Quicksilver gimbal bearing dot alignment

[Boatpuller]

Hello I just installed a new quicksilver sealed gimbal bearing. Unfortunately I didn’t know what I was supposed to apparently line up the dot on the outboard side of the bearing with the 10 o’clock position when I pounded it in. I didn’t think it would matter because I didn’t have a grease port to worry about. Does anyone have experience with this? Am I asking for trouble down the road? I’d hate to pull this thing and ruin yet another bearing. Mine is between 12 and 1 o’clock currently. See photo below.

 

[alldodge]

I'm going to need @Fun Times , @dubs283 , or @muc to verify
but Bulletin 2009-13 indicates bearings with plain dot is greaseable for Alpha and Bravo drives. Dot should be placed at 10 O'clock position (page 2)

 

[muc]

I don't think it matters. I say think because I don't know for sure. I never paid attention to the dot, I always marked where the grease hole was and lined that up with the grease passage. If I remember right, the carrier on a perma-lube doesn't even have the grease hole drilled.
While I remember that bulletin (we found it funny, all the different colored dots) I don't remember the part about 10 o'clock. So I was kind of surprised when @alldodge pointed it out (and kind of embarrassed that a retired MerCruiser Master Tech had no clue). I've installed more then a few perma- lube gimbal bearings and don't think I paid any attention to where the dot end up.
My vote is --- don't worry about it.

 

[Fun Times]

While my personal preference is to follow the book as much as possible as long as I believe it’s correct and I’m this case I do tend to personally ensure the bearing ends up in the 10 o’clock possession but in recent years past here on the forums, the bearing has been fully measured out and they couldn’t find a measurable reason of absolutely needing to be in the 10 o’clock position… so with that, we just gave it the A-OK recently plus a few other times… here’s one,

Stupid rookie mistake...

So I am in the process of replacing the gimble bearing, boots, etc. on my Alpha One Gen 2.. I did this 5 years ago and so I know how to do it.. However, I have been up for like 24 hours for a software implementation for work, and had like 15 mins to run to the garage and slam the gimble...

forums.iboats.com

So, If you can remember to install it in the 10 o’clock position, awesome… if it ends up somewhere else, you’re still good… just be sure to install it so you can see it is all.

 

[nola mike]

That bulletin is confusing...Talks about the perma-lube bearing and then shows a greaseable bearing right below it. Maybe the greaseable needs to be placed at 10, and the directions for the other bearings are just there for consistency? FWIW, I installed a sierra sealed unit in 2020--I don't think there was a dot or any instructions as to orientation, and nothing has exploded yet.

 

[Kola16]

Sealed bearings can have the dot. As long as the dot is facing outboard, you're good to go! No need to clock it.

 

[Boatpuller]

Thanks a bunch everyone! I really appreciate it!