Alpha One Lower won't come off.

[Evil Eagle]

Hey guys, new boater here. I just recently purchased a 1984 VIP bowrider with a mercruiser 3.0l Alpha One in it. I am trying to do at least a impeller and check out the condition of the gimble etc but I am stuck at the first step. I can't for the life of me seperate the Out Drive. I have searched, watched videos, have the mercruiser manual. Does anyone have any advice? I have it in forward, and removed the trim cylinders, and removed the 6 nuts and washers. It will seperate about an inch but it gets stuck there. I have tried lifting it and letting it drop but this sucker isn't budging. Thanks for any help guys.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

are you sure its in full foward?
input shaft may be rusted to the gimbal bearing.reinstall rams, put a spacer block between the top cap and transom.
CAREFULLY extend rams, add more spacing as necessary.

 

[Evil Eagle]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

The remote is all the way forward. How do I make sure its in actuallly engaging in full forward? I even tried bolting it back together and starting over, and still got the same result of it just coming out an inch. I think you may be right about the rust. The boat has been sitting on a lift for the past 2 years and hadn't been ran until we took it out for him to show me that it ran. The worst part is that he has had it for 10 years and never did an impellar, just changed the lower oil and motor oil.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

Check out this thread... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=537378&page=2

(if that didn't come through right, then search on "big problem? little problem?" and it will come up). That person had exact same issue... finally came off with some effort and seemed to be splines stuck in the coupler.
If you can get underneath your drive and look at the shift shaft, you can see if it is actually straight (in forward) such that it will slide free will pulled straight back (I use an inspection mirror). Good luck and dont give up!

 

[Evil Eagle]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

Check out this thread... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=537378&page=2

(if that didn't come through right, then search on "big problem? little problem?" and it will come up). That person had exact same issue... finally came off with some effort and seemed to be splines stuck in the coupler.
If you can get underneath your drive and look at the shift shaft, you can see if it is actually straight (in forward) such that it will slide free will pulled straight back (I use an inspection mirror). Good luck and dont give up!

How did I miss that thread?!? Thanks for the replies you guys, this place is AWESOME! I am used to the car forums like SVTperformance where if you don't have an awesome vehicle, nobody wants to help. I am going to go out and try out the cylinders. I will report back with what happens. Thanks again guys.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

you will need to use the nuts to drive off the lower. if your in salt water, a few 4 and 5 letter words will also be needed because of the corrosion that you will most likely have.

just dont get angry with it.:facepalm:

 

[Evil Eagle]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

Its off!!! The hydraulics pushed it off perfectly. Thanks for the help guys. I have a feeling as I dig deeper I will be asking more questions.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

The remote is all the way forward. How do I make sure its in actuallly engaging in full forward?

Little late, since you already have it off, but to make sure it is in forward, rotate the prop COUNTERCLOCKWISE and it should lock. FYI when you put it back on, make sure it is in forward and hold it in gear with a bungee wrapped to give CCW pressure on the prop. have fun.

 

[Evil Eagle]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

Thanks Terry, that'll help when I put it on!!

 

[chizwizdiz]

Re: Alpha One Lower won't come off.

you will need to use the nuts to drive off the lower. if your in salt water, a few 4 and 5 letter words will also be needed because of the corrosion that you will most likely have.

just dont get angry with it.:facepalm:

That's the method I had to use. Back and forth, nice and slow and it finally broke loose.