Kit/Part Recomendations

[cchamp]

I'm about to do the gimbal bearing/bellows repair on a 2003 mercruiser 3.0 alpha one, gen 2 sterndrive. I need to buy the kit and tools necessary to make the repair (alignment/gimbal bearing seal/gimbal bearing tool etc). I'm assuming I also want to buy a sealed bearing.....

Most (if not all) of the kits I see on ebay have a greaseable bearing. Anyone here have experience with a good kit/tools that can give a recommendation?

Thanks!

 

[harringtondav]

It's a tough choice. The Mercury OEM kit costs over $225. https://www.amazon.com/Transom-seal-.../dp/B001HBSY36 One on eBay is priced at $64 for the "same" pile of parts. https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-MerCrui...5.c10#viTabs_0 The stand alone OEM Merc gimbal bearing costs more than $64. Personally, I'd steer clear.

Many forum pros swear by only Merc OEM. I'm OK with Sierra. But no way this kit could be assembled with Sierra parts for $64. Sierra p/n's for each Merc part. I copy the Sierra p/n and check pricing here at iBoats and elsewhere.

Or dig deeper in your pocket and go with the OEM kit. It's the safest bet. Merc only sells sealed gimbal bearings. You'll need to plug your gimbal hsg zerk hole with the included pipe plug. If it is offered as a greasable, it's likely Sierra.

 

[kulle]

i got my transom repair kit, OEM Mercury....with gimbal bearing, all the bellows and gaskets,etc. from walmart.com. the vendor was RPM, $197 w/free shipping, lowest i ever found.

 

[kulle]

....might not have any left...but worth a shot

 

[Luv2fish36]

Are you doing all the bellows, water hose, oil line? I would just buy the u-joint bellows and gimbal bearing separately. You dont need the full transom repair kit if your doing just those two things.

make sure you buy the correct gimbal bearing I believe you'll need the cut off one used with the bigger u joints. But check your serial# to make sure.

As for tools see if your local merc shop will rent them to you. They might, especially if you buy the parts from them.

 

[cchamp]

It's a tough choice. The Mercury OEM kit costs over $225. https://www.amazon.com/Transom-seal-.../dp/B001HBSY36 One on eBay is priced at $64 for the "same" pile of parts. https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-MerCrui...5.c10#viTabs_0 The stand alone OEM Merc gimbal bearing costs more than $64. Personally, I'd steer clear.

Many forum pros swear by only Merc OEM. I'm OK with Sierra. But no way this kit could be assembled with Sierra parts for $64. Sierra p/n's for each Merc part. I copy the Sierra p/n and check pricing here at iBoats and elsewhere.

Or dig deeper in your pocket and go with the OEM kit. It's the safest bet. Merc only sells sealed gimbal bearings. You'll need to plug your gimbal hsg zerk hole with the included pipe plug. If it is offered as a greasable, it's likely Sierra.

Thanks. I think I agree with you here. No need to risk it. Better to spend and get quality so I don't question it/fear it failing moving forward. Don't want to do it again next summer!