2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

[UNSUREBOATGUY]

1987 3.0 Alpha 1

I'm getting together tools, parts, etc. to replace the input shaft seal and find the source of some minimal water intrusion to the drive lube.

1987 Alpha-will I likely have the small spacer in the bearing assembly, or will I have to worry about rolling torque?

As far as the water intrusion-where might be the most likely seals to check? I know this might be a difficult question, and I will be pressure testing the drive to find the leak, but are there seals that commonly need replacing on this vintage drive?

This is my first time looking at repairs like this and I'm a little intimidated by the input shaft seal repair. I'm pretty confident I can get everything done successfully, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. I do have manual #6.

And is this the correct part # for the input shaft oil seal Sierra 18-2003 ?

Thank you in advance.

 

[ziggy]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

to replace the input shaft seal and find the source of some minimal water intrusion to the drive lube.

if ya have water intrusion into the drive lub and ya feel it's coming from inside the drive shaft bellows. the seal leak would be the ramification of the water being in the bellows in the first place. ie. shift shaft, big quad ring seal on nose of drive, drive shaft bellows themselves.

I will be pressure testing the drive to find the leak,

imho, that's the ticket. pressure test to find out if the drive where the drive is leaking at. then you'll be able to go after where the leak is. obtaining the proper seals. i had to do that drive shaft seal on the ft. of my drive. i had rusty's on my drive shaft, ujoints, etc. i didn't know where the water intrusion was coming from so i R&Red the drive shaft bellows, the shift cable and shift cable bellows and the shift shaft seal w/ new style double seal. that seemed to stop my leak.

1987 Alpha-will I likely have the small spacer in the bearing assembly, or will I have to worry about rolling torque?

i don't know, but '87 is getting pretty late in the alpha1 design. genII came in around 91 i believe. i guess i'd think it may not have the spacer. but taking it apart will tell.

This is my first time looking at repairs like this and I'm a little intimidated by the input shaft seal repair.

that's pretty easy to believe. ya wanna do it right the first time when ya do this repair. reading and re reading s/m #6 will be the ticket. followed by questions on iboats.
as for the sierra seal. imho. get the oem seal. may not make a difference. but myself. for a tedious repair, i sure only want to do it once and have it be done right and not worry about the pocket change difference in price of the seal itself. sure would be a bummer to have that seal be sub standard and have it fail just because ya didn't want to spend a couple extra dollars for the proper oem part.... just another one of my opinions...

 

[UNSUREBOATGUY]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Thanks for the quick reply!

I replaced the bellows two seasons ago shortly after I bought the boat-they needed it. I found a very small amount of gear lube in the u-joint bellows the following fall. I decided to let it go one season, checking the gear lube after every trip and it always showed full as it should.

I just winterized the engine yesterday and drained the gear lube from the drive-it was just a little lighter in color than it should be, but at the correct level (before I drained it, of course). I actually haven't pulled the drive yet, but I fully expect to find a few drops of gear lube in the bellows again. I want to do the repair right so I don't have to keep worrying about it.

Because the bellows are pretty new and are dry, I'm pretty certain the small amount of water intrusion is coming from somewhere else.

Thanks again.

 

[UNSUREBOATGUY]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Just to double check-is this the OEM part number 26-823894 ?

Thanks.

 

[achris]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Just to double check-is this the OEM part number 26-823894 ?

Thanks.

Correct...

Suspect the shift shaft seal as the water source. Use a pressure test to confirm....
1987 will have no spacer, so you are also going to need an inch/pound torque indicator, for rolling torque.....
Check the yoke seal surface, if it has a groove, you can set the seal about 40thou deeper in the carrier and get its lip on a new area of the yoke. If the groove to too deep, replace the yoke.... part number is -46020002

Chris....

 

[UNSUREBOATGUY]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Thanks a ton-I'm feeling a little better about it now. Now to find a inch/pound torque indicator

 

[achris]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

.... Now to find a inch/pound torque indicator

Try here http://www.seekonk.com/ingauges.asp?cat=ingauges

I have a TSQ-150, but if I was to buy again I'd buy the TSQ-30....

Chris....

 

[UNSUREBOATGUY]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Thanks for the link. Looks like a great tool, but would I be able to get away with a beam style torque wrench? I really only plan to do this once unless I end up with another fixer-upper boat someday. Is this a tool I might be able to borrow at an auto parts store? I realize you (Chris) are in a different country and the auto parts stores might very well be quite different.

Thanks again.

 

[achris]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Thanks for the link. Looks like a great tool, but would I be able to get away with a beam style torque wrench?

No... not accurate enough...

I really only plan to do this once unless I end up with another fixer-upper boat someday. Is this a tool I might be able to borrow at an auto parts store?

Quite possibly...

I realize you (Chris) are in a different country and the auto parts stores might very well be quite different..

They certainly are! You guys have SO much better than the limited rubbish we are dished up. I am buying the majority of my tools and spare parts from the US now. Even with freight, the cost is so much cheaper than that of the retailers in Australia.... . Example. V6 engine oil pan, in Australia - $700, from a GM supplier on line - $85; Timing cover, AU - $350, GM online - $39..... (that Seekonk company is in Massachusetts, by the way)

Chris........

 

[UNSUREBOATGUY]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Thanks again. I'll call around to the auto parts stores in the morning. Maybe I should open one there

 

[natemoore]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

Correct...

Suspect the shift shaft seal as the water source. Use a pressure test to confirm....
1987 will have no spacer, so you are also going to need an inch/pound torque indicator, for rolling torque.....
Check the yoke seal surface, if it has a groove, you can set the seal about 40thou deeper in the carrier and get its lip on a new area of the yoke. If the groove to too deep, replace the yoke.... part number is -46020002

Chris....

You wouldn't believe how much I was berated for doing this when I redid my seals two years ago. Everyone insisted that it was insane, that I had to buy the $85 yoke, and that if I did it my way my outdrive was going blow up. The thread turned ugly. Well, it's two years later and it still pressure tests 4.0.

 

[achris]

Re: 2 questions-preparing to fix oil seals on alpha

You wouldn't believe how much I was berated for doing this when I redid my seals two years ago. Everyone insisted that it was insane, that I had to buy the $85 yoke, and that if I did it my way my outdrive was going blow up. The thread turned ugly. Well, it's two years later and it still pressure tests 4.0.

Well, some people have crazy ideas on how stuff works (I could write a book! Possibly several!). I've been doing this for more than 10 years, and I haven't had one fail. Once the new area on the yoke gets a groove in it too, then I replace it. The other option I have used successfully is a 'speedi-sleeve'. If you're doing it for yourself that is very effective, but in a commercial environment, not so. The cost of the extra time to install the sleeve is about the same as the savings by using it, so no real gain on an $85 yoke.

Cheers,

Chris.......