First-time ski boat owner trying to do some of this work myself, but have a problem....
The end of last season, I bought a '99 Bayliner Capri for a song. The boat, floor, and engine seemed to all be in good order, but the bell housing was cracked and gimbal ring had one of the lower 'ears' broken off. The guy said he hit a log. He had a replacement bell housing and gimbal ring; used, but in good condition. He just wasn't willing to pay the full price to get a mechanic to do the work.
The boat is a 1999 Bayliner Capri fish-n-ski, 3.0 Mercruiser, Alpha One Gen II outdrive. Not a beast by any measure, but would pull the kids on a tube, or me on a wakeboard.
The original outdrive, which appears to be in good order; no dents, scrapes, shaft is straight, prop is intact, etc... He also tossed in a second outdrive; another Alpha One, though it appears to be older. I figured I could use it for parts, sell it, or at worst cash it in for scrap value.
So, after a lot of reading, research, and study, I successfully changed out the gimbal ring, bell housing, and replaced/redid a lot of the maintenance work. But...
Here's my problem... I went to mount the outdrive, and it wouldn't fit into the gimbal. The "ears" at the bottom of the gimbal ring that go along the side of the outdrive's skid plates... It's too narrow for the outdrive! Even if I remove the plastic skid plates from the side of the outdrive to let it be metal-on-metal, it won't fit. Everything else is fine, but it won't fit between the 'ears'.
The gimbal ears are only 3 5/8" wide. The outdrive is 3 3/4" wide without the skid plates.
Looking at it now, I suspect the ring and bell housing actually went with the other outdrive, and even though it's also an Alpha One, it is a smaller unit. Essentially, the parts I have won't work with the outdrive for the boat.
So, am I right about what's going on? Is it this a difference between a Gen 1 and Gen II? At this point, I know I've been had on the parts, but where do I go from here? I am thinking of breaking down and taking it to a mechanic to just "fix it" and eat the cost.
Any other suggestions or things I should know/consider? Recommendations on how to find the right parts?
Here's my info/model numbers.
Gimbal Opening between 'ears': 3 5/8"
Outdrive width: 3 3/4" (not counting skid plates)
Original Outdrive: 0L408469 / MERCRUISER 1998 & Newer Model#:5121600LS Alpha One Gen II
"Extra" Outdrive: 1 50R / 0C711655 -- MERCRUISER 1989 Model#: 5010150BS R/MR Alpha One SterndriveEngine: 0L334691 / MERCRUISER 1998 & Newer 3.0L Model#: 4111021L1
Russell
The end of last season, I bought a '99 Bayliner Capri for a song. The boat, floor, and engine seemed to all be in good order, but the bell housing was cracked and gimbal ring had one of the lower 'ears' broken off. The guy said he hit a log. He had a replacement bell housing and gimbal ring; used, but in good condition. He just wasn't willing to pay the full price to get a mechanic to do the work.
The boat is a 1999 Bayliner Capri fish-n-ski, 3.0 Mercruiser, Alpha One Gen II outdrive. Not a beast by any measure, but would pull the kids on a tube, or me on a wakeboard.
The original outdrive, which appears to be in good order; no dents, scrapes, shaft is straight, prop is intact, etc... He also tossed in a second outdrive; another Alpha One, though it appears to be older. I figured I could use it for parts, sell it, or at worst cash it in for scrap value.
So, after a lot of reading, research, and study, I successfully changed out the gimbal ring, bell housing, and replaced/redid a lot of the maintenance work. But...
Here's my problem... I went to mount the outdrive, and it wouldn't fit into the gimbal. The "ears" at the bottom of the gimbal ring that go along the side of the outdrive's skid plates... It's too narrow for the outdrive! Even if I remove the plastic skid plates from the side of the outdrive to let it be metal-on-metal, it won't fit. Everything else is fine, but it won't fit between the 'ears'.
The gimbal ears are only 3 5/8" wide. The outdrive is 3 3/4" wide without the skid plates.
Looking at it now, I suspect the ring and bell housing actually went with the other outdrive, and even though it's also an Alpha One, it is a smaller unit. Essentially, the parts I have won't work with the outdrive for the boat.
So, am I right about what's going on? Is it this a difference between a Gen 1 and Gen II? At this point, I know I've been had on the parts, but where do I go from here? I am thinking of breaking down and taking it to a mechanic to just "fix it" and eat the cost.
Any other suggestions or things I should know/consider? Recommendations on how to find the right parts?
Here's my info/model numbers.
Gimbal Opening between 'ears': 3 5/8"
Outdrive width: 3 3/4" (not counting skid plates)
Original Outdrive: 0L408469 / MERCRUISER 1998 & Newer Model#:5121600LS Alpha One Gen II
"Extra" Outdrive: 1 50R / 0C711655 -- MERCRUISER 1989 Model#: 5010150BS R/MR Alpha One SterndriveEngine: 0L334691 / MERCRUISER 1998 & Newer 3.0L Model#: 4111021L1
Russell
