Alpha one gear oil in bellows

[saltlydawg]

I am in the process of rebuilding my twin 1990 4.3 liter Alpha one stern drive units and upon removing the out drive I ran into gear oil in the universal joint bellow. Is this a normal condition or do I need to repack the unit and pressure test. the total amount of oil was about 7 ozs.

I look forward to your input.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: Alpha one gear oil in bellows

U should have no oil in the bellows. More then likely it's the pinion seal that is leaking or the pinion shaft is worn

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha one gear oil in bellows

Ayuh,.... You'd better add a Reseal the outdrives job to your list of things to do....

 

[saltlydawg]

Re: Alpha one gear oil in bellows

Roger that Bondo, it's on the list!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one gear oil in bellows

11 and maybe 20 if the seal grooved the yoke.
http://mercstuff.com/fichea.htm

 

[natemoore]

Re: Alpha one gear oil in bellows

11 and maybe 20 if the seal grooved the yoke.
http://mercstuff.com/fichea.htm

You don't necessarily have to replace the short yoke, even if it is grooved. Just make sure the new seal rides on a fresh, shiny, unpitted part or the yoke.

When I replaced my seal, I colored the yoke with black permanent marker, assembled it, spun the shaft, then disassembled. The new seal was riding in a completely different spot on good metal, ergo, no need to replace the yoke.

The old seal only had the oil lip. The new seal had a dust lip and an oil lip. The dust lip contacted the old, pitted part of the yoke (no big deal), but the oil lip contacted the clean, shiny part of the yoke. This is what makes the seal.

5....4....3....2....1

 

[tejastoolman]

Re: Alpha one gear oil in bellows

You don't necessarily have to replace the short yoke, even if it is grooved. Just make sure the new seal rides on a fresh, shiny, unpitted part or the yoke.

When I replaced my seal, I colored the yoke with black permanent marker, assembled it, spun the shaft, then disassembled. The new seal was riding in a completely different spot on good metal, ergo, no need to replace the yoke.

The old seal only had the oil lip. The new seal had a dust lip and an oil lip. The dust lip contacted the old, pitted part of the yoke (no big deal), but the oil lip contacted the clean, shiny part of the yoke. This is what makes the seal.

5....4....3....2....1

my short yoke was very similar with grooves as well, since I'm doing a full upper re-seal job, gimbal and u-joint replacement since my bellow leaked I see the my short yoke some very very light pitting that could be removed with emery paper. My question, is it a good idea to just sand this down or buy a new short yoke? I've always sanded down light pitting on automotove drive sahft yokes & numerous harmonic balancer's and never had leaks but there is more fluid pressure then a lower unit I'm assuming. Though I'd ask since I'm putting in the new u-joints shortly....