New Gimbal Bearing - No Grease?!?

[trailshredder]

Changing my dry, worn out Gimbal bearing in my 89 Bravo one. The new bearing just came in and there is no hole in to align with my grease zerk. It also came with a plug to replace the zerk with. Is this the new norm? I guess I am ok with it being a sealed bearing, I had a 20 year old 3-wheeler with sealed bearings that never needed a bearing or saw a grease gun. Just seems weird! Thoughts?

 

[Fun Times]

Yes it's the new permalube gimbal bearings Mercruiser has now went to using back in 09. During installation, be sure the identifying dot is in the 10 o'clock position as still required by Mercruiser.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...4oKACg&usg=AFQjCNGLgJe8_LG8QHfARmOpBxihVzsm6Q

 

[Rick Stephens]

Neat part is, you get a leak and a bit of water in there (and I am an expert at that now) - the sealed gimbal bearing doesn't wash out. Or at least not as fast. And a lot less messy when you aren't pumping your bellows full of grease, too.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,....... Sealed bearin's,.....

My tagline is gonna be Obsolete, 'bout the time I am,......

 

[Rick Stephens]

Ayuh,....... Sealed bearin's,.....

My tagline is gonna be Obsolete, 'bout the time I am,......

Oh NO!!!

 

[HPLou]

Thanks for the Link Fun Times

 

[Rick Stephens]

Yes it's the new permalube gimbal bearings Mercruiser has now went to using back in 09. During installation, be sure the identifying dot is in the 10 o'clock position as still required by Mercruiser.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...4oKACg&usg=AFQjCNGLgJe8_LG8QHfARmOpBxihVzsm6Q

Fun Times - any clue WHY the sealed gimbal is to be installed with the dot at 10 o'clock? For the life of me I can't think of a reason unless the bearing is non symetrical.

 

[JaCrispy]

Ayuh,....... Sealed bearin's,.....

My tagline is gonna be Obsolete, 'bout the time I am,......

When I worked as a truck/heavy equipment mechanic I used to tell the customers "Grease is cheap."

 

[Bondo]

When I worked as a truck/heavy equipment mechanic I used to tell the customers "Grease is cheap."

Ayuh,.... Officially, That's My job title, 'n my tagline is what I live by,....

My job load would be Much lighter, if every operator greased his equipment, Everyday,.....

 

[achris]

Ayuh,.... Officially, That's My job title, 'n my tagline is what I live by,....

My job load would be Much lighter, if every operator greased his equipment, Everyday,.....

And then you have nothing to b...ch about... :lol:

 

[Watermann]

Before I owned a Mercruiser I only had 1 grease gun, now I have 3...

 

[Fun Times]

Fun Times - any clue WHY the sealed gimbal is to be installed with the dot at 10 o'clock? For the life of me I can't think of a reason unless the bearing is non symmetrical.

Hey there Rick, to be honest, I'm not really sure as to why they're recommending the 10 o'clock position for the sealed bearing. It may just be a continuance in literature as they have been recommending it for some time now. The recommending is also still found in the latest service manuals.

The reason for the colored identification dot is because some of the later model designed bearings starting in 2000, were thinned down a bit on one side only to make room for the bigger U-joints found in some bravo drive models. So correct installation position is even more important now. The 10 o'clock may have something to due with symmetrical tolerances on the new bearings, but I can't say for sure.

In the past, using the 10 o'clock position helped me a little when installing the greaser bearings knowing the grease fitting hole is in the 4 o'clocks position. 10 = 4.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Hey there Rick, to be honest, I'm not really sure as to why they're recommending the 10 o'clock position for the sealed bearing. It may just be a continuance in literature as they have been recommending it for some time now. The recommending is also still found in the latest service manuals.

The reason for the colored identification dot is because some of the later model designed bearings starting in 2000, were thinned down a bit on one side only to make room for the bigger U-joints found in some bravo drive models. So correct installation position is even more important now. The 10 o'clock may have something to due with symmetrical tolerances on the new bearings, but I can't say for sure.

In the past, using the 10 o'clock position helped me a little when installing the greaser bearings knowing the grease fitting hole is in the 4 o'clocks position. 10 = 4.

Thanks. I guess 'just because' sometimes has to stand on its own sometimes where Mercruiser is concerned.

Rick