A couple of quick questions

[62cruiserinc]

I am wrapping up impeller replacement on my Alpha Gen 1 (for the first time for me).

The O-ring that goes between the upper and lower drive for the gear oil passage, I am just going to put some grease on it to hold it in place while I reassemble the upper and lower. Is that OK?

After filling the gear oil until it flows out the vent and replacing vent plug, it says to quickly remove the pump and screw in the lower plug. How fast will gear oil come out after unscrewing the pump fitting? If you do this reasonably fast, how much will the level be below the vent hole plug? I am asking for future gear oil level checks done after the initial filling. How can I tell how high the initial level was after the fill so I can see if I'm losing gear oil?

Steve

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I use grease to hold the quad-ring in place,.... No problem,.....

It's a small hole, 'n will be a vacuum behind it, so you'll probably loose less that a teaspoon,...

 

[alldodge]

It's a small hole, 'n will be a vacuum behind it, so you'll probably loose less that a teaspoon,...

Not to hijack but a follow up question for ya Bondo
On Bravos and I'll guess with Alphas with a lube bottles, its a good idea to once the drive is full to the vent, drain plug installed, to lay it down with the vent up. With the vent up, pour in lube until full. Install the top vent plug and then install the drive. This reduces the amount of air which comes out into the lube bottle and then needs replacing.

So would this be a good thing to do with one without a lube bottle?

 

[Bondo]

On Bravos and I'll guess with Alphas with a lube bottles, its a good idea to once the drive is full to the vent, drain plug installed, to lay it down with the vent up. With the vent up, pour in lube until full. Install the top vent plug and then install the drive. This reduces the amount of air which comes out into the lube bottle and then needs replacing.

Ayuh,.... Don't fill alota drives not on a barge Bob, But,...

When I do fill 'em on boats, Gen.IIs, 'n Bravos, I fill it entirely from the bottom drain, includin' the remote bottle,....

Before I did as you explain,....
I think it would be easier to leave the fill fiitin' in the drain, put the vent screw back in, depress the stop-ball in the oil fittin' for the remote bottle, 'n pump in oil til it squirts out past the stop-ball I'm holdin' in,....
Same effect as me fillin' the bottle, from the drain plug,....

 

[alldodge]

Sorry but guess I didn't explain myself very well, I have trouble with that.

I wonder if anything would be gained by filling one "without" a lube bottle by laying on the side. Don't know if there is an air space above the Alpha and even if there is, would filling this cause extra pressure to build and leak out a seal since the drive does not have a lube bottle

In my experience (Bravo), continuing to fill until the bottle is full still leaves air in the top of the drive above the vent hole. With the Bravo, the vent hole is the same height as the quick connect (stop ball)

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I believe that bubble of air is there, By Design,.....

As you know, air compresses, oil don't,....
I gotta believe blown seals might become the norm, without possible ventin' out through the bottle,...
If ventin' through the bottle was enough,..?? donno for sure,...

I wouldn't even try it on an Alpha 1 or earlier drive,....

 

[JustJason]

Not to hijack but a follow up question for ya Bondo
On Bravos and I'll guess with Alphas with a lube bottles, its a good idea to once the drive is full to the vent, drain plug installed, to lay it down with the vent up. With the vent up, pour in lube until full. Install the top vent plug and then install the drive. This reduces the amount of air which comes out into the lube bottle and then needs replacing.

So would this be a good thing to do with one without a lube bottle?

​Honestly I think you are over thinking it. As long as the anti ventilation plate is level as measured with a carpenters level, the gear case will fill just fine whether you use a pump or those squeezy bottles.

 

[alldodge]

​Honestly I think you are over thinking it. As long as the anti ventilation plate is level as measured with a carpenters level, the gear case will fill just fine whether you use a pump or those squeezy bottles.

Its not the issue if it will or will not fill correctly, it is all about the air gap in the top section of the drive, which has very little to do with exact level

 

[62cruiserinc]

Thanks for the help, guys.

It's good to see alternate methods discussed along with their pros and cons.

How often do you guys(without the reservoir like my setup)check the gear oil level during the season?

Thanks
Steve

 

[62cruiserinc]

I also wanted to add that I put together a DIY pressure/vacuum tester for the outdrive which I will be using to test it after assembly and before adding the lube.

Steve

 

[Bondo]

How often do you guys(without the reservoir like my setup)check the gear oil level during the season?

Ayuh,... Mine is full when it goes in, 'bout this time of year, 'n is checked when the boat is hauled in October or November,...

 

[Bt Doctur]

The air bubble is not an issue. drives without a res have the air pocket as do drives with the bottle . During the very first run the oil will expand and force excess air into the bottle. When cold the oil will be sucked back into the drive and the res bottle may require a slight refill. After the first run , make a note on the oil level in the bottle. During normal use is should not need any oil added. If it does, you have a leak.