Hey guys I was wondering how you can tell if your gimbal ring is bad if the motor is already out of the boat. The motor swallowed a valve so is getting rebuilt but I was told by a mechanic that the steering is really loose so I don't know if the gimbal ring is bad or if The steering just has to get tightened up. Also does anyone have the factory spec for the pads on the lower gimbal and the one for the upper swivel shaft? I have a junk ring and I work in a machine shop and the guys seem to think they can weld it to build it up and machine it back to stock. I don't really have the grand to spend on a new ring.

It is pretty easy to see the play between the ring and the steer pin if you move the ring back and forth. worst case have someone in the boat to hold the steer tiller and you mover the ring and check for play.

I don't see why a good machine shop could not repair the ring. There is a company out there that does just that.

1+ for obnoxus

Here is a link to the company that does repairs like that and they also sell HD Steering pins.

http://www.jrmarine.com/products/gimbal_repair.htm

Best to do the repair now when the engine is out.

I was looking at a busted one today. I have the foggiest idea how to get the bottom pin out. I'm thinking of instead of buying a new $900 ring and them have to buy a new shaft and all the other stuff it it's easier/cheaper to just buy a whole new transom assembly for like $2000. Just bolt on and go.

I was thinking of doing the JR marine repair on my original transom assembly. I ending up finding a newer complete low hour assembly in the swap shop, I think I paid $800-900 for it with shipping. And I sold parts from my old one so I made a few bucks back.