Both my outdrives have a slight up and down play at the gimbal pin swivel point. (top and bottom pins) Do I need to replace the whole housing and hat or can it be fixed? This is a twin 100+ 36 Cat.

Tools

Had mine fixed here. Did a great job.

Do you have extension boxes, or are the engines mounted forward, where the rear mounts don’t rest on the inner transom plate ?

It does not have boxes. The engines are forward as it was originally a #6 boat.

You can remove the transom assembly without removing the engine then... you probably have wear in the gimbal ring where it clamps to the pin, the pin also can rust, knocking out the seal, and ruin the bushing above it

I have everything removed, my shop says i need to replace the entire gumbal housing ring, basically the whole transom assembly. So does that mean there is no repare available?

Dealing with this right now too, but a bravo boat. Both gimble rings shot. Added up the cost for new rings, steering pins, bellows kits, new bearings, mechathodes, trim senders, etc... basically everything but the rams, transom housings, and bell housings (which all saw enough time to make one think, hmmmm) the total was getting close to just buying new complete transom assemblies. A no brainer for me. Every part brand new and not having to mess with the old. Not sure if this runs true with your setup, but something to consider.

I have had J-R Marine do several gimble rings for me over the years and all were great. they fit the pin much better than a new ring from Merc. that and the fact that they weld them up and refit them the aluminum is probably better than the original casting. you wont be disappointed if you have them fix the rings.

Have you checked coastal marine prices? That is what we did on a buddies boat, much cheaper then rebuilding, everything was new in the box.

Any idea how much stuff comes up when you google coastal marine???