alpha 1 gen 1 noise

[Tominator88]

well just limped home with this noise in my 4 year old sei going to remove tomorrow any guesses? i was 12 mikes from port just kept it under 10 mph in my 24’ grady with 5.7 vortec i guess my next issue unless inta a gimble is to rebuild the old originsl slpha i have or buy new

 

[Scott06]

well just limped home with this noise in my 4 year old sei going to remove tomorrow any guesses? i was 12 mikes from port just kept it under 10 mph in my 24’ grady with 5.7 vortec i guess my next issue unless inta a gimble is to rebuild the old originsl slpha i have or buy new

pull the drive check the gimbal bearing first, as by the mouse I’m thinking that. If that is ok drain drive lube and pull the top cap. See if metal is in the lube or water

 

[Bt Doctur]

I agree, gimbal check and oil check for any metal ,never heard a bearing sound like that

 

[nola mike]

Are we sure that's not engine noise?

 

[kenny nunez]

Most likely the gimbal bearing is the noise. A dry bearing or a gear going away in the drive would not have lasted 12 miles. Hopefully you will only need the upper resealed, a gimbal bearing,yoke, maybe 2 joints and a bellows.
Not cheap but less than a whole drive.

 

[Tominator88]

Are we sure that's not engine noise?

well with hatch open i couldn’t here it but when i stick my head past the transom it was loud going to rip apart tonight

 

[Tominator88]

i took drive off tonight the gimbal was fine the oil was pretty clean but definitely some very fine metal on magnet on drain plug not sire how to diagnose this but my guess is the lower bearing in the upper unit

 

[kenny nunez]

You lucked out it brought you home. Take the cover off the upper housing and look at the gearset. If there was an oil leak then those gears are the first to go. Look at the propeller shaft seals for any monofilament fishing line.
If your drive is an Alpha 1 there is a 1/4” oil transfer hole where the drive separates, only small particles can go through it to the lower.

 

[Tominator88]

You lucked out it brought you home. Take the cover off the upper housing and look at the gearset. If there was an oil leak then those gears are the first to go. Look at the propeller shaft seals for any monofilament fishing line.
If your drive is an Alpha 1 there is a 1/4” oil transfer hole where the drive separates, only small particles can go through it to the lower.

thanks the oil looked great maybe a little metal ill say dust on the drain plug magnet and the gears look good im not sure what to look for but when i spin the shaft that goes to the engine i think it sounds awful

 

[Grub54891]

Did you pull the drive yet? That is step one.

 

[Scott06]

thanks the oil looked great maybe a little metal ill say dust on the drain plug magnet and the gears look good im not sure what to look for but when i spin the shaft that goes to the engine i think it sounds awful

Split the halves to see if it can be isolated upper and lower - at this point you are into tearing it down to see what the issue is- most likely a bearing if the gears are ok. You cant get very far into the drive with out some merc specific tools , which is why folks generally get a SEI drive or used/pressure tested.

Dust on the drain plug is normal for a dog clutch