I've seen this many times. When the gimbal bearing (or a u-joint) failure occurs, it can destroy the clamping surface for the u-joint bellows and the outer transom plate must be replaced. In order to replace it, the motor must be pulled to remove the transom assembly.

Here's what seems to be a fairly simple solution. Check it out, I've never tried it but it just might save you a tion of $$$


http://www.ghrkits.com/GHRKIT/ghrkit.html
Good luck,

Kurt

Thanks Kurt that is great information, Mechanic is taking the boat to a welder today to see if it can be fixed , if not I will definitley give that kit a try, the labor cost alone for removing the motor is more than I can bear, From talking to him he doesnt want to pull the motor so he may be willing to try an alternative, He really likes to do things by the book, lifelong mercruiser mech. He is rebuilding my drive with all OEM parts

in our part of the world a remove/replace sbc is about 500 bucks.

What are you being quoted to pull and replace the motor?

8 hours labor for the whole thing.

has any one tried that wrench they make I just put two gimbals back on with teh hammer and punch meathod what a pain
wrench looks pretty trick

Well he got it all pulled apart today and the damage is as bad or worse than in looked when I saw it in person, Anyone think this can be repaired?http://img120.imageshack.us/my.php?i...scn05779mp.jpg

ouch! why is it so worn to the one side? the engine out of alignment??

the bearing shattered and apparently the previous owner drove it like that for a while plus the time I had it in the water. If you can believe the guy he says he never heard a sound from it, and that may be true because I had it out for 2 hours the day I got it and never heard any noise, but the next day it acted as tho the outdrive wanted to jump off the boat and go for a swim.

Yeah Gary, I bought one several years back. It works pretty well but some installations are still a pain.

Kurt