Need labor time estimate: upper swivel shaft
 

Not having a shop do it or anything, just looking to budget some time with a helper. Using JR Marine kit. Doing it x2 so also deciding whether to do one side at a time start to finish, or break both sides down at the same time. From what I understand, there's a bushing in the gimbal ring that is typically uncooperative or requires special tooling? I'll be studying my Bravo manual beforehand. Thanks.

If you are drilling, it will probaly take all day to do both if you have never done it before. Total pain in the butt, you have to use a punch to remove the nut on top of shaft and also to install it. The new nut should have grooves in it for using a punch. No bushing in the gimbal ring, there is a seal in the housing that should go in without to much trouble. Might as well do bellows and shift cables since your there already?

There are 3 ways to do it, you can drill either side of the transom shield and use the plug kit, you can cut out the front of the transom shield and use a cover plate made by several companies like Teague custom Marine, or you can pull the engines. I prefer the second or third options depending on the customer's budget. If you are going with the cover plates it will probably take you all day and could spill over into the next of you have never done it before. The only bushing is in on the lower portion of the gimbal ring but they rarely need replacement. After you remove the swivel shaft seal make sure you use a razor blade and scrape the bore smooth, they stake that seal in and if you don't scrape it the indentations can damage the new seal when you out it in. Also go ahead and stake the new seal in place. When checking the clearance during the torqueing procedure for the swivel shaft nut make sure you give the gimbal ring a whack downward before you check with the feeler gauge or the dimension may change.

Now that I have done a couple times using Ron's method barring unseen problems 4 hours.

I just purchased a lower bushing yesterday ($16). I don't know what they are made of, but it's cheaper than a gimble ring. I actually had a ring worn into an oval shape and could not be repaired. I had to purchase a brand new gimble ring.

Here is a thread I started after my first one.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=156512