Water in gimbal bellow, now what?

[CurrentObsession]

Pulled both drives off and found water in both gimbal bellows, which I was surprised about as the bellows themselves look almost new.

I am trying to take off the bell housing so I can have the drives and housing stripped and painted this winter. I have successfully removed the hitch pin bolts with heat and breaker bar. I just found a prior thread explaining how to remove the lower shift cable, so I will attempt that tomorrow. Based on the pics, is there anything obvious as to where the water may be coming from? Also, not sure how to get oil and water lines off without damage.

Don't know why the second photo went sideways.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Bellows are good for maybe 5-7 years depending, if the rubber feels soft then they most likely expanded from the inner spring and wore a hole thru where the water hose goes.
For the shift cable go to a marina and get 2 used control cables or cable cores,NOT SHIFT CABLE CORES. Remove the 2 square setscrews, pull slide and core from housing. insert core and then remove the shift cable casing leaving the core as a guide for installation

To install a drive you must use some type of adhesive on the large rubber ring or it will leak. bellows adhesive, 3M weatherstrip , contact cement,etc.

Safest way on the oil line hose is to cut it making sure you dont break the PLASTIC fitting and then use new rubber hose.

Water inlet hose, unless its like new ,cut it and remove it

 

[CurrentObsession]

Okay

​Got the bell housings off, might as well go as deep as I can. I would like to take the steering ring gizmo that holds the rams off (not sure what its called). Looks like the bottom pin is held by cotter pin and what looks like plastic? The top has 2 SS bolts that run stern to bow and perhaps a rusty vertical fastener that looks problematic to get out.

Any advice?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Okay

​Got the bell housings off, might as well go as deep as I can. I would like to take the steering ring gizmo that holds the rams off (not sure what its called). Looks like the bottom pin is held by cotter pin and what looks like plastic? The top has 2 SS bolts that run stern to bow and perhaps a rusty vertical fastener that looks problematic to get out.

Any advice?

If you scroll to post #2 in the topic below, it has drawings of the various outdrive parts so you can help other know what you're referring to (trying to know which 'gizmo' you're talking about is hard!):

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...ion-for-diyers-an-work-safe-search-version-of

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[Rick Stephens]

If you read the Mercruiser Service manual for your drives, you will find that pulling the gimbal ring is a bit involved when the gimbal housing is installed on the boat. You should make it your next step to read that part of the service manual so you know what you are getting into. The side of the gimbal housing gets drilled and tapped for a plug allowing access to the steering arm bolt and nut. I have no idea which year of your drive, looks like an Alpha1 Gen2, so probably #14

Rick

 

[stonyloam]

Yeah not easy to get the shafts out. Retorque those two stainless bolts to 55 ft lb and if the ring is tight to the shafts, you should be good.

 

[CurrentObsession]

If you scroll to post #2 in the topic below, it has drawings of the various outdrive parts so you can help other know what you're referring to (trying to know which 'gizmo' you're talking about is hard!):

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...ion-for-diyers-an-work-safe-search-version-of

Sorry

​Gimbel Ring is what I figured would be logical to remove since I already have the drive and bell housing removed with the intention of having them cleaned and painted during the winter.....

 

[CurrentObsession]

If you read the Mercruiser Service manual for your drives, you will find that pulling the gimbal ring is a bit involved when the gimbal housing is installed on the boat. You should make it your next step to read that part of the service manual so you know what you are getting into. The side of the gimbal housing gets drilled and tapped for a plug allowing access to the steering arm bolt and nut. I have no idea which year of your drive, looks like an Alpha1 Gen2, so probably #14

Rick

​I can't seem to get your link to work......I have a 1998 Alpha 1 Gen 2......Sounds like it is way to much trouble to bother with this just to be able to clean and paint it. I'm glade I asked you all before I started......Seems like a poor design that this wouldn't be easily disassembled.

 

[stonyloam]

Retorque the bolts to make sure it is tight.

 

[CurrentObsession]

Retorque the bolts to make sure it is tight.

​Luckily, I never loosened them.....Although looking at the diagram, I don't see what they even accomplish.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Look closer, the factory would not have installed them to do nothing.
They pinch the steering ring to the square shaft

 

[stonyloam]

The square part of the upper swivel shaft is clamped in the square opening of the gimbal ring. If the two clamping screws become loose the shaft will start to wear the hole and round it out, resulting in steering slop. The “book” recommends that the screws be retorque annualy.

 

[CurrentObsession]

Thanks so much for all your knowledge sharing............ You have undoubtedly saved me much frustration.

 

[Rick Stephens]

​I can't seem to get your link to work......I have a 1998 Alpha 1 Gen 2......Sounds like it is way to much trouble to bother with this just to be able to clean and paint it. I'm glade I asked you all before I started......Seems like a poor design that this wouldn't be easily disassembled.

Link should work, I am on a different computer from the one I posted on and it works on it. Is a JAVA based page, so you need JAVA installed to access it.

 

[stonyloam]

Yeah the boatinfo link will not work on a ipad.