Need some advice on gimbal ring install......
 

I have the opportunity to get a transom assembly pretty cheap. Going to look at it tomorrow. So, would you take the gimbal ring out and replace the broken one (drilling the holes in the housing, etc...), or would you lift the motor off the mounts high enough to undo the nuts and replace the entire transom assembly?? Mind you, I would be replacing only the outer assembly. The unit in question even has a new gimbal bearing in it, mine has 7 seasons on it.

Personally, I am leaning towards llifting the motor and changing the whole assembly.

What do you guys think????

Mike

I think between your broken parts and mine, we could create a nice piece of art and sell it for a bundle of dough :D :D

pull the mill.if somethings worth doin,its worth doing right.well,thats what my momma always told me:D

Mike,
Change the whole thing out. You don't need to be drillin' holes etc.

Dave

i agree mike if it is better then the one you have, change out, less work in the long run. when you plan on doing this? this weekend, i finally have sat-sun off if you need help let me know.

Pull the motor,, if you prep right and get the help youve been offered already,, its a day project,,, you'll be able to trust your repair and wont have to look at the plastic plugs in your transom forever !!!

Pull the motor and put in a TURBINE. No need for that old fashion Bravo Drive. T55 w/3200hp should get you well over 120mph:D

Pull the motor, theres a couple gaskets you will need and be real careful torquing the stupid plastic water elbow.

Hardest part is going to be finding a hi-lo I can use for several hours without interuption. I don't want to take the motor completely out of the boat (that's a real pain in the ass), just high enough to get at the transom assembly.

Mitch, I've already had to re-tap one of those bolt holes for the elbow. bolt broke off the last time I had to take the assembly off. Used anti-sieze on em. Should be no problem.

Scooter, I'll let you know if I need a hand this weekend. Gotta make some calls tomorrow and see if I can get a hi-lo for a while.

How many gaskets and seals do I need?? One on the transom I'm sure, but what else??

let me know open fri night and sat all day, have to golf with inlaw sun at 12:00 am other then that I'm there for ya

Theres the big oring for the gimbal housing (transom) and the one behind the water elbow and one on the exhaust bullhorns (if your still using them) and the 2 seals for the lower 2 bolts (I think they are just o-rings). If you need any pics of anything, let me know. Make sure the steering arm shaft to gimbal ring is tight on the new one before you put it on.
Tom

Mike --- You know how we tilted the motor forward to get at the back motor mount washers and bolts. With the exhaust off could you get at the lower bolts if the engine was tilted way forward. And then brace it forward so that you can't get pinched.

I was kinda thinking the same thing Tinkerboater. Need to look at it better this week. I'm more concerned with getting the new one on watertight.

Dont know if its right but i use weatherstyrip adhesive to glue the o-ring to the gimbal housing and then a thin coat of ultrablack on the o-ring and on it goes. After it sets up, you can use an exacto knife to remove any ultrablack that squirts out. Just dont use 5200 like my oem did. That was fun to get off.

The water sealing is all on the outside. Shouldn't have to do anything inside except remove the bolts and nuts and hoses. We will have to realign the drive.

Mike,
Your headed on the right track... check the new unit out and make sure the pivots and pins are good. The weather strip adhesive that formula mentioned will work, you can get some glue for it at West Marine, but the weather strip adhesive will work. While you have it off, make sure the transom is sealed where the bolt ares. Some RTV coating the holes so water cant be absorbed into the transom is a good idea.
I did this on my 25 Check and we had silent choice with the Y pipe to deal with, but it is doable. I left everything hooked up and lifted the motor and moved it forward..

I have an alignment tool if you need one.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.. I have company this weekend from out of town or I would lend a hand.

Dick

I picked up the transom assembly today. Thanks LRS!!!!!! I owe you. It's in good shape, just needs to have the tiller arm tightened up a little bit, but that's easy.

Target day for the swap is Friday. I think I'm gonna take a half day off work to work on it.

Mike,
Glad to hear you found some parts.. now get it installed..

Good luck

Dick

Mike, this is INTOLLERABLE! I can NOT allow you to finish your boat and then break it twice before I've even had the chance to finish mine! Much less break it! If you get your boat back on the water before I do, then I'm going to have to come over there and get things ugly! :mad: :mad: :D

Tim, just by coming over here you'd be making it ugly!! Ouch, below the belt with that one!!!!!

Oh, and where's my "love" from Dee?????:rolleyes:

They flopped. She wanted to remake them, but doesn't have the time, so she's sending the defects. You need to contact her regarding any differece due. :D

Hey, I'll take what I can get!!!!!

Guess I have the same policy too. Amazing how low we'll stoop for sex.

Mike; Hurry up and get it fixed. At the rate you been breaking things I've done more boating than you and I sold my boat memerial day weekend. :D :D

Hey Mike, as I recall, you boat trailer was non-functioning most of the spring. Must be you're boating in that little Sabre of Chris's eh?? That doesn't count!!! It's not your boat!!!

I've got 17.5 hours on it in about 5 weeks. That's not too bad.

I will be out this weekend in a 29 Regal probably Grand Haven area. Chris wants to run your boat!!! I went back down to South Haven Sat , That Pantera was still down there!! Nice Boat!!!!:D :D :D Boy did I get Trashed down there! Way too many Rum Runners!!!!!!!:D :D

At the moment, I do not have a truck to tow my boat with. My tranny has a bad voltage sender and does not shift correctly as a result. Neighbor is the tranny guy at the dealer in Grand Haven and is supposed to come by and fix it tonight for me. Well, it's 7:30 and he's not here yet. And he leaves for a 2 week vacation tomorrow. I'm taking a half day off tomorrow to fix the boat.