www.iFourWinns.com

Does the grumbling noise a shot gimbal bearing makes get louder when turning or am I looking at shot u joints too?

Mine had 220 hours on it when I bought it and was making noises, louder when turning. I replaced the u-joints somewhere between 250-270 hours and that quieted it down about 90%. I haven't done the gimbal bearing yet. I grease the gimbal bearing before every trip. I had the outdrive removed a few summers ago to remove a burnt flapper from the port side exhaust and the bellows was still in good shape. I will replace the bellows and the gimbal bearing at the beginning of next season. If only doing the u-joints, it's a fairly easy intuitive task if you have a cradle or other make-shift support. Here's one I welded up with some scrap:

_________________
gale
'96 200 Horizon
VP Cobra SX 5.7GL

usually the gimble will make noise all the time when the engine is running and the u joints will make noise when you are turning or tilting it up, but when they get really bad they can make noise all the time as well. I'd get on it because if the u joints come apart it can really tear up the transom mount parts and let a lot of water in the boat.

_________________
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 have replaced both at different times. Pretty sure gimbal presented as vibration/noise mostly at idle in neutral. U-joints were vibration when turning, even slightly, while on plane, if I remember correctly. I was surprised to find only one joint that had a little tightness. Of course I replaced both.

_________________
Seth




2005 210 Horizon
5.0L GXi
"Don't Think Twice"