Ryan,

Good, bad or otherwise, the gimbal bearing is about the only thing I didn’t replace while it was apart. Maybe I should….

Mercruiser Gimbal Bearing

This the right one?

Thanks. Brad.

Should be, but wouldn't hurt to confirm with your serial number. You will need the special puller to get the old one out. I'm not saying you need to replace it if the old one feels ok, but while it's apart if it was me I definitely would.

Ryan,

Builder has the tools. Confirms to be the right part.

Question.... Is there any way the bell housing could be slightly out of alignment? Farqing around with it this afternoon, I've pretty much concluded the coupler is high, relative to the gimbal bearing. By the time I tilt the engine up far enough for my makeshift alignment tool to go in, it binds up in a way that tells me the engine is tilted too far. Something is off in the rear, and I can't figure out what.

Thanks. Brad.

Guys….

Welp…..

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e2c9a3f0b.jpeg

Must have gotten hit on the way in. We wondered where the oil came from. Figured it had just come out of the filter block-off cap, since it had open AN fittings on it. Guess not.

Pretty sure the engine is coming back out. Farq….

Thanks. Brad.

there is always something going south when doing this...
well, not always, but too often ! Better laugh at it
what else can we do !!! ??? LOL !!!

make sure you torque the new fitting to the oil pan, that usually happens if you over tighten the fitting, been there done that,

Brad,

Did you replace the engine coupler? If not, the coupler splines could be worn some, thus more “pointy” and that will make the alignment tool difficult to get into the coupler, yet a drive shaft will still slide in easily.

if you are pulling the engine again, slide that alignment tool into the coupler. If the teeth are pointy, either replace coupler, or slam that alignment tool into. (I had this issue on my two engines when I bought it, as my drive couplers are probably due to be replaced). After that, then I could align it.

as others already said, the magic is to get the alignment tool at the coupler inlet and whack that tool on the top, bottom and sides to get the gimbal bearing to square up at the angle of the coupling.

Chris

Chris,

We did not. I don't think that's the issue, as the tool steel shaft I'm using is actually slightly larger in diameter than the spline section of the alignment tool, and it fits like a glove, individually, so I know the alignment tool will fit into the coupler when alignment is found.

Thanks. Brad.

While you have the engine back out, make sure you have the right set of parts in place for the rear mounts.. I'm not sure what your drive serial number is, but somewhere around the time of your stuff, mercruiser switched from using the double wound lock washer to not using it, which would mess up the height of the rear mounts. I'd triple check everything serial number wise and make sure you have the right combination of stuff.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e79dcbc003.png
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7e99e6468c.png

Also, yes, change the gimbal bearing lol.. With all your stuff already off, its like a 10 minute job.. as long as you have or rent a slide hammer from the auto parts store (its free)..
While I'm at it, I'll give a shameless plug for my own video lol..