Alpha one gimbal bearing questions..
 

I am in need to change out a couple of 1990 Alpha one gimbal bearings. Shall I assume that the same tools I bought and used to replace the gimbal bearing in my '95 Bravo one will also work for the alpha? Also, I'd like to put a greasable bearing in the Alpha, vs the sealed one. I haven't had any luck finding a bearing that's greasable that isn't a cheap Chinese one. I think the Bravo bearing was a Sierra Marine that was a SKF at the time. Any leads on a bearing? Thanks.

Sierra 18-2100 , $55 retail. Never an issue with these.

No one is using the greasable bearings anymore period. When one buys a new transom assembly they all have the NON greaseable bearing installed since 2007 for Volvo and 2009 for Merc. The Non greasable bearing is 7 to 10 percent stronger and hold up better for blocking out Moisture that can seep its way to the inner bearing areas. The same goes for U joints - marine apps have been using non greasable U joints for over 15 years without issues. The Non Greasable U joints are 12 to 15 percent stronger because you do not have the cross section drill for the path of the grease when re filling. .

Well, I can't say that I'm really partial to one or the other. Just always believed that anytime you can add grease it would last longer than a "sealed". Any difference between the Mercruiser vs the Sierra branded bearing?

there is 3 major players for GB s. All are fine.

50 percent of the people whom install GB s never line up the grease hole dead on = so when greasing the zerk, the grease never gets into the bearing anyways. When you install a NON greaseable bearing you do have to worry about lining the hole up. I have been installing non greaseable bearing since 2007 without any comes back. They do last.

Also the non greaseable bearing does not have grease running all out attacking the U joint bellows. That grease softens the U joints bellows internally hugely. Anyways its your boat and choice, I am only telling you my experience.

I prefer the greasable bearings. I have seen the non greasable ones seized. I only see bellows fail from drycracking on the outsides. That's my experience.
the greasable ones do fail if they aren't lubed.

i have the sealed bearing and havent had any issues....

Non-greaseable repairs for the alpha one I just replaced

Sierra 18-21001 for the '90 alpha sealed bearing, correct? I've decided to go with the sealed, since this is a cruiser, and will be in the water all summer with no chance to grease throughout the year.