Ideas on Gimbal ring bushing

[Pavetim]

My upper steering stem has the dreaded Bravo 3 wear on it and the drive moves a lot from side to side. I was going to take it apart and send if off to JR marine but I had an idea. since stupid merc uses a steel shaft and aluminum gimbal they wear, I need some ideas on how to bush the top part so it doesn't wear., I was thinking of using 4 pieces of stainless steel on the flats but not sure how to get a good bond since you can't really weld aluminum to stainless.

 

[achris]

You'll also be introducing another dissimilar metal into the galvanic corrosion equation.

I have also a corroded upper swivel shaft on my Alpha. I was thinking that come the day, I'd just mill up a new one out of 316...

Chris...

 

[alldodge]

While the housing and ring are aluminum, the bushings are brass

 

[Pavetim]

the big pin, there isn't a bushing. Well the OEM pin is steel so it's still dissimilar metals. There is an all stainless steel ring but it's like $800 bare. I already have the Stainless steel steering shaft so I would think some stainless bushings wouldn't make any difference since the pin is stainless anyways? Or possibly use brass sheets to make the bushing?

 

[Bt Doctur]

the big pin, there isn't a bushing.

Well there used to be but when they eliminated that grease fiitting it wears out faster. But if your talking about the fit of the shaft into the steering arm there is a way but you need to disassemble it first.

 

[alldodge]

Agree not bushing in the square area. If the pin stays tight to the ring, it doesn't wear.

There is a bushing in the top behind the seal (item 4)

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bam/subassembly/30967/1943/160

 

[rickasbury]

So all, I have had this "argument" several times and just don't get it I guess...I just re did my transom ( thanks to achris , AllDodge and Bt Doctur with info) and put in a new SS steering pin and completely rebuilt the transom assy with bearing, bellows, shift cable etc.....and I still have the PIVOT before it stops. When I hear side to side, I really think pivots side to side. If the out drive were truly moving side to side, you would grab the out drive on the top and standing beside it PULL it from side to side to get the slop between the pin and the U bolt where the out drive pivots on the top. I replaced mine steering pin because it was pitted and figure if it was not leaking yet it was soon to be and I had it apart. The fact that it PIVOTS I say is something in the steering which I just have not gotten back to to investigate. Is there nothing in the steering cable that has any adjustment for the excess PIVOT of the out drive??

 

[alldodge]

Is there nothing in the steering cable that has any adjustment for the excess PIVOT of the out drive??

Thing of the steering cable as a real long gear. The cable (gear) matches the helm gear. There is some slop between the cable and helm, so this will provide some play

 

[muc]

My upper steering stem has the dreaded Bravo 3 wear on it and the drive moves a lot from side to side. I was going to take it apart and send if off to JR marine but I had an idea. since stupid merc uses a steel shaft and aluminum gimbal they wear, I need some ideas on how to bush the top part so it doesn't wear., I was thinking of using 4 pieces of stainless steel on the flats but not sure how to get a good bond since you can't really weld aluminum to stainless.

Surprisingly, when people read and follow their owners manual. ------

"Change drive unit oil and retorque connection of gimbal ring to
steering shaft."

----- They never have a need for this repair.

So I would suggest that you repair this part properly and follow the Owners manual as to when to do required maintenance. And not have to worry about ever having this problem again. Seems easier then trying to bond aluminum to stainless.

 

[alldodge]

To use Bondo's phrase

Ahhh, agree following the manual yearly maintenance will reduce the need for this repair, I'm (not the best dude to ask) not in agreement that this will keep from the problem from "ever" happening again.

Its a good design, but not a great design

 

[muc]

To use Bondo's phrase

Ahhh, agree following the manual yearly maintenance will reduce the need for this repair, I'm (not the best dude to ask) not in agreement that this will keep from the problem from "ever" happening again.

Its a good design, but not a great design

Yes "never" was too strong of a word. I'm sure that somewhere, a gimbal ring went bad due to poor manufacturing. But I'm also sure that out of the 20-30 boats that iv'e had to do this job on --- all of them had had their maintenance done by a "price point" shop or by the owner.

Agree on the design. Surprised MerCruiser hasn't updated this since the late 70's.