Offshoreonly.com - Gimbal bearing

Offshoreonly.com (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/)

- Do It Yourself, Boating on a Budget (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/do-yourself-boating-budget-249/)

- - Gimbal bearing (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/do-yourself-boating-budget/361957-gimbal-bearing.html)

Smoked an older coupler yesterday running cruising speed. My engine was previously out of alignment pretty bad. Replaced the coupler today and was worried about the gimbal bearing. I ordered a new bearing and waiting on it. The old bearing seems fine and articulated well with realigning the engine tonight. It is smooth and turns just fine, the bearing seems to move better now that it did with my first realignment. I was wondering if a gimbal bearing could have too much movement or too easy of movement for alignment?

Thanks

If the swivel movement is free and easy, that’s not normal as far as I know. The rotation should be nice and smooth but changing the bearing angle should require inserting the alignment tool and bumping the other end of it deliberately. Good luck and don’t use a cheap replacement.