motor noise ??

[fishin2]

Got a noise in the right rear of my mercruiser I/O. Anyone tell me what kinda noise a gimbal bearing makes when going out, can't quite pinpoint the noise, how do ya check gimbal bearings without teardown ? Tired of missing the bite !! Gonna get a stethoscope this week, just gettin frustrated, maybe a different motor is the escape route. Thanks, Mike

[wakina]

The Gimble bearing is located a few inches behind the engine coupler it carries the drive shaft from the upper unit to the engine coupler. It makes a grinding or growling noise when bad, it should make the noise when ever the engine is running as it turns all the time. I don't think there is a way to check it without pulling the complete outdrive both upper and lower.

[claudiacarbis]

This noise must be coming out from Motor Engine, So there is need to check out Motor Engine!

[skinny5382]

Gimbal bearing is pretty easy to check, I recently had to learn all this on my Mercruiser 888. Pull the outdrive off (6 bolts) and reach in through the ujoint bellow and check. Shouldn't be any grinding at all. Should run kinda tight with a very smooth feel.
Before you remove the 6 bolts put in forward gear all the way. When reassembling line up shifter shoe while sliding outdrive back on.