Can anyone please tell me how to separate the gimbal housing outer from the inner plate. I've taken all bolts off, water inlet, wires, and hydraulic lines, but it still feels like something is holding. Do I have to remove the gimbal bearing and/or bellows? I need to repair the transom wood and thought about using 1/4" aluminum spreader plates in and out to stiffen, plus seacast expoxy to replace bad wood. The boat is a 25' 1984 Felt Encounter w/ 8'6" beam that had a Merc 350 with a 260hp outdrive; I replaced with a 1998 Merc 502 w/ a Bravo 3. It seems powered right and is supposed to do 60mph at sea level with 22pitch props. It weighs about 6500lbs and the draft is about 3' (could it be waterlogged?). Sure could use some advice, thanks.
