www.iFourWinns.com

As a new owner of a H180 3.0 Merc, I noticed that there is a grease nipple on the side of the out drive for the Gimble bearing. I know they will grease it at the first service, but would it do any harm to give it a few pumps every so often with the correct grease just in case. Also what grease do I use??
Ardy
South Oz

_________________
Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Hey Ardy

Id look in the manual on that. Im not sure myself, wondered the same thing, but have been "told" that your not suppossed to grease the gimbal through that grease fitting unless the outdrive is off. That may well be a myth though... why would they put a greas fitting there if you were supposed to pull the drive off to use it. Ill be intersted in what others have to say.

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

No harm in doing that, they tell you to do it with the drive off so you can look in and see that the grease is actually coming out of the bearing, so you know it got to where it needs to go. I spin the bearing around with my finger when greasing it to make sure the grease gets all spread out. You could also grease it when the boat is running on land (on the water hose) and get the same effect, you just can't see it then! I use Pennzoil Marine wheel bearing grease on mine.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Louc
Is that an oxy moron "Marine wheel bearing grease". My boat has no wheels
I know I know...its for the axles on the trailers...

_________________
Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA

I do it with the engine running. Mobil 1 grease for all bearings on the boat & trailer. Not only will it not hurt, I think it's a good idea to do it in case everyone else overlooked it; wouldn't be the first time. Just a few squirts, though, and if you feel resistance when squeezing the grease gun, STOP.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

The advantage of doing it with the drive removed is that you can see the new grease coming through the bearing after it's pushed out the old, I use the same method as LouC indicated.

The grease did push out the oil seal spring once on my previous boat; maybe that was because I possibly pumped the grease in too quick, quicker than it could get through the bearing so it went via the seal. It only happened the once. That spring was a real pain to get back in, the seal is fitted ahead of the bearing in the transom shield.

Graham

I was told to not only do this while the engine is running, but also with it in gear in order to maximize distribution of the grease. So, I grease mine on the hose in gear at idle speed. Completely safe if you are careful.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

You know that the driveshaft spins anytime the engine is running, whether the drive is in neutral or in gear, so there is no need to put it in gear when running. So leave it in neutral and be safer unless you want to take off the props.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I prefer to fill/add grease with drive off. But since I have not put too many hours on boat since last service, may just add one squirt described above for this years spring maintenance.

_________________
2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Good point, Lou. I hadn't really thought about that. The "in gear" thing must've been an old wive's tale from back in the day. Doesn't make a lot of sense now that I think about it.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

Do you have the new sx drive with the pump on the outdrive? if so there is no greasing the gimbal bearing. The grease fittings may be for something else

_________________
Four winns 180 horizon

SX? I think Ardy has the same drive as me. The Merc one..

_________________
_________________
Rob
2007 Four Winns 180 Horizon

That's right, I have the Alpha one. I gave it a few squirts with the correct grease with the engine running on the hose. The boat goes in for the 20 hour service after next outing , 21 hours after 3 weekends of use ( that came around quick)

_________________
Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc