Broken Gimbal ring, and much more!!!!
 

This weekend i was WOT jumped a large wake and snaped my bravo 1 clean off the back.
The only thing that kept the drive from sinking to the bottom was the external steering.

I bend both trim rams, broke the gimbal ring, broke the bell housing, broke the upper case also.

The gimble housing is fine.

My question:
I found a stainless steel ring for 695.00 should i buy it? It seems like its the huk.
Also can i get the hole gimble, rams, transom, bell, bellows, etc, all put together for bolt on. It seems like it would be easier to just un-bolt the transom plates and slide in a new one rather than trying to put the gimbal ring in?????

what do you think would be my best option, try to fix the mess or just buy a new outdrive??????

Just the case alone is 1100.00 and to swap out all my guts sems pointless by the time i get new bearings and seals.

My boat is a 94 24' baja outlaw, with a MPI 525hp
should i be getting a XR upper?

Basically I'm looking for some ideas of what i should do to fix it.
I'm trying to get it fixed fast and painless, I'm not worried about the $$$$$$$$. I just don't want to start ordering all these parts and then not get the right part, wait another 3 days for parts, find out i need another part and wait 3 more days. You know just want it to be done.

thanks for your time.
Curt LAXBAJA

look on ebay for complete transom assemblies. Very reasonable and cheap freight. I'll be buying a HP transom assembly this week.

It sounds like your best bet would be to buy the entire transom assembly. I think that they run around 2500 and the only real hassle is pulling the engine forward or out so that you have room to work. It will probably be faster than taking everything apart, ordering all of your parts, and then reassembling. I could turn out to be close on money as well. As far as going to the XR, why bother if your Bravo 1 han't broken.

Rene

Don't forget to heavily scrutinize your motor mounts and replace your engine coupler as well. You're probably gonna need some inner transom work. I'd be surprised if you don't find spider cracking by the outer gimbal also.

the stainless gimbal ring from chad hill/hill propellors is a piece of junk,I bought one and it wasn't even close to fitting,Smitty

Thanks for all the info, I'm going to just buy a complete gimble assembly, and pull the motor to look for any other problems.:hothead:

unless you have a standoff box, you will need to pull the motor anyway to replace the transom assembly. The bell housing sits on the inner plate, which will most likely move once all the bolts are out. Plus it will be a whole lot easier to do with the motor out of the way. Oh, and go for a HP transom assembly. Its a bit stronger. Im sure your drive is fine. But youll probably have to replace the input shaft and U joints. there are some reasonable deals in the classifieds for HP gimbals and XR drives. I believe Dollar Marine has a complete rebuilt HP gimbal for 2700.00. Check it out

Stainless Steel Gimbel Ring
 

The stainless steel gimbel ring we build is far better then anything on the market, in my opinion. It is much cheaper in cost then any other manufacture and yet it stronger then anything available. I do admit the first ones we produced had a little trouble fitting. The problem has been taken care of. We have sold over 400 of these throughout the world over the last two years. I guarantee they will fit and be the last ring you ever buy.

Also note: Hill Marine makes stainless steel bell housings, swivel shafts, and 17:4 U bolts. By 2008 we will be selling the complete bolt on gimbel.

Call Victory Marine and get a complete new assembly - for a helluva price. They are probably non-current, but brand new and worth the $$ IMO

Do you make them for #6's?

At this time we do not make one for the #6. I have two people interested already. If I can get ten orders I will. The price would be roughly $1,200.

are the ones you have listed on ebay the [new ones] ? do they fit without alot of rework ?

The ones on ebay are fine. You can also purchase them from our website www.hillmarine.com. They are the same price.

Trippin makes an excellent point about the coupler, an often overlooked part. I would want to go through the drive also after that kind of trauma. Are you saying you do not have an XR drive?

correct but im going to an XR now after all this

When you say 'broke the upper housing" I assume you mean the wearpad support, correct? They are a major weak point and I would recommend to anyone adding one of the many aftermarket support blocks that go between the pads. I still say NO to Royal Purp but no one would disagree about support between the pads.

I just purchased the IMCO extreme advantage transom essembly. No worries now.

Still trying to find a good drive, a used IMCO, or any after market solid drive will do. But if i have to I'll get a new one.
I don't want this to ever happen again.

GOOD MOVE !!!

:signs069: :chill-pill:

Can you spare any chill pills, I need like a full bottle!:frog:

What I was suggesting earlier in the thread is perhaps the wearpad support broke previously. This would leave the gimbal ring unsupported and vulnerable.

"WOT and jumped a large wake"

The wearpad support is worthwhile.
Latham makes a good one. (perhaps stronger)
Tony Pachenco does too. (easier to install)
There are also others.

Just Got Me A Full Bottle !!!

Put me down I just replaced 1 on a #6 to the tune of $3600 retail-Not Nic e!!!!!!

got my drive now, XR with a 2" shortie and external drive oil cooler, pump, and filter. It was built by MR gadget, and It sounds like its built real well.
engines out and im going to upgrade the power steering pump to the hardin pump and cooler.
New coupler needed also with this mess.
all new dash 12 An fittings for the remote oil filter and cooler.
going to clean up the engine compartment, paint it or gel it a cool color then put some diamond plate aluminum in for looks and footing.
and finish off my external rams with a full hydralic helm.

A sort of big job has now turned into a very large job.
wish me luck

rhinoLX
Can i get the latham wear pad support threw latham or can you tell me who I should buy them from.

And yes jumping my boat WOT is broken parts waiting to happen. I'm hard on everything i drive.
The wake was only 3 feet.
I'll look for big cruiser once in awhile and ggo jump there 6 foot roller but not a WOT maybe aroung 20 to 30 MPH, get the nose down in the hole about 1/4 throttle and then **** can it and launch the boat about 6 to 8 feet out of the water.
Yes I know what your thinking, DUMBASS no wonder your boat broke, yes but its only $ and its so much fun.
Well not quite but i've learned my lesson.

I will post some pictures of the carnage today.
Its pretty cool:angry-smiley-055:

LAXBAJA No, I was NOT thinking that. I am just saying it's tough on the equipment but..It's your boat and your choice. If that's what you do for fun, more power to you. After all it's your leisure time and your money. Just be as safe as you can. I doubt anyone here can say "Oh no, I have Never jumped a wake" yeah right. Heck yeah, it's fun and I was guilty in my younger years too.

I would go to Lathams' new website, it's well done. Known those people for years, good folks.

Cool thanks for the info rhinoLX

I'll get to it

Talk soon

Boat Is Back On The Water
 

well its done as i posted with the extension box.
It was a long painfull process. but i finished it just in time to put it away for the winter:hothead:

The drive i bought which was built by MR GADGET is sweat, the hole cooling , and filtering the drive oil is a great idea. the drive has a nice sound to it also.

I spend $22,000.00 on this project, some of it i needed, most of it i didnt.

all braided line and AN fittings, aluminum floors, aeromotive fuel system, twin chrome coolers coolind the engine oil, drive oil, power steering, and fuel. New twin ram full hydraulic steering, billet battery boxes, billet drive resivoir, new carpet, new drive, IMCO SC extreme transom essembly, 2" IMCO shorty, HP coupler,
and alot of bloody knuckles.

But in th end it looks very nice and I'll be hard pressed to break the drive or transom essembly.
The drive is good for 1400 HP and I'm far far from that.

Any way its been fun, painful, expensive, and expensive.

hope all is well with the OSO's

Keeeeeper tight, keeeeper clean, and the quest for speed will always be my #1 need.
I'll post some pics of the completion.

Sounds like it all worked out good for ya. Did you get a chance to atleast take it out on a test run?

hey I can't sleep at night:p can you tell us what x box you went with the 3'' or stock height and did you run the boat, I was thinking of getting one since I posted last yr that the 2'' shortie will give you 4 to 6mph ,I was hoping you could tell us what you got with the 525hp gps speeds compared to my 670hp gps speeds so if got more with the ex box then others will know so please post, thanks art.:ernaehrung004:ps you don't want to know what I spent over the last 15yrs on more speed:p art