www.iFourWinns.com

Spent all day on the boat yesterday and noticed that somewhere between idle and a little faster my 220 horizon had some vibration. When I backed the throttle down to this speed, the vibration did not exist- only when slightly increasing speed from idle to about 8mph. I want to grease my gimbal bearings to see if this resolves the vibration. Obviously, I have little to no mechanical skills. Can anyone give me some simple instructions on how to do this? Where to grease, how much, etc. On a side note, I have had many boats and relied on a good mechanic in the past. I am now trying to learn to do some of these things by myself. This messageboard is great and I appreciate all the help and insight.

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2007 Four Winns H220

I've only got experience with VP drives. If your's is a VP drive, if you have one the grease fitting will be on the starboard side on the transom shield, about half way down. However, they have changed to a non greasable gimbal when they changed to the new design outdrive.

Graham

It is a 2007 VP drive. I will go down and check it out.

Thanks

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2007 Four Winns H220

FYI eagleba

If it is the latest generation VP drive, there is no grease fitting on the gimbal bearing, it is a "sealed for life" type unit.

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

Man, thanks for the info. I must have went through a 6 pack looking for a place to lube. Any idea why the vibration? My wife swears that every boat that we have had in the past has done this.

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2007 Four Winns H220

Sounds like good use of a 6 pack

Not sure what the vibration could be coming from. Are there any dings in the prop? Do you have another prop you could try? (sorry, I am kinda grasping at straws here).

I would imagine that a gimbal bearing problem would produce more noise than vibration. Again I am not certain though. I have not owned a sterndrive long enough to know for sure.....

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

Well in all actuality, I was about to head down with another 6 pack until I read your post...... I should have waited a little longer before checking out the site. I am not too sure what to think of it as my prop is in good shape and I only have 35 hours on the boat. But hey it is a boat and sometimes they make funny noises and vibrate a little under certain circumstances. Either way, thanks for your help and hopefully it is nothing that needs attention. I'll keep an eye on it, though.

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2007 Four Winns H220