Hello all again (and Master Trent)<br /><br />I have successfully replaced the cut/worn U-Joint bellow (found instructions on how to accomplish this with-out removal of the Gimbal housing.<br />May I say to the professionals following these forums, my hat off to you for what you do. This was a FEAT very little room for hands and parts in there, thank GOD I was blessed with small hands and it was much, much easier.<br /><br />At any rate to the issue at hand.<br /><br />After replacing the bellows, U-Joints, various gaskets and O-rings and VERIFYING the allignment of drive shaft (used the current shaft after removal of U-Joint prior to installing the new U-Joint), the drive will NOT reinstall.<br /><br />Here is the issue, with the throttle in forward, verified the shift lever in lower unit is facing forward ready to meet the u shaped flange on the lower part of Gimbal assembly and keeping the outdrive (using external unit hooked to the top ring on outdrive so I won't have to hold it with shir strength). The drive will go in and connect to the motor spline assembly (turning motor with rench will turn prop) goes as far as (approx) 1" from proper seating position and then starts to bind (heavily) rocking the drive slightly up and down clearly shows the binding is being caused at the passege where the "shaft" housing meets the Gimbal hoousing.<br /><br />But I cannot see what is causing it. Can a kind soul, please give me some indication(s) as to what is going on?<br /><br />I had to remove the nut holding the main bearing and drive gear to remove the inner most U-Joint, could some slight burring on this nut flanges cause such binding?<br /><br />Thanks in advance, this is definately more complex then any OMC I ever dared to tackle in the past.<br /><br />Adriano
<br /><br />Adriano