MBS MfgGimbal Bearing Alignment Tool for Mercruiser Drive Shaft Bellows Retainer Ring Install Tool Gimbal Bearing Installer for Alpha 1 Gen 2 Bravo OMC Cobra

This tool is the best gimbal and engine alignment tool I've ever used! I was thoroughly shocked at how heavy, beefy, and well machined this tool and its attachments are. Extremely solid, very robust attachments, and the fitment of the press plates onto the shaft is extremely well matched tolerances. I put 2 client gimbals in today, no more than an hour ago, and I was extremely satisfied with the purchase and absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for an amazing alignment shaft, gimbal install tool, grease seal install tool, and bellows seal install tool all-in-one.I was hesitant to buy it, due to the lack of the reviews and the crazy affordable price conpared to my Merc and VP alignment shafts of the past, but it arrived in 3 days time and superseded every single expectation I had. I change about 40 gimbals a year, and nonstop have to do outdrive work as a marine mechanic, and I guarantee you'll love this tool if you give it a chance and follow the directions like I did.Note: I drilled the 3/8" hole for the gimbal install plate with a simple 18v battery powered hand drill and the install plate fit perfectly (you have to drill a hole through your tool for the gimbal install plate, that is specific to your particular outdrive setup, because they gimbal bearings are at different depths from one drive style to the next).How I did mine:- Slide the black gimbal bearing install plate onto the alignment tool.- Put your alignment tool's skinny end in first toward the engine, and bottom out the tool shaft all the way into the engine as far as it will go.- Push the black install plate all the way up against the existing gimbal that needs to come out.- take a Sharpie marker and Mark the bar where the edge of the install plate is positioned at on the bar.- Take the entire assembly out and take the black plate off the shaft, careful not to smear your Sharpie mark.- From the Sharpie mark, measure 1/4" toward the narrow end of the shaft and make a new little Sharpie mark.- Place your black install plate onto the shaft at your new sharpie mark, and then mark through the bolt hole of the black press plate with a punch or a marker, a nail, or whatever you can mark inside there where the hole will need to be drilled.- simply drill the hole through the shaft at that mark.PROTIP: use oil or some type of lube to keep your bit tip cool and to drill through the tool shaft with ease. Make sure you're going in perpendicular and as straight through the center of the shaft as you can. I used a small 1/8" drill bit and drilled a pilot hole through the shaft first. Then I drilled a bigger hole with a 1/4" drill bit, and then finished it with a 3/8" bit and hole. I had to wiggle the bit a little to oblong the hole because I want dead perfect in drilling straight down, but wasn't much and it still performed flawlessly. The Allen key you'll need is a 3/16" Allen key to tighten the thru bolt that holds the gimbal install plate to the shaft.Following these steps will guarantee you have an easy install and always be able to use this tool for countless other installs too.What if you only need to use it once? Then use it as a conversation piece on the coffee table afterwards, so you can flex your mechanical skill knowledge hard as balls. Keep it on your toolbox and brag to unsuspecting newbies about your specialty tool that can install gimbles flawlessly lined up in one swift go. Hell, rent it out to your buddies and other boaters for beer money like I do..I hope this helps someone. Tight lines, and happy waters guys and gals!

I was very nervous about drilling the bar and doubted I had the tools. However, the bar is made of mild steel and can be drilled with WOOD bits without much fuss (had a blacksmith friend provide guidance). I originally bought a carbide tipped bit, but chose to use an old (but sharp) generic bit I had lying around instead. Had it not worked I would switch to the new bit, but as you can see from the photo it cut with ease (note the long spirals).The only issue was that because I used a drill press I cut such a perfectly straight hole that the 1/32nd of an inch that I was off-center by really mattered, so I had to widen the hole a little switch wasn’t too hard.Bottom Line: wood bits are fine, but make sure to center it really well. You can always re-drill with a wider bit afterwards if necessary

Used it to install a gimbal bearing and bellows for an out drive and also to make sure the motor was in alignment

Did what it was supposed to. Drilling the hole for the gimbal bearing driver is a little difficult to get perfectly straight, but having a drill press would help over using a hand drill.

The packaging that this was shipped in . Reflects the care and quality of how well this tool was made . It is a tool that will make your job easier. I’m a believer in never fight your tools . Thank You for making my job easier.

Arrived early and was exactly as described. Haven’t used it yet, but will be perfect when I change gimbal bearing in my Volvo penta

Very good

Without this tool the job is impossible. Alignment is critical to the life of the gimble bearing. If the old bearing rips out rusted to the shaft you loose your reference point to measure from... what?