Mercruiser Service: #1 - How to Change Your Gimbal Bearing 

Yo man, 3 years later and I'm getting great value from this video. Appreciate you putting it out.

Thanks for the video. Actually stopped to watch the full MC Hammer video from back in the day. That's awesome.

now i see you do not rermove that corrugated sleeve around the middle of the gimbal bearing, thanks for letting me see that. also that grease hole alignment, nobody else even mentions those parts. lot of super important info you shared with me, thanks

Best demo yet!!

The bearing race with the 2 slots can be installed either way. With the slots toward the aft end GINNAN bearing can easily be rotated out to be replaced. No special tools required... Just a suggestion, the older ones were all factory installed that way.

I think you found your calling.... amazing videos.

If you are replacing bellows it is a great time to change your tilt sender wires and other things while you have that apart. I bought a kit of Ebay that has gimbal bearing, all bellows and other things.

That was GREAT, LMAO!! The M.C. Hammer. THANK YOU. MADE MY DAY!

Greetings from north of the turnpike... I wish I had seen this video last summer, I had the gimbal bearing, bellows and u-joint replaced on my 1999 Wellcraft 186s and it cost me over $1K.

Great video

great video thank you.

The taper side of the jaw expanding nut goes towards the jaws this is why it was being stubborn trying to expand the jaws smart guy

That varying tool is also an alignment tool and is the most important out of the whole job. If it doesn't go in-and-out extremely easily you may have to adjust or replace your motor mounts

I prefer the term "two handed swing press" it sounds more technical than sledge hammer;)

Thanks a lot !!,, Do you have a video for bellows ??

You have the cone shaped piece on the 3 jaw puller backwards, the cone needs to face the jaws of the puller to work properly. Thats why it was being stubborn

Hey man. Any idea what would a knocking sound that is coming right where the upper and lower unit attach together?

What are the dimensions of the aluminum installer disc that you made on your lathe?

I have a sealed gimbal bearing to fit. Reading up on these bearings they are designed to move within the outer case to enable alignment. I also discover that if you fit the bearing so the 2 cut out areas of the outer case face away from the transom you just spin the bearing around in its outer case and take out the bearing and swap for the new one and thus won't ever need the bearing puller again!! I also wonder why you need and alignment bar when the sterndrive shaft itself aligns the bearing as it passes through and into the output unit anyway? thanks for posting. I look forward to seeing the hose/bellows installs next.

"This is not over-bearing".... Proceeds to craft own tool on a lathe

Do you seat the shaft seal ALL the way in or just inside the ring for the gimbal bearing? Thanks.

Should the bearing be pre-greased by hand before installing it??

Nice video, is the grease seal required if you're using a sealed bearing?

what happened to that seal you were going to install??

Hey so my new gimble bearing doesn't have a grease hole on it. I take it it's a sealed bearing. Does this as also mean I never have to grease the zirk as the bearing wont take the grease anyway?? First time doing this so I'm just learning all this. Thank you for a great video!

Took out old bearing a few weeks before putting in new one, now new one won't fit to save my life, any tips?

Thanks for the video, very instructional. Now, what outdrive is that? Alpha? Bravo?

What happens to all the gear lube ? Does it stay contained within lower unit without the need to replenish or add ?

Do you have to pull the engine to do this job? My nephew needs to change his, but as told on mercruiser you have to pull the motor first.

Redland patriots... are you local to the Redland area? I live in Lewisberry and thank you for the video. Working on my first boat.

Question.. for the seal does it come out and go in same direction as bearing (from outside in, or did u have to be inside your boat to install seal

What do you think about having a stern drive in salt water year around? The boat I grew up on 76 caravelle didn’t have one I’m worried about how long the bellows will last and all

Great video! What are the signs that u need a new gimbal bearing?

Where’s the next video where you talk about engine/drive alignment? I need to horizontally adjust mine to get it to go back together, but there is next to no information out there….

3:25 Tell me more about this shaft seal. In extracting my gimbal bearing, I think I managed to tear my seal. What is the part number you used?

Do you happen to know the parts # for the shaft seal?

The yellow dot needs to be clocked at 10 O-clock position when inserted. It's in the technical manual and in the instructions for the new bearing. You installed it wrong!

Great vid shame you did not line grease hole up i also noticed the dot was at the top it should have been around the 10 o`clock position as its opposite the grease hole.

Red land! From PA?

can you use the same tools that go to the gen 2 on the gen 1

Easy if you have an inner race to grab lol 😆 😂 🤣

Slide hammered my gimbal 500 times and no luck

I thought the dot was supposed to be aligned with the grease port

If the barring and carrier are not installed backwards like this video, the barring can easily be changed out by twisting the barring sideways using the alignment tool and then slid out hrough the slots in the carrier. The carrier should last a lifetime because it receives no wear. Using a sleg hammer should be avoided.

Had me watching until the 3-in-On Oil came out. Not even the right oil for Gramma's sewing machine.

On all these videos I see no way to diagnose the bearing. No test to indicate. It's already torn down in everything

right tool for the right job - a 5lb 12" handle hammer would work better than that long handled sledge...he ain't no mechanic...

Jerod, That is definitely NOT a "grease port" into the bearing. Do better research, but don't just make stuff up. At best, it can be used to lubricate the OUTSIDE of the outer race where it actually pivots in the aluminum ring which you are holding. But you will NEVER get grease into the ACTUAL bearing without taking off the grease seals which are located on both sides.... and that kinda defeats the purpose, eh?

Lmfao you have a lathe but u rent a slide hammer?? Wtf? Like really what in the actual duck

Good stuff but too much over explaining and repetition!