SP-C Gimbal Grease Question

[JagGuy]

Hello Everyone

I have a SP-C drive and a 4.3 engine. I've
tried to read everything I can on the forum
about Gimbal bearings and yet I still have
questions.

The boat is a 1993 with 268 hours on it. There's
no indication that the Gimbal is bad, I just thought
I would check it out while I was replacing the
bellows.

The SX drive seems to have some kind of
grease tube. I can't find anything for mine
and I have searched as they say "high and low",
and I really mean high and low. No grease
fittings on the inside or outside. Is there one
and I just don't know where to look?

I attached a picture of the Gimbal and it seems
not only well greased, but looks like grease has
been pumped in and squeezed out (but I could
be wrong on that). There's no indication that
water has ever been near the bearing or shaft.

Could the original Gimbal have this much grease in
it from the factory after all this time?

I'd like to just put the bellows back on and be ready
for next year, but . . . . . if the current bearing isn't
greasable, maybe I should replace it?

As you can see, I'm puzzled by all this.

I appreciate your help.

Brian

 

[bruceb58]

Re: SP-C Gimbal Grease Question

There are called intermediate housing bearings...not gimbal bearings. My understanding is that they can be greased from the inside of the boat but you may have to add a zerk fitting. Go up to the adult section and look at the instructions for "Instructions for replacing the primary shaft bearing/s in the flywheel cover".

Personally, yours look fine as long as no water has gotten in the bellows.

 

[JagGuy]

Re: SP-C Gimbal Grease Question

Thanks for the info. Bruce.

I appreciate it.

Sorry it took me so long to say so.

Brian

 

[bluecollerboater]

Re: SP-C Gimbal Grease Question

I have the same drive. If you have a grease fitting on the top middle of the bell housing you have an open bearing. If there is no grease fitting you have a sealed bearing. The sealed bearings are not serviceable. There are other posts about taking the bearing out through the back. This can only be done if you have no grease fitting. If the grease fitting is on the bellhousing you have two bearings and have to lift the engine to fix it. If you have the sealed bearing I saw a post were someone shoved a tube past the grease seal and filled the pocket were the bearing is with new grease. Hope this helps.

 

[JagGuy]

Re: SP-C Gimbal Grease Question

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

The bell-housing has no grease fittings of any kind.

Right now, I can't use the boat at all because there
is no exhaust bellows available (http://forums.iboats.com/volvo-pent...tdrives/sp-c-exhaust-bellows-saga-629932.html).

If you have the same drive, what will you do
when you need to replace the exhaust bellows?
I know this is off topic for this post, but I am
soooo frustrated and can't believe I can't buy
something so simple and common as bellows.

Thanks again . . . Brian

 

[captmello]

Re: SP-C Gimbal Grease Question

I'm pretty sure SP-C's all had the one bearing style crankshaft bearing. If there is no noise from the bearing, and there is no play in the shaft you should be good to go.

RE: exhaust bellows, If the bellows can be fit on and tightened down, I would just go ahead and use it. It doesn't need to be water tight.