Gimbals
 

The gimbals on my XR's are worn. I know I can have them repaired and it would cost less but Imco offers a stronger gimbal ring. Next year I expect to be around 625-650 HP each engine. Would the Imco gimbal be worth the extra money?

Everything is apart now. Motors, drives and extension boxes, all are off the boat.

Re: Gimbals
 

FOR THE COST I CAN REPAIR THEM FOR 200.00 EACH. REPLACE THE SWIVEL SHAFTS FOR 140.00 EACH.( STAINLESS THAT WOUNT RUST AND TEAR OUT THE SEAL ) WHOLE LOT CHEAPER THAN 1000.00 EACH. I DONT THINK YOU NEED IMCO'S RING LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE RUNNING STOCK WITH OUT VERY MANY PROBLEMS WITH 600 HP. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS RETOURQUE THE U BOLT 3 TIMES A YEAR AND THE TOP OF THE RING WOUNT WEAR OUT. LOOK AT MY WEB SIGHT WWW.JRMARINE.COM UNDER HP PARTS & GIMBAL RING REPAIR. IF YOU DO DESIDE TO GO WITH IMCO'S RING ILL BUY YOUR WORN OUT RINGS FOR 25.00 EACH. I USE THEM FOR EXCHANGES. RON BENDER 216-390-1330

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Ron, Merry christmas. Do you have a date that you will ship my ring back? I also needed the swivel holes redrilled.

thanks
Shawn Smith
New Jersey

Re: Gimbals
 

It is my understanding that you don't really need to have HP gimbals are better when you are using full hydraulic steering. When you have full hydraulic steering alll the stress that is on the gimbal ring and tiller bar is removed and held with the end of the hydraulic cylinders and tie bar. and realistically standard gimbals on a boat with these other options would suffice.

anyone else have the same opinion ?


Don

Re: Gimbals
 

I have full hydraulic steering and my boat only has about 150 hours on it. I'm sure the previous owner was rough on the boat but for the gimbals to wear out so fast seems strange to me. The motors are only rated at 550 hp. The motors are being completely rebuilt and the hp gains are just a bonus. I'm looking for reliability from the motors, drives and everything else.

From what I read, Ron is the man for repairing them but can I expect them to last longer than the original. It sounds like you think the Imco is over kill for my application. I'm tired of breaking things. I have to make up my mind by the first of the year.

Roger

Re: Gimbals
 

Imco's Ring Is Great For The Racers Who Break Their Rings Racing. I Have Never Seen A Ring Break In A Poker Run Anywhere. Big Horse Power & Big Waves Running Hard Break Rings. The Slop That Happens At The Swivel Shaft Is Due To The U Bolt Stretching Out From Pressure. Mercury Says To Re Torque 3 Times A Year. 53 Ft Lbs. do Not Go Over Because The U-bolt Will Stretch! Ron Bender

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Shawn Im Back From Hunting Your Ring Is Welded And Will Be Machined This Coming Week. Your Swivel Shaft Is No Good To Much Wear And Rust. You Also Need To Replace The Large Wear Bushing In The Gimbel Housing. I Have Them. Ron

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Ron, Ok what did you kill? I heard you were in Russia.

I will also need the U bolt and nuts. can you drill and tap another hole in the bottom of the ring to replace the broken off screw for the grounding straps.

thanks
shawn

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I Was Lucky Go Get A 450 Lb Grizzly Which Will Make The Top 10 In The Record Book. Ill Take Care Of The Holes. Ron

Re: Gimbals
 

I've seen a stainless gimbal ring on e-bay. It was also polished. I should have saved the info. Does anyone know who has these? It was in the $ 600 range. I want to fix a couple of bravo transom assy's up and would love to be able to get everything I might need.
Hey Ron, Is there a repair for the housing when the upper bushing wears out, and eggs out the casting? I have some that I'd like to fix. Has anyone seen them welded up and re-worked. I really like the access plate to fix e-m on the boat. I cant see giving Merc. $3000 for a new unit. I would love to make money fixing these and think there has to be more solutions coming, If not maybe I'll have to get more involved in a solution. These transom assy's are like gold. With everyone going from alpha to bravo there seems to be a shortage of T/A's. Stock bravo drives seem to be very avail, due to most high performance guys upgrading. This in turn translates into regular boaters scoffing up the transom assembleys, and using stock bravo's for durability. Would anyone advise welding up a broken g.ring ? From boat that had hit a rock ! BBB Thanks to all.................. :drink:

Re: Gimbals
 

Shawn , you can easily drill and tap another hole for the strap. Make sure you don't go to far from original location, you need the slack. BBB it's a #10-32 thread. # 21 drillbit

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Ron, congrats on the bear. Is there more to the story?
Thanks
Shawn

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Shawn You still breaking parts? Merry Christmas
Michael

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Michael, Jim taught me well. Merry Christmas to you and Sally

Shawn

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If The Ring Is Broke scrap It!! Its Not Worth The Risk. I Looked At Repairing The Lower Seal & Bushing Area. Looks Like It's More Work Than U Can Get Paid For. The Seal Area Corrodes And Will Not Weld. Any Salt Water Rings We Have Little Success In Fixing Because You Cant Get The Salt Out Of The Pours. I Think Making A Wear Bushing .002 Over Size Would Take Care Of It. But Once The Seal Dia Corrodes Away It's Finished. That's Only Speaking Of Boats That The Top Of The Ring Sets Under The Water Line.

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SHAWN ONLY THAT IT WAS F*%$#*% COLD. -50 F. TOURED MOSCOW. DON'T THINK I WOULDN'T GO THERE THE 2nd TIME. RB

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i have pics of a failure where the trim pins are threaded into the housing with worst case results ........be very carefull there...... i will email the pics if you email [email protected]

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Isn't Gimble's right across the street from Macy's?

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Yeah , but I wish I could go get a transom assembly at a department store. If men only ran the world!!! how 'bout a Cuisinart ? Or a Bread Man !!! Or another pair of womens shoes !!! :eek:

Re: Gimbals
 

Hey, how about that new Osterizer outdrive? Looks like a real eggbeater to me,,,,,,,,,

Re: Gimbals
 

Yeah , if osterizer made 'em , they might stay together for decades .... BBB :D

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They couldn't do any worse than Merc with the Bravo. They oughta throw in a free flak jacket with every drive.

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I've hit sandbars with a bravo with 450 hp 65mph . The boat has stalled out from hitting bottom at flank speed! Boat completely out of water. Ok is was nighttime and I was Inebriated!!! :drink: I twisted an imput shaft thats about it. I figured that out when drive would not go on all the way after changing motor. I never blew up a bravo yet. I don't come out of the water with it. I am impressed with the bravo so far. I even snapped a skeg off flush to the bottom of the case! I think I have been lucky. I am going to go with Xr upper gears and xr propshaft and carrier that I already have. I'm going to go with a 540 or bigger next season. I really am concerned though, about the transom assembly. BBB

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Bbb What Boat Do You Have & How Much Does It Weigh ? Single Or Twin Motors?

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Formula242ls I don't know the weight. I guess it's apx 4500lbs

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Ron, what would it cost to have the hinge and bottom bushings pressed in by you?

thanks
Shawn

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good time to do the Arneson Conversion

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Shawn Your Bottom Bushing Is Fine. I DIDN'T CHECK THE SIDES. ILL CHECK THE SIDES.

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Ron

I should be able to send them out next week.

Roger

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It was me selling the stainless steel gimbel rings on ebay. They work great I am sold out at this time, I will have some at the middle of next month. You can email me at [email protected]

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Roger If You Need To Call Me For Any Reason Cell 216-390-1330. Be Sure To Put Your Name And A Phone IN THE BOX Where I Can Find You. Ron

Re: Gimbals
 

Today, I took apart a freshwater unit that I drove way upstate for as part of a package deal, It's housing was in much better shape, although the seal was completely rotted. It had no real wear, although seal area was corroded, and the shaft was very pitted on the lower surface. I also took apart another saltwater unit today and found that someone had tried to make a seal up out of 2 o-rings and silicone :eek: . A guy at work just got two new ones and traded me the old sloppy ones for some exhaust parts. Both had plugged access holes as someone had "fixed " these before. I don't know if it's me but, I havent seen this level of corrosion in this area on the worst Alpha unit I've ever had apart. (At least 25 of them). Maybe it's because alphas have the grease fitting. I'm going to have to drop off some housings to get glass beaded, and a few to get welding, when the weather clears! I've got to get the garage cleaned out and get 200 Amp service so I can run the big compressor for the huge Clemco bead booth, and The P&H Tig that's all buried in the back of the shop. I think I'm going to go for the SS shafts, but I've been on a real feeding frenzy and have been cornering the market on Merc. parts. If I keep going like this I'll go broke. I'll have to wait a while, and have to calm down on big purchaces, or at least until I sell off a few motors, drives etc...

Re: Gimbals
 

Ron

My gimbals are on there way. You should get them by Friday. I want two of the pivot shafts too.

Roger

Re: Gimbals
 

May have 2 HP gimbals available soon

Re: Gimbals
 

Big Block Billy I Have Seen The Seal Area Corrode To Where The Seal Will Not Stay In . At That Point You Cant Do Anything With The Casting. The Corrosion Is So Bad You Can't Weld & Re Machine Because Of The Porosity You Get In Welding Corroded Alum Is Imposable To Weld With No Porosity. Thats Why You Need To Maintenance These Housing Once They Become Corroded. Use Red Lock-tight On The Seal So It Will Help Hold The Seal In And Seal The Alum. So It Won't Corrode. Also With Salt Water Boats The Salt Gets Into The Pours Of The Alum And Imposable To Weld. Alum Need To Be Clean As Passable To Weld Good. With The Size & Weight Of Your Boat The Strength Of The Gimbel Housing Is Not An Issue But The Corrosion Is. Once Corrosion Starts You Can Not Stop It, You Can Only Slow It Down. Ron Bender

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Thanks for the info Ron. I'd like to find out more about the differences in the high perf assys. What do I have to do to install the heavy duty pins? I know I'll have to drill and tap the gimbal ring for the retaining screws. Also about the shafts, how much are they if I buy a several of them. Thanks again Billy

Re: Gimbals
 

Ron, what is the procedure to check the bushings in the bell housing? You checked the lower one on my gimbal ring and said it was OK. I need to learn how to check the others.

Thanks and the ring looks great!
Shawn

Re: Gimbals
 

Ron

I see that mine got there. Do you think you can save them?

Re: Gimbals
 

Big Block Billy Pivot Pins Are In The Side Swivel Shafts Are On The Top, Which Ones Are You Talking About? If You Are Going To Change From A Sending Unit Type You Will Have To Bore Out The Bell Housing To Except A Plastic Wear Bushing. If Your Bell Housing Has A Stainless Washer On Each Side You Will Have To Do A Little Welding Around The Edges Befor You Bore For The Wear Bushing.

Re: Gimbals
 

QUIET STORM THE RINGS ARE JUST STARTING TO SLOP OUT YOU ARE FIXING THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME,BEFORE MORE DAMAGE STARTED. IV SEEN THEM 1000 TIMES WORSE. BY THE LOOKS OF THE CORROSION AROUND THE SQUARE THIS BOAT MAY HAVE SEEN A LITTLE SALT WATER AT ONE TIME OR THE OTHER. THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM REPAIRING THEM. IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE THEM TO SHIP OUT APPROX. FEB 15th. ILL CALL YOU WHEN THEY ARE DONE. RON