gimbal ring replacement is a plug kit ok or no??
 

94 29 foot scarab with twin 350 and 2nd gen alpha ones. I was greasing up the lower unit to get it ready for winter and found one of the grease zirts on the gimbal ring fell off in my hand because it is cracked at the up and down pivit point and seperated about and 1/8in or so. So i called around a few places and some places want to pull the motor and some want to use the plug kit. What are the ups and downs of these. Pulling the motor is about twice the money over all and my second though was if i had any problems in the future if used the plug kit i would alread have access haha.

Check out jr marines kit. To me the merc plug kit looks like a joke. I used jr's and it was a piece of cake. Can you get the rest of the zert out if not might try a easy out before yanking the motor or drilling into the lower

the whole zurt is out its cracked all the way threw and seperated so basically the zurt was just sitting in there

where do i find jr kits??

ok i found jr kit. That dosent look to bad as anyone used it and what are some feed backs on it? i says you need a wrench kit is that true or has anyone tried to use regular wrenchs??

ok i found jr kit. That dosent look to bad as anyone used it and what are some feed backs on it? i says you need a wrench kit is that true or has anyone tried to use regular wrenchs??

If the gimbal ring is cracked, then it needs to be replaced.
Plus, the JR Marine kits are for Bravo drives.

That's what I am getting at is how to replace it?? You have to get to the steering nut that I am told can't b done unless u pull motor do plug kit or the jr marine kit. And when u search the jr ki it says its for bravos and alpha 1 secind gen

No experience on the 2nd gen Alpha 1, but I did my bravo with the JR method. Went pretty easy, and quick. You'll have to replace or repair the gimbal after you get it out.

In the past used the merc plug kit.We now just pull the motor,seems easier and faster for us. hf...

Yeah I plan to just replace it. Did u need special wrenches to get the nut off?? The reason I ask is bc when u look up instructions is says something about a wrench kit

He has wrenches that have been modified to work with the kit, I did'nt use his wrenches and it was still pretty easy

ok thanks i plan to use his kit now can anyone tell me what else is needed to do the job besides gimbal ring. Seals, gaskets, bushings ect ect

No idea if the Alpha is the same, but I replaced:

swivel pin (JR Marine), swiver pin bushings & seal, U bolt (again, JR Marine). Call JR - they'll know what you are likely to need and set you up. I made my own special wrenches by grinding oan old one I had around for easier access, but it could be done without that as stated.

I also replaced the u joint & shift cable bellows, raw water tube, tilt pin bushings, etc.

the jr kit works on the alpha gen 2 just fine , did two about 3 weeks ago.

If you can do the basics you could have the motor ready to pull and save yourself some bucks. It's a simple process. The hard part is having the equipment to yank the motor.

I personally would pull the motors as there is always plenty of little things you want to do when the motors are out.

you may go to the trouble and pull the motor and still have to remove the transom plate assy because the boat builder did not make the cut out right.

totally agree with post 15 and post 17. plus are you totally set up for pulling the motor. seen more than a few times the cutout not having enough room on the inside to work with. hence one of the reasons why merc came out with the plug kit many years`ago.

now is there some sort of alignment i have to do when putting the lower unit back together and how do i go about this???

also is there a tool needed to take gimbal bearing out??

I did a boat with the plug kit 1 time & i'll never use that kit again, PITA!! A friend had the jr kit done to his boat, pretty slick. You should always check the input shaft alignment when reinstalling lower unit Sierra makes an alignment tool pretty reasonably priced. I use a 3 jaw puller with a 10lb slide hammer, they can be a bear. To install line up the grease hole with the zerk I use a bearing race installer with a tube to fit over the handle & a brass hammer, tap it in until it seats you'll hear a difference in the sound of the tap when it hits home. Check alignment , shaft should slide all the way in with little resistance. Dont forget to lube the splines on the input shaft, install lower grease new bearing should be good to go dont forget to check the bellows for cracks or you'll be really pissed when it leaks especially shift cable bellows. Randy