Alpha Drive Gimball Bearing.

[comsnark]

So. Got a Voice Mail from the Mechanic. He says. "Hmm. Heard a rumble from the starboard outdrive. Turns out you need a new gimball bearing -> I'll take care of it while I am doing the rest of the overwinter work on the drive".

So. I havHow big of a mortgage am I going to need for this? $10, $100, $1000, or $5000?

 

[Turtlesboat]

i'm guessing $875

 

[comsnark]

<<sigh>>

 

[FYN409]

My understanding is the bearing is under $100. And if the drive is off the labor to install the bearing should not be much.

-Ryan

 

[Weave]

Why not do the bellows why your at it? A new Gimabla would be rendered useless if you happened to tear a bellow and get water in that bearing. Back to square one again.

 

[comsnark]

OK. . . $100 plus two hours labor = $300. That's not too bad.

The mechanic did specifically mention that the bellows were in good shape, and that there is no evidence of leakage. The boat is pulled every year, and this is inspected each time. Also, the boat is continually on shore power when at the dock .. but the boat is now 10 years old. How much would new bellows cost (once the drive is off).

I must admit feeling a bit gunshy to replace perfectly running bellows . . since I proactively replaced a water pump last year and the drive gave nothing but problems for half the summer.

 

[ghuskin]

When was the last time the bellows was replaced? If never, go ahead and replace. The rubber will not last forever.

If it does go, you will have to replace the gimble bearing again. If you do not catch the problem soon enough, you are looking at big$$$. I had to pay $3900 to have my alpha1 completely rebuilt this past summer. You can bet that I'll be much more cautious in the future. this was all found out when I went to replace the impellar when engine started running hot.

 

[fwebster]

If the drive has been properly serviced and lubricated every year, about the only reason a gimble bearing will fail is if water gets to it. If your mechanic does not find and remedy that water source, then you will have a gimble bearing "do-over" about every year.

Its been a while since I've owned outdrives, but I believe there are several bellows involved...a shift bellows, a drive or u-joint bellows and an exhaust bellows....plus, there are some water hoses. The last transom service kit I bought for a project boat cost about $175 and included all the bellows, the water lines, new gaskets, and a gimble bearing. Since you have to pull the drive and remove the bellows anyway, there would be no additional labor, only parts cost, to replace the bellows. I'd just replace it all so I could quit worrying about it.

 

[comsnark]

Well. . I bought the boat two years ago. The previous owners said he did the drives every other year. . .but at the end of my first season, the drive did have a significant upper seal problem. I never ran the engine out of drive fluid (topped it off once or twice during the season). . .but it was definately leaking. The drive was serviced last year, and the seal problem was fixed.

For a $175 kit of lots of soft goods and gimble. . . . that sounds ok.

 

[190SigSeaRay]

Does the motor not need to be lifted out of the way to replace the gimbal bearing? Or is that only if you need to replace the gimbal housing???

Paul

 

[comsnark]

Beats me. I suppose not. I was definately given the impression that the problem was entirely in the outdrive -> and just required removing the drive and taking it to his shop would give him what he needed. That didn't sound so bad (considering the boat is on stands)-> I have seen him take that drive off the boat in about 60 seconds. Reinstallation takes about twice as long.

 

[gbolton]

I had also got a call from my mechanic after taking it in for winterization this year, telling me my Gimbel ring was worn and needed to be replaced. This cost me an extra $1600 (~$800 for the part, and ~$800 for labor) He did not pull the engine to replace the ring, he drilled in through the ring on each side.
I am not sure about the bearing. Hopefully it wont be as bad as replacing the ring. If it is the ring, just make sure you have a good mechanic. It is not an easy job.

 

[midway]

The bearing is not difficult to change, I changed one on my old boat with Alpha drive, pull drive, three jaw puller, pull bearing, install new bearing, if you have the right sized socket and extension you will not have to buy a bearing driver, of course your mechanic would have all the proper tools and not have to use something else like I did on mine.

 

[Weave]

Quick question.....seems a little severe for the entire gimbal ring to go......What causes this? Is the boat moored in the water?
Gimbals usually fail from water intrisuion from bad bellows, lack of grease, etc.
What kills a ring?

 

[gbolton]

Quick question.....seems a little severe for the entire gimbal ring to go......What causes this? Is the boat moored in the water?
Gimbals usually fail from water intrisuion from bad bellows, lack of grease, etc.
What kills a ring?

Dave M gave a good explanation on what happened to my Gimbel ring when I had to get it replaced. I am pasting his response from one of my posts from last month

There are two different issue here. What Dave says for the gimbal bearing is correct, but as I understand it, the failed part is the upper swivel pin of the gimbal ring. Doing the maintenance Dave lists is needed, but won't prevent swivel pin problems. That is a totally different issue. Mercruiser apparently did not provide access to the bolts on hold the steering arm to the swivel pin in all cases. If you have two plugs, one on each side near the top of the outdrive, then these plug holes that are drilled to gain access to the bolt and nut that holds the steering arm to the swivel pin. If play develops at the swivel pin to steering arm connection, it will only get worse with wear over time. You can check it by having someone inside the boat watch or feel the steering arm while someone outside moves the outdrive from side to side. If the outdrive will move with no movement of the steering arm, then you have an issue.