Alpha 1 Gimbal Ring Replacement
 

right ear is broken off of the gimbal ring. Wonering is:

1. can it be welded? in the thichest part, plenty of meat.
2. if not, how difficult is it to replace just the ring.
3. Best place to buy the ring?

Thanks

Last year Tanrum & I changed his ring. I wouldn’t try and weld it. It is made of cast aluminum and has to carry a ton of weight. If it was to fail at high speed you could get into big trouble.

There is there way to change it.

1. Pull the motor out in order to obtain access to the nut on the steering arm

2. Buy a Mercury kit to change it from the out side with out pulling the motor. You have to drill two 1" holes on the sides of the transom assembly to get access to the nut and use a chisel to get the nut off. Not many people like this method. This is the way I did it and I wasn’t happy with it.

3. Tantrum found a company that made a kit to do it with out pulling the motor and it was a lot better than the merc kit. You had to remove the mercruser sticker from the top of the transom assembly. Using there template you had to cut out a slot in the housing to allow access to slip in a wrench to remove the nut. It was a much cleaner and easier job. When you were done you installed a Stainless steel cover plate with a gasket to cover up the hole. It actually looks cool, not like the Frankenstein looking plugs that merc supplied me. Also if the ring fails again, we can now change it in a couple of hours. This kit did require some special tools that the manufacture of the kit did send along with it. I got some old wrenches from around the shop and grinded them to the same shape as threes before we returned the originals back to the supplier. The directions supplied were very clear.

We got the ring used from a boat junk yard. It only cost him $100. He did buy new bushings & bearings and the necessary tools to do the job. Aside from the tools. I couldn’t see him spending more than $250. If you have all the parts and tools necessary it should take you about 4-6 hours depending on experience.

The companies name on the directions is

JR Marine (440) 946-8717.

I can fax you a copy of the directions if you would like to get an idea of what is involved.

Paul.

ABsolutely
 

Paul,

Please send me the the instructions. Can you email them? [email protected] or work fax is the only way. 813-490-0945 and be sure to include, "To Mitch"

That would save a whole ton of $$$ instead of a whole new transom assy.

Where are you located???

I will send it now. I would love to help you but I am in NY.

I sent them but I had troble with the mechine because the papers were beatup from being in the shop. if you need me to send them again please let me know

Paul

Repairs
 

Paul,

you're in luck!!!! lol
I a picking up the boat just north of Boston. So I imagine that you are on the way back south to FL

I didn't get the info email or fax.


Thanks for the help

Ring
 

Paul,

I spoke with don at JR's.
Was the drive you did a Bravo or Alsph?? If alpha which gen?? JR is set up for a late model alpha that has the same swivel pin as the bravo.

We did a 98 bravo 1

I am re sending the info right now