Alpha 1 Outdrive Problem

[gas man]

I hit something under water with the outdrive. I instantly pulled back on the throttle and lifted the outdrive to look for damage and found none (engine never cut off). However, when I put the boat back in gear it wouldn't move. The engine reved but it acted like it was in neutral. I had to get towed in. I took the prop to a prop guy and he said the prop hub was good and it wasn't spun. So, that means a gear issue, correct? Any suggestions on what gear to check first? Upper or lower? Saw a post with similar issue that mentioned drive and driven gear stripped? Are these hard to get to and replace? Thanks in advance. Terry

 

[Bt Doctur]

a shattered pinion gear, broken lower driveshaft, broken upper shaft, to name a few. You need to drop the lower unit for starters

 

[nola mike]

Could be a gear issue, or a broken shaft in the drive, or (I would think less likely) a broken engine coupler. First steps would be draining the gear oil looking for metal, and pull the top cover of the outdrive. Lastly, the drive needs to be pulled. At that point you can see if the drive shifts at the intermediate shaft, and then split the drive and check the operation of the upper and lower. All that should take you an hour or two. And yes, any outdrive repair is probably going to be cost prohibitive.

 

[tpenfield]

Kind of interesting that you found no external damage and the prop hub seems to be OK as well. Have you tried a new prop & hub?

 

[stonyloam]

Sounds like you may have snapped your verticle drive shaft. Try this, shift into forward. Turn the prop counterclockwise. If it turns easily and the input shaft that goes into the coupler does not turn would be an indicator. Drain and drop the gear housing ( lower) and check the shaft.

 

[nola mike]

Kind of interesting that you found no external damage and the prop hub seems to be OK as well. Have you tried a new prop & hub?

Wonder if the prop was ss or aluminum? Aluminum would definitely show damage.

 

[Bondo]

Any suggestions on what gear to check first?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,..... What I'd do is,.....

Drain the drive of oil, lookin' for ground metal, or chunks,....
Pull the drive, 'n peek in at the coupler mounted to the back of the motor,....
Then split the upper from the lower, 'n see if the top end of the vertical shaft is still there,....
Then pop the cap off the upper, 'n look at the 2 gears there,....

By then ya oughta have found the Problem,....

 

[gas man]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I will take a look as soon as I get some time and will let you know what I find.

 

[gas man]

Finally got a chance to tear into the outdrive. First I drained the oil and found no metal chunks. Pulled the lower from the upper and saw there was no top to the vertical drive shaft. Broke off right at the o ring. Looked like it was cut with a laser. No twisted metal or jagged edges just a clean cut. Now, how do I get the broken piece of the drive shaft out of the top unit?

 

[achris]

Seen that a few times. You may have to remove the upper drive shaft (from the top box) and bang it on a bench a few times.

 

[gas man]

Bought a 12 inch drill bit and drilled into the broken shaft piece in the upper unit. I was going to screw a bolt into it but it came out when I pulled the bit out. Only the spline part of the shaft was there. Now the fun part...replacing the vertical drive shaft.

 

[achris]

Probably be cheaper to buy a new SEI lower housing than buying just the tools to replace the broken shaft.