Gimbal Bearing & Oil Seal Kit 30-879194A02 30-60794A4 3853807 18-21001 for Mercruiser Alpha Bravo Volvo SX OMC Cobra 120-330 HP — Germany Local Warehouse
Gimbal Bearing & Oil Seal Kit 30-879194A02 30-60794A4 3853807 18-21001 for Mercruiser Alpha Bravo Volvo SX OMC Cobra 120-330 HP — Germany Local Warehouse
Product Overview
Gimbal bearing and oil seal kit, a transom assembly part for Mercruiser Alpha and Bravo sterndrives from 120 HP to 330 HP, also fitting Volvo Penta SX and OMC Cobra drives. It replaces Mercruiser 30-879194A02 and 30-60794A4, Volvo Penta 3853807 and OMC 0983937, and ships as 1 x gimbal bearing and 1 x oil seal. Shipped from our Germany local warehouse.
The bearing carries the drive shaft where it crosses the transom, and the seal sits in front of it to keep water out of the bellows. They wear together, so a rumble in the steering and water in the bellows are usually the same job twice.
The casting in this kit crosses to Sierra 18-21001 and Volvo Penta 3853807, which is why the same bearing covers the Alpha One, the Bravo range and the Volvo SX and OMC Cobra drives.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | New / New with tags |
| Type | Stern drive seal kit |
| Contents | Gimbal bearing and gimbal bearing oil seal |
| Bearing Position | Transom assembly, rear of the bell housing |
| Application | Mercruiser Alpha and Bravo, Volvo Penta SX, OMC Cobra |
| Engine Range | 120 HP to 330 HP sterndrives |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
OEM Cross Reference
| Brand | Part Numbers |
|---|---|
| Mercruiser bearing | 30-879194A02, 30-60794A2, 30-60794A4, 30-60794B4 |
| Mercruiser seal | 26-88416, 26-36143 |
| Mercruiser (superseded) | 30-862540A3 |
| Volvo Penta bearing | 3853807, 21752712 |
| OMC bearing | 0983937, 983937 |
| Sierra | 18-21001, 18-2094 |
| GLM | 85910, 21905 |
| Mallory | 9-76230, 9-72410, RL2100 |
Compatible Engines
| Drive or Transom | Models | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Mercruiser Alpha One | Sterndrive and transom assembly | 1983 to 1990 |
| Mercruiser Alpha One Gen II | Sterndrive | 1991 to 1998 |
| Mercruiser Alpha One SS | S/N 0A545004 and up | 1986 to 1989 |
| Mercruiser Model R and MR | Sterndrive and transom assembly | 1983 to 1990 |
| Mercruiser Bravo One, Two, Three | Sterndrive | 1988 to 1998 |
| Mercruiser Black Hawk | Sterndrive | 1994 to 1995 |
| Volvo Penta SX range | SX-C to SX-MLT, DP-S, DP-S1, DPS-C | 1990s |
| OMC Cobra | 3.0 L to 7.4 L engines | 1986 to 1998 |
Mercruiser Engine Coverage
| Engine Model | Years | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 120 HP, 140 HP | 1970 to 1982 | Four cylinder |
| 165 HP | 1970 to 1981 | Six cylinder |
| 228 HP, 233 HP | 1975 to 1982 | V8 small block |
| 250 HP, 260 HP | 1977 to 1982 | V8 small block |
| 470, 485 | 1976 to 1982 | Aluminium four cylinder |
| 888, 898 | 1971 to 1982 | Early V8 models |
| 330 HP | 1988 to 1998 | Big block Bravo |
What's Included
| Component | Detail | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Gimbal bearing | 30-879194A02 casting, cross to Sierra 18-21001 | 1 |
| Gimbal bearing oil seal | 26-88416, fits in front of the bearing | 1 |
Rumble, Vibration or Water
| What You Notice | Which Part | What Else To Check |
|---|---|---|
| Rumble in the steering when the drive turns | Gimbal bearing | Bellows and the gimbal ring for play |
| Vibration at 1500 to 2000 rpm | Bearing or engine alignment | Alignment tool on the coupler |
| Water in the bellows | Oil seal or a split bellows | Renew the bellows with the seal |
| Gear oil leaking into the bellows | Oil seal fitted backwards or damaged | Seal lip direction and the shaft surface |
| Growl only when turning hard | Bearing dry or worn on one side | Grease nipple and the bearing race |
| Grinding that changes with trim | U-joint as well as the bearing | Check the joint before ordering |
Water in the Bellows After Winter
| German Lay Up | What Happens | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Boat stored with the drive up | Water runs down into the bellows and sits on the bearing | Store the drive down |
| Bellows perished over winter | Spring rain finds the split and the bearing rusts | Check the bellows before launch |
| Frost below 0 °C with water in the bellows | Trapped water freezes against the seal | Drain and grease before storage |
| Boat stored outside under a cover | Condensation inside the transom | Ventilate the engine bay |
| Drive left on all winter | Splines and bearing dry out | Grease the coupler splines and the bearing |
| First run in April | Rust marks on the bearing show up as a rumble | Listen at idle before opening the throttle |
Alignment and the Engine Coupler
| Step or Check | Why It Matters | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Use an alignment tool | The coupler must line up or the new bearing loads sideways | Bolting the drive back on without checking |
| Check the front engine mounts | A collapsed mount throws the alignment out | Replacing the bearing and not the mount |
| Grease the coupler splines | Dry splines wear and the drive shaft rattles | Greasing the splines with the wrong grease |
| Check the gimbal ring for play | Play reads as a failed bearing | Blaming the new bearing after a month |
| Torque the transom bolts in sequence | Uneven torque distorts the housing | Impact gun and no sequence |
| Pressure test the drive | A failed seal shows up as a pressure loss | Filling with oil and hoping |
Fitting Notes
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the drive model and serial number, the Alpha One and Gen II share this kit, the earlier MC-1 does not |
| 2 | Check the bellows at the same time, a split bellows is what puts water on a new bearing |
| 3 | Check the gimbal ring and swivel shaft for play before blaming the bearing |
| 4 | Drive the old bearing out square, a tilted drift scores the housing |
| 5 | Fit the seal square in the housing and grease the lip before the drive goes back on |
| 6 | Grease the coupler splines and use the alignment tool on the engine coupler |
| 7 | Refit the drive and torque the transom bolts in sequence |
| 8 | Check the gear lube after the first run, milkiness means the seal or the bellows is still leaking |
Condition & Warranty
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | New / New with tags |
| Warranty | Standard |
| Packaging | Sealed retail packaging |
Shipping from Germany
| Destination | Warehouse | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Germany local warehouse | Domestic delivery, no import duty |
| Austria, Netherlands, Belgium | Germany local warehouse | EU delivery, no customs charge |
| Other EU destinations | Germany local warehouse | EU delivery, VAT included |
Before You Buy
- Check the drive model and serial number, the Alpha One and Gen II use this kit, the earlier MC-1 does not
- Check the bellows at the same time, a split bellows is what puts water on a new bearing
- Check the gimbal ring and swivel shaft for play while the drive is off
- Fit the seal square in the housing and grease the lip
- Use the alignment tool on the engine coupler before refitting the drive
- This is the bearing and the oil seal, the bellows, gaskets and gear lube are not included
- 30-Day Easy Returns
- Ships from our Germany local warehouse
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