Alpha one Gen 1 U joint removal

[Dubed]

Hi Guys,
I just finished installing new upper seals in my Alpha one.
When re-assembling I noticed the retaining ring behind the large retaining spanner nut was cracked in half.
I ordered one but need to remove my u joints to gain access to install it.
My question is, can I gently remove the u jointsand re-use (I just replaced them before lay up last season) or am I looking at purchasing new ones again?

Any tricks of the trade appreciated.
Thanks

 

[achris]

Hi Guys,
I just finished installing new upper seals in my Alpha one.
When re-assembling I noticed the retaining ring behind the large retaining spanner nut was cracked in half.
I ordered one but need to remove my u joints to gain access to install it.
My question is, can I gently remove the u jointsand re-use (I just replaced them before lay up last season) or am I looking at purchasing new ones again?

Any tricks of the trade appreciated.
Thanks

I don't think you can take the cover nut off like that, you need to pull the drive gear and bearing pack out, disassemble and put the new cover nut on that way. That will involve setting up the rolling torque again.

Chris........

 

[Dubed]

 

[Dubed]

Already removed to replace oil seals

 

[achris]

Perfect. Just remove the nut from the back of the drive gear, slide that lot off the shaft and you can do the main seal and o-ring at the same time....

Chris......

 

[achris]

And this....



needs replacing....

Chris.........

 

[Dubed]

Just the race or bearing also Chris?

 

[Rick Stephens]

Never replace just a race.

 

[achris]

Just the race or bearing also Chris?

The bearing's got water damage too...

 

[Dubed]

Ok, sound advice. I should probably just change both upper shaft bearings then.
For the record, I started this because I found oil in my drive Bellows, pressure tested and found the shaft seals were bad. I didn't see water in the bearings, maybe it was old damage. Either way, it's apart, let's fix it right

 

[Rick Stephens]

No surprise about water damage in the upper case. As oil level drops from a leak, those bearings go dry during storage. Any water vapor in the case at all ends up coating the bearings at the top.

 

[Dubed]

Ahh.... Again, makes sense. Boat sat fir 7 years, motor froze, and everything else went bad so why not this. Once I put it together, I'll pressure test again and hopefully no issues on the lower

 

[Dubed]

And this....

View attachment 364297

needs replacing....

Chris.........

Chris, I ordered the bearings for that vertical shaft. I havent looked close yet, but Im assuming they just press off and press on the new ones? There must be shoulders to seat on?
I will have the shft end that goes into the seal polished also.

How does the race get removed from the cover without destroying anything?

 

[rustybronco]

Chris, I ordered the bearings for that vertical shaft. I havent looked close yet, but Im assuming they just press off and press on the new ones? There must be shoulders to seat on?
I will have the shaft end that goes into the seal polished also.

How does the race get removed from the cover without destroying anything?

The bearings just press on and off and yes, the shaft is shouldered. One bearing presses on the gear and the other on the shaft.

With a slide hammer. The slide hammer is used to remove the lower race as well. You will need bearing race drivers to re-install. There are shims below both races.

 

[Dubed]

The bearings just press on and off and yes, the shaft is shouldered. One bearing presses on the gear and the other on the shaft.

With a slide hammer. The slide hammer is used to remove the lower race as well. You will need bearing race drivers to re-install. There are shims below both races.

Perfect. Just remove the nut from the back of the drive gear, slide that lot off the shaft and you can do the main seal and o-ring at the same time....

Chris......

Chris,
Apparently this is the new style (pressed on bearings). I assume I don't need to remove all off the shaft, just back off some tension and re-set the rolling torque with new nut and washer... correct?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Apparently this is the new style (pressed on bearings). I assume I don't need to remove all off the shaft, just back off some tension and re-set the rolling torque with new nut and washer... correct?

If you indeed have the Alpha 1 and the gears are the originals ,remove the nut and slide off the bearing package, If you have a later set you need to pull them off and install with rolling torque method To replace anything on the yoke everything comes off
. There is no rolling torque on standard Alpha 1 uppers, just torque to spec.

 

[Dubed]

Apparently this is the new style (pressed on bearings). I assume I don't need to remove all off the shaft, just back off some tension and re-set the rolling torque with new nut and washer... correct?

If you indeed have the Alpha 1 and the gears are the originals ,remove the nut and slide off the bearing package, If you have a later set you need to pull them off and install with rolling torque method To replace anything on the yoke everything comes off
. There is no rolling torque on standard Alpha 1 uppers, just torque to spec.

It all came off the yoke as one unit so I assume it's the newer style that are pressed together with the rolling torque method. I'm only changing the seal and retaining ring that was broken. My question is, should I pull everything off and separate the bearing pack or just back the bearings off a little and then re-torque with the rolling torque method (hopefully I'm making sense)
Thank you!

 

[Rick Stephens]

You can take a plastic dead blow hammer and give it a sharp rap to loosen the fit, then proceed to sneak up on your rolling torque setting.

 

[Dubed]

You can take a plastic dead blow hammer and give it a sharp rap to loosen the fit, then proceed to sneak up on your rolling torque setting.

Sounds good. Thanks

 

[flashback]

Are ya feeling lucky? With the corrosion on the other bearings. I don't know much but I would break it down just to see..if it looks good then put it back in
..