No Gimbal Bearing Grease Zerk or Plug at all???

gsbarry

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Dec 23, 2024
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This feels like a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyways (tried searching but didn't find a definitive answer). New to me 2015 model year Alpha 1 Gen 2. I've been inspecting and performing basic maintenance on the sterndrive. I'm aware that many gimbal bearings out there are now of sealed non-greaseable type. However, I'm not clear if Mercrusier started doing this from the factory as of 2015 and simply deleted the grease zerk for the gimbal bearing. Unless I'm being a complete newb, I don't see a grease fitting on the starboard side of the transom housing (pics below). I also took a pic of the bearing itself. I believe the sealed bearings are marked with a yellow dot at the 10-o'clock position, however the stamping on mine seems to have no visible color (though that may be simply that the paint wore off?) I was expecting to see either a zerk or a torx plug in lieu of the zerk, but i don't see anything there.

Am I just being dense and not seeing it? Or can someone please confirm that this model year indeed is manufactured with a sealed bearing and no grease fitting? Thanks

IMG_7839.jpgIMG_7841.jpgIMG_7842.jpgIMG_7840.jpg
 

gsbarry

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Dec 23, 2024
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Yes, that’s what I was looking for/expecting. But take a look at the pics I shared, I don’t see anything there.
 

Scott06

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Apr 20, 2014
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Yes, that’s what I was looking for/expecting. But take a look at the pics I shared, I don’t see anything
yes on later ones it is not drilled. Ot sure exactly when they started doing the perma lube bearing but can’t imagine they drilled the transom after that .
 

gsbarry

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Dec 23, 2024
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Ok, thanks Scott. So safe to assume that’s a sealed bearing then I take it (prior owner owner never touched it).
 

Scott06

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Ok, thanks Scott. So safe to assume that’s a sealed bearing then I take it (prior owner owner never touched it).
100% it’s a sealed bearing from factory on a 2015

This video has a service bulletin from 2009 that outlines the change
 
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