’s what I figured. I don’t think I’d trust this one after removal. Amazon gets some more money out of me. Thanks!

 

[Bt Doctur]

the alum race has a circular groove that eventually lines up with the hole in the bearing race, not necessary to line up the grease hole. Is important to have the bearing fully seated
What did you use to install it?

 

[Boatpuller]

I used this to install the bearing. Bearing came out with two hits of my slide hammer. Looks like grease was getting to the hole.

 

[Boatpuller]

Another note - I measure the OD of the bearing compared to the original one - it was 0.015” smaller. This is quite a difference. Got this bearing in a kit from SEI marine a few years ago.

 

[Jmunk]

With gimbal bearings I’ve never had a problem with OEM. I’ve seen where several people have had fitment issues with aftermarket, just something to think about.

 

[Boatpuller]

Well I went back and bought a new link belt / sierra bearing off ebay. Seemed to be the same OD as the original bearing I pulled. When I tried to
install the thing I got it started cocked and had to pull it back out with my slide hammer. Now my new bearing makes noise when I spin it. I am tempted to install my old bearing that I removed from the boat originally (it sounds fine when I spin it). Not sure if that's the right thing to do since I hammered it out with my slide hammer and that one was in tighter than a you know what. I guess at this point I'm trying to avoid having to purchase & ruin a third new gimbal bearing. Looks like the quicksilver ones are $120. I'm half scared to buy one for fear of ruining it.