Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

[summit1]

[No message]

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

None of those links work, whats the problem with your drive????

 

[summit1]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

Geez, I may have to go find a job somewhere where there is only fresh water....Never had to deal with it before. I only understand salt water corrosion..............a lot more than anyone should.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

Some call this the kettle effect, it is caused by minerals in the water leaving deposits from a warm drive getting cooled fast when dropping off plane, white vinigar will clean it, a good coat of wax applied will make it easier to clean in the future. I get this on the drive also. If you are concerned the drive is getting to hot, you can always install a drive shower.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

If vinigar doesn't work and you really want this cleaned off, get some 600 grit wet.dry sandpaper and wet sand it. Run water over the area you are sanding with a hose, lots and lots of water! And lightly sand away until it is gone. Probably hard water or lime from the lake water. <br />As long as you keep it wet and stop as soon as the white is gone, the paint will be good. Do a test sand in a hidden place first to be sure. Then use a good quality wax.

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

We use a product called 'Ranex'. It's a rust converter that contains phosphuric acid. Dilute it 1:4 and don't leave it on too long, only about 5 minutes, and use LOTS of water to wash it off. Good from cleaning the stain off fibreglass too.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

"Zing" is a product which also contains the acid base to get this off. Made in St. Louis.<br /><br />You can put a drive shower on an cool the drive by about 40 degrees at high rpm. Search this forum for different shower types.

 

[summit1]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

Great! Thanks for the feedback guys. I will clean it this weekend and post back the results. I just thought it was odd that the lower half of the outdrive looks brand new, and the upper half of the drive almost all the way up to the top, has chalked up, thats all. It is trailered year round and I scrub it from top to bottom and inside out after each use.<br /><br />If it is in fact be caused by the "kettle effect", is the heat that causes that enough to cause mechanical problems? Afterall, the gear lube looked good, and you would think if there was a design flaw with these drives, that Merc would add drive showers from the factory?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

The lower 1/2 looks clean because it's Always In the water.......<br />The upper 1/2 is in the Air, when it's Working the hardest,+ it's as Hot as it gets........<br />That's when it's Splashed with dirty water, which evaporates,+ leaves the Dirty......... <br />

If it is in fact be caused by the "kettle effect", is the heat that causes that enough to cause mechanical problems?

"kettle effect", I've never heard it called that,<br />But, Ayah, That's what it is........<br />Your outdrive is Aluminum.... 1 Great Big Heatsink Oil Cooler.....<br />It works Perfectly.......... When used within it's Design Limitations......... <br /><br />I run Mobil 1 75W-90 Syn in mine... I think it Helps...<br />I've thought about building or adding a cooler... but I'm sure that it's not necessary in My case, on this boat anyway.............<br />BTW, a shower will Add to the build-up......

 

[summit1]

Re: Alpha 1- what is up with my drive?

Went at it again with the vinegar and lime away...and extra elbow grease.....drive looks like brand new. Amazing, thanks for the advice guys!