AHHH, Ok, I apoligize guys! I was under the impression that the "Gimble Ring" HAD the "2 ugly nuts" in it, sorry, I realized now I CAN change the Gimble Ring with a new one, the nuts that I remove to gain access to the swivel pin and steering shaft aren't in the gimble ring, but, are part of a different part of the transom assembly.

Sorry, it makes more sense now!

Michael

Oh yeah, one last tip. I was just thinking, I've never changed the upper swivel shaft bearing with the gimbal housing still on the boat. I'm referring to the one that the very top of the upper swivel shaft rides in. If it's in good shape, leave it. It gets greased pretty well anyway.
I've had to knock these apart and pull out the shell to remove them, but that was with the gimbal housing off the boat. I think the manual reccomends a pilot bearing type of tool, but that could be a pita trying to do that through the swivel shaft hole in the housing.

Great! Thanks! Will have a look before I think about pulling it

Have you ever used the GhR" wrench? Supposed to be a real time saver, any thoughts?

Thanks again!
Michael

$70 for that wrench? Kinda pricy. Depending on the size of the transom steering arm cutout, you can sometimes get a regular wrench in there. Otherwise just use a punch through the plug hokes.

i dont think the wrench is worth while i have one of them and it takes two people to use it and after the first time it bent and now wont hold the nut so it was a waste of $

Sounds like I could put that $70 towards the seals, bearings, etc instead. When I use the punch and hammer do I just "tap" the flat sides to the nut to turn it? Do I do the same thing to put the "new" nut on?

I am beginning to think that this really might not be too hard to do, THANKS! again for the confidence

Michael

It;s a nylon locknut, if I remember correctly. You just need to tighten it til there's about .02 gap between the ring and gimbal housing. So if you use a hammer to tap the upper swivel pin to fully seat in tthe ring, that nut doesn't have to tighten down on anything.
I've also been able to get to that nut through the steering arm cutout in the boat on a TRS, but a punch through the holes works fine too.

Great! So, I can install the nyloc nut "before" I tap the swivel pin into place? that would make things easier!

I am gonna head to the cottage sometime this week and write down the serial number on the drive, if I have that I should be able to cross reference part numbers for all the seals, bearings, etc?

Its really warm here today, so, I am chomping at the bit to get started, but, will wait til I have all the parts "here" before I get at it, Thanks Again!

Michael