VIRE 6/7 Idler Gear Bearings (Pair)

Common Causes & Replacement Instructions:

Overhauling the gearbox, if there has been saltwater ingress (from failed water pump seal usually) these will need changing.

Otherwise, it will create constant (always driven) noise and may eventually fail - damaging gear teeth.

2 precision bearings are included, and since they sit well above the hypoy gear level and are barely splash lubricated when running they have a tendency to rot-solid if they become rusted at all.

of all the bearings in the gearbox, this is the pair that is most vulnerable to rusting, since it stays relatively dry and in the moister air.

As an expert, I recommend adding a little gearbox-molyslip into the oil - this should give the drying out components some residual covering as it protects much better than pure hypoy. Alternatively use a marine gearbox oil instead of hypoy(expensive) e.g. quicksilver.

If your idler gear was rusted, you probably got water in the gear oil through the pump seals/shaft deterioration - you may need to sort this out.

To fit - having removed gearbox from engine and stripped, drift out axle from behind (through mainshaft exit)remove circlip, drift out bearings through each side outwards, press in new ones with seperating spacer replaced between.

For any further assistance, please contact me.