The leg is off

[flashback]

After the fourth crowd headed out I was able to get the boat out at leisure yesterday. Fuel pump replacement preformed.

Pulled leg and discovered what seems to be a metal plate glued at the top of the transom housing. I'm baffled, why?

 

[Bt Doctur]

guessing a home made fix to repair a loose steering arm

 

[Rick Stephens]

guessing a home made fix to repair a loose steering arm

I'd a been wordier

 

[flashback]

I'm getting your drift. Easy access to the steering arm. I haven't had this boat over 10 miles an hour, in fact yesterday was the first time I had it out on the water and went half a mile to the lunch ramp. I probably should pull that plate off and see what's in there.

 

[flashback]

Has an SEI 116 that is new, a gimbal bearing that is toast and a back door to the steering. As Rick said in a previous post the shift cable is bound up pretty good and I was getting water from the o-ring crossing over I believe.
Boat handled just like any other deep v at 5 mph. I'll loose sleep if I don't see what's behind the plate and I'll post it back so you all can see as well.

 

[flashback]

here is what I found after the leg was off

 

[dubs283]

losing oil out the yoke seal

combined with a loud gimbal bearing i'd suspect water getting into the u joint bellows

 

[Scott06]

Homemade version of this kit allows repair of swivel pin without janking the engine. http://www.jrmarine.com/instructions.htm

merc has a similar kit

 

[wshekar]

losing oil out the yoke seal

combined with a loud gimbal bearing i'd suspect water getting into the u joint bellows

Definitely water getting in the bellow. Those need to be replaced. Gimbal bearing as well.

 

[flashback]

Homemade version of this kit allows repair of swivel pin without janking the engine. http://www.jrmarine.com/instructions.htm

merc has a similar kit

Thx for the info, at least it's an acceptable alternative to pulling the motor, I remember several years ago the owner of this boat cracked the gimbal ring so that could explain the back door fix, It seems to steer ok. I guess I can't blame him, that is pretty much the reason I swapped it to an electric fuel pump.

 

[Scott06]

Thx for the info, at least it's an acceptable alternative to pulling the motor, I remember several years ago the owner of this boat cracked the gimbal ring so that could explain the back door fix, It seems to steer ok. I guess I can't blame him, that is pretty much the reason I swapped it to an electric fuel pump.

Yes if he had to replace the gimbal ring this would be a fix to cover the acess hole to get the steering pin on. You just want to make sure it is secure with a few screws/rivets and sealed with 5200.

 

[flashback]

The other concern is the oil/water mix that came out of it. wasn't much and mostly oil. The lower shift cable was leaking water while running which I understand to be a badly installed O-ring that pressurized the shift pocket. I wonder if that leak could have also allowed water past the large O-ring on the leg and into the bellows? And more importantly the oil. This SEI has had no use at all, The owner had installed it, ran it aground backing out of his dock, got frustrated and let it hang in the lift until I retrieved it after his home sold. I plan to get a bellows kit and replace the rubber parts and bearing, but not to keen on tearing into the leg. I hope the new bearing will ease stress on the oil seal in the drive.

 

[Scott06]

SEI has a 3 year no fault warranty not sure if they honor it to the new boat owner, but may be the drive has warranty left ?

If water got in the bellows it can cause corrosion on the drive input shaft which will ruin the seal in no time .

 

[flashback]

Got the drive drained of lube and recovered a quart and a half of good clean oil so that was encouraging, shift shaft moves freely and also rented a puller and got the bearing out. I haven't yet removed the plate on the housing but I will say the ring is good and tight, no play in it so maybe that will last a while.
next decision is parts, I probably will go for a complete kit but with so many available it is a bit overwhelming.

I'm an old retired guy on a fixed income and honestly this boat won't need to last too long or it will out live me. If I get a couple of years out of it I'll be OK with it so cheap is the word. When I'm done with it I'll give it to some young fella who will get a little bit better boat than I did I hope..

 

[Rick Stephens]

Take a swipe with your finger of that tan goo running out of the bellows and smell it. Drive gear oil is stinky - u-joint and gimbal grease isn't. Both will mix with water and make a slurry that looks the same.

 

[flashback]

It's stinky, the owner ran the bad gimbal until the top end of the old drive crapped out then got the new SEI but didn't change the gimbal. Probably didn't clean anything when he changed it out either. I got the bearing out and it is really bad, lots of slop in all directions. I'm sure it didn't do the new drive any favors but the u joints are good and tight and no slop in the input shaft so maybe it will be ok. I haven't disconnected the shift cable from the engine side yet (lots of rain here) but dis-engaged it from the shift shaft. The shaft has a little resistance but not much. I really don't have the base knowledge to know what is acceptable there but would expect some from a shaft seal that is not lubed.
I have an old clymer's manual that I used 20 years ago on a pre alpha successfully to change bearing and bellows and was wondering how much has changed. one thing I noticed is the gen 2 bellows seem much more flexible. and an extra hose for the lube monitor. I probably should get a new book and se what has changed..

 

[flashback]

Yes if he had to replace the gimbal ring this would be a fix to cover the acess hole to get the steering pin on. You just want to make sure it is secure with a few screws/rivets and sealed with 5200.

Thanks for this info I can see it being a reasonable way to make the repair but a screw or two would be a help although it seems what ever it is glued on with is tight. I would need a chisel to get it off.

 

[flashback]

Tinkered a bit between rain drops and disconnected the lower cable from shift plate so it was free at both ends. About all I can compare it to is the throttle on a lawnmower. It has some resistance but not real heavy. I had to take the set screw out of the slide with vice grips, there was no allen left but core wire didn't release and I don't know why.

 

[flashback]

I found an online no. 14 manual on the internet and read up a bit on the changes from the pre alpha drive. I'll need to get the tool to remove the gimbal housing, I also dug up my old alignment tool but not sure if it will work on the alpha one. As always any advice or tips are gratefully taken.