Bad Growl

[THEFERMANATOR]

What you are talking about is called a gimbal bearing. It is greasable from the stern when the boat is out of the water. I know most overlook it as it is up on the transom assembly hidden unless you know to look for it. Pop the outdrive off and run it for q few seconds, if the nosie is gone, then reach in through the opening and spin the gimbal bearing to see if it is good or not. If it is bad good luck, they can be a PAIN to change out.

[spareparts]

like Ferm said, its probably the gimbal bearing. When you are running the engine on the hose, trim it down and turn it side to side, if it changes tone, its probably the gimbal bearing. Pull the drive off and have a look. The bearing isn't too bad, but what caused the bearing to go out is the big question. Has water gotten high inside the boat? Has the drive shaft bellows been replaced in the past few years?

[i4110peter]

Thanks to all for the input. I have had the motor out, as seen in my photo album (Pete's '73 V20 steplift), and have the motor alignment tool. I may take it to a shop to have the bearing replaced and have the motor alignment checked professionally.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by i4110peter

Thanks to all for the input. I have had the motor out, as seen in my photo album (Pete's '73 V20 steplift), and have the motor alignment tool. I may take it to a shop to have the bearing replaced and have the motor alignment checked professionally.

You can rent a slide hammer from AUTOZONE, ADVANCE, CARQUEST, O REILLYS, and maybe a couple others and do the bearing yourself. The trick I found is to turn the actual bearing until you can slide it out of the aluminum sleeve, then use the slade hammer directly on the aluminum sleeve, then they come out fairly easily. If they're still stuck, then you can drill the aluminum sleeve to relieve the stress on it, and they pop right out.

[spareparts]

we used to just flip the bearing in the sleeve and just replace the bearing, but now there are so many different manufactures of gimbal bearings, I prefer to replace the whole thing as an assembly. I can't remember when they stopped using them, but some of the earlier transom plates had a lock ring to hold the bearing in place, I knew a guy that slide hammered a gimbal bearing out without removing the ring, he screwed up that transom plate. Wipe the grease off the bearing and look to make sure yours doesn't have a ring

[i4110peter]

Ah #%$*&! Looks like the shaft is frozen in the bearing so the outdrive won't just slide off.
Fun and games......

[THEFERMANATOR]

The shaft sits inside the bearing on 2 orings, so it shouldn't be frozen to it. The outdrive is a bit tight to get out, but should come off. I've had to use a prybar to get em started before, just becareful prying against the bellhousing as they are actually pretty fragile.