Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive shaft seal?

[Superjetjim]

Hi, just reassembling my lower into the upper housing and noticed a shiny area on the shaft that’s on show - should there be some kind of seal here perhaps or is this OK? I removed the lower from the boat first so not sure if it was already this way.

The lower unit is fully engaged and bolted back flush.
View attachment IMG_4849.MOV

 

[Scott06]

The seal is in side the upper housing so you will not see it from the outside. I believe the vertical drive shaft normally moves up and down about 1/4” so looks ok to me

 

[rustybronco]

According to what I've read, the lower units drive shaft will raise when its in gear and a load is applied. You could try lifting the shaft (turning the prop?) to see if the shiny area moves up enough to be covered by the upper units housing and seal.

achris should know.

Mines apart or I'd look.

 

[Superjetjim]

Thanks all, water tested the boat today and all good

 

[j cat]

looks like the shaft is common with a wear .. gear teeth wears and the shaft will move..

 

[achris]

No, that's how the gears are designed. At rest the lower drive shaft will drop. As soon as the engine is running and the shaft turning, the nature tendency is for the gears to try to force apart, lighting the drive shaft and bringing the tapered roller bearing into play, which is why you need a special tool to lift the shaft while checking the opinion height and gear backlash...

Chris...