Volvo Penta SX Cobra gimbal bearing grease defect

a short video showing the orientation of the grease holes that allow the bearing to be lubricated. the bearing seems to be assembled incorrectly during manufacturing not allowing the grease to get to the actual bearing races

[@garyradtke3252]

The newer Volvo and Mercruiser bearings are sealed and require no grease maintenance but the OEM replacements don't have the external grease hole or the circumference grove that was there to allow the bearing to locate in any position as long as the retainer split was oriented to the grease hole in the gimbal housing. The newer gimbal housings don't have a grease fitting and the gimbal bearing has no seal but has the metal shield. This aftermarket bearing looks like a cross between the early and late bearings. I use the newer grease less bearings in everything. Mercuiser OEM replacement kit includes a tamper proof torx plug to replace the grease zerk. I know aftermarket is a bunch cheaper and everyone thinks it's all the same but I see problems with many aftermarket parts and try my best to stay away from them. As a DIY you can gamble the time but when I install parts I am being paid and when parts fail It cost me more than I made on the job to replace the defective part. No! the manufacture ONLY covers their failed part at cost and no labor or ancillary parts but I have to cover them. But, as an OEM dealer the manufacture will cover the ancillary parts at cost and some of the labor.