Alpha 1 gen 2 Top bearing pack rough? Grease?

[ilove2fixx]

Hi guys ok I was almost about done and went to a local car dealer mechanic ( only oe that had an inch Lb meter gauge )
We noticed after he over torqued ( 50 lb in )
That the bearings seemed rough / dry? He did spray some brake cleaner or something to clean the nut area to apply some thread locker.. Idk if it's from the over torque or that liquid .. it was closing time so I said I'll come back Monday.. I took it apart but bearing pack is still not coming apart should I take it apart and clean it with diesel and should I use grease ? Or oil ?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Bearings are usually cleaned before assembly and lubed with oil 8 in/lb for new and 5.5 in/lbs for used
SETTING BEARING PRELOAD
1. Set the preload by holding the bearings and turning the pinion nut at least two full
revolutions. Check preload by turning the pinion nut very slowly a third time and, while
turning, take a reading of the preload. If the preload is under the specification of 8 lb-in.
(0.9 Nm) [5.25 lb-in. (0.55 Nm) for used bearings], torque the pinion nut slightly more
as instructed in the previous step. Recheck preload. Continue this sequence until the
proper preload is achieved.
70212
a
a - Torque Wrench
IMPORTANT: If the preload goes over the specified limit of 8 lb-in. (0.9 Nm) [5.5 lb-in.
(0.55 Nm) for used bearings], the bearings must be totally separated from the gear
and reassembled following the appropriate previous instructions. Failure to follow
these instructions will cause premature failure of the unit

 

[Rick Stephens]

You need a bearing splitter and at least an arbor press to separate the bearings races spacer from the shaft.

 

[ilove2fixx]

Bearings are usually cleaned before assembly and lubed with oil 8 in/lb for new and 5.5 in/lbs for used
SETTING BEARING PRELOAD
1. Set the preload by holding the bearings and turning the pinion nut at least two full
revolutions. Check preload by turning the pinion nut very slowly a third time and, while
turning, take a reading of the preload. If the preload is under the specification of 8 lb-in.
(0.9 Nm) [5.25 lb-in. (0.55 Nm) for used bearings], torque the pinion nut slightly more
as instructed in the previous step. Recheck preload. Continue this sequence until the
proper preload is achieved.
70212
a
a - Torque Wrench
IMPORTANT: If the preload goes over the specified limit of 8 lb-in. (0.9 Nm) [5.5 lb-in.
(0.55 Nm) for used bearings], the bearings must be totally separated from the gear
and reassembled following the appropriate previous instructions. Failure to follow
these instructions will cause premature failure of the unit

What kind of oil can I use ?
And is it safe to clean with diesel ?
And u think it's rough because he overtightened ?

 

[ilove2fixx]

You need a bearing splitter and at least an arbor press to separate the bearings races spacer from the shaft.

Any video how it's done ? Or I just force them off each other and lube everything and press the bearings and gear together ?

 

[Bt Doctur]

any oil but gear oil preferred.
Diesel is fine for cleaning and light lubing.
spec is 5.5 not 50

 

[Rick Stephens]

Any video how it's done ? Or I just force them off each other and lube everything and press the bearings and gear together ?

The service manual is actually pretty good guide. I've never seen a video on disassembly, just assembly. Chris had one on setting up preload.

 

[achris]

If the bearings are dry, clean and still rough, toss them. It's not worth risking the drive to save a few dollars on new bearings... Even in Australia those bearings are cheap. If you don't buy them from Merc. Get the numbers off the races and go to a reputable bearing shop... It's the same bearing. Nothing special about them.

Chris.......

 

[ilove2fixx]

If the bearings are dry, clean and still rough, toss them. It's not worth risking the drive to save a few dollars on new bearings... Even in Australia those bearings are cheap. If you don't buy them from Merc. Get the numbers off the races and go to a reputable bearing shop... It's the same bearing. Nothing special about them.

Chris.......

So even at 50lb they should
Still be silky smooth ? I don't understand when you say when they're dry they should be smooth ? What should I do at this point? Pry them apart , clean them , oil them put back together and see ?

 

[tpenfield]

Why did you take the boat's outdrive shaft to an auto mechanic :noidea:

Here is Chris' video on doing the pre-load . . .

I have found when tightening and the pre-load gets close to the spec, you need to tighten very little to get the torque to change quite a bit.

Since 50 in-lb is way over tightened, the bearings will feel very tight . . . of course I never tightened them to that extent, so it is hard to imagine what they would feel like. When you split and re-torque the bearings, you should get them to be very smooth. if you get the 'bumpy road' feeling as they turn, then the bearings are bad.

 

[achris]

If you cleaned them properly and they are still rough (even dry, good bearings will still not be rough), toss them. If he's put 50lb on them, toss them, regardless. At 50lb he's damaged the surface enough to shorten the bearing's life.

Chris.....

 

[ilove2fixx]

Seriously that guy just cost me $100 god damn it.. man I thought he knew better and I wanted to tell him but I was like nah he knows .. my luck

 

[ilove2fixx]

It's always something , I swear it's been like 5 issues with this boat at the same time.. my top bearing is smaller than my bottom one any part numbers so I can go buy me some today hopefully I can get hem locally.

 

[ilove2fixx]

So I just pull the old bearings off and then off their carrrier as well? I found bearings for $8 are both my bearings same size ? On my shaft set the bottom one has bigger carrier then the top one..
any instructions on how to do all that or just pull them off and tap in new ones? And when putting them back on gear do I just lightly put them on or do I bottom them out ?

 

[Bt Doctur]

You press the bearings together loosely, enough to install the nut, Place the input assembly in the holder and tighten the nut untill you get 5.5 inch/lbs

 

[ilove2fixx]

How do I separate the bearings ?

 

[achris]

How do I separate the bearings ?

Use a bearing splitter. Like this
https://www.toolmart.com.au/fragram-...XXoaAnNL8P8HAQ

Chris. ...

 

[Bt Doctur]

You are jumping around to so many sections of the drive I dont know what section you in. The input shaft bearings are the same and there installed with rolling torque.
The vert shaft bearings are pressed on all the way. First you adjust the height of the gear with the shims ,then you set the preload for the vert gear by adjusting the shim pack on top of the vert gear.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Using an inch - pound torque wrench, rotate the drive shaft clockwise at least two
full turns. Check the preload by rotating the drive shaft very slowly in the same
direction a third time and while rotating, take a reading of the preload. The preload
reading should be within specification as follows:
New Bearings 6-10 in. lb. (0.7-1.7 Nm)
Used Bearings 3-7.5 in. lb. (0.3-0.8 Nm)
NOTE: The bearings are considered used if spun under load once.
70703
a
b
a - Torque Wrench
b - Drive Shaft
If the preload did not check to specification follow the appropriate instructions:
If The Preload Is Higher Than Specified: remove shims from beneath the top cover
bearing cup. Reinstall the top cover and recheck the preload as outlined above.
If The Preload Is Lower Than Specified: add shims beneath the top cover bearing cup.
Reinstall the top cover and recheck the preload as outlined above.
c. Continue this process until the preload check is within specification.

 

[achris]

OK, lots of confusing information and requests...

The very first thing we need is the serial number of the drive. Around 1998 Merc changed some of the bearings...

Upper drive shaft upper bearing (earlier Gen IIs) Merc # 31-61100A1. Use Timken 09067 and 09196 (outer race and roller assmebly)
Upper drive shaft upper bearing (later Gen IIs) Merc # 31-32575A1. Timken number unknown (at this stage)
Upper drive shaft lower bearing Merc # 31-35990A1 Use Timken HM89449 and HM89410
Input shaft bearings (both the same on earlier Gen IIs) Merc # 31-35988A12. Use Timken 382A and 386A (2 of each)
Input shaft bearings (both different on later Gen IIs) Merc # 31-30894A5 (set). I don't have the Tinken numbers for these. If you have a later Gen II, please forward me the numbers on the bearings. There will be one number on the outer race and one number on the roller set. Same with the upper bearing.

Chris..........