Alpha one opinion needed

[todd d]

I have a 1987 Alpha one drive. The previous owner let the belows go so there was damage done to the upper unit. The drive leaks oil into the bellows, and the upper gears are pitted and worn. The drive functions properly, and I don't hear any noises that indicate immenent failure. We don't use the boat every day.

My options are: 1) replace the drive with a new SEI drive for about $1500, or 2) replace the leaky oil seal only, and drive the boat as is for the summer. I only have about $1000 into the boat so the SEI drive is hard to justify. The boat is in good shape, but it may be a little small for our needs, and I might look for a larger boat next year.

How hard is it to change the oil seal? If I have to disassemble the whole upper unit, it probably doesn't make sense to put it back together with worn gears.

Any thoughts or opinions appreciated.

Todd

 

[ziggy]

Re: Alpha one opinion needed

if you fix it. your likely gonna have more in tools and parts than the sei. pitted gears surly requires replacement of them. replacing gears or brgs. requires shimming which requires special mercruiser tools. + have ya got a dial indicator type inch lbs torque wrench. i didn't/don't. this would be a required mechanics tool you'll need to do the deed. just more dollars. + have you read the procedure for replacement of the gears/brgs/seals. it's pretty intensive mechanicin and ya gotta do it right or it will fail real fast from what i understand..
the sei replacement sure has made repair of the alpha1 kind of an obsolete thing to do. unless you have the tools, and even then, parts alone are gonna cost ya pretty big bucks too..

 

[badkins50]

Re: Alpha one opinion needed

sounds like a great canidate for craigs list - "great boat, water ready, just needs a little tlc". hahaha. good luck.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Alpha one opinion needed

The drive functions properly, and I don't hear any noises that indicate immenent failure. We don't use the boat every day.

It sounds like you want to get a bigger boat and are thinking of simply trying to get one more season out of this boat, correct? Depending upon what kind of boating you do, I would suggest using it till it dies or till you get a bigger boat.

Notice I said "Depending upon what kind of boating you do."

If a break down and tow in is nothing more than an inconvenience, use it as is, then buy your bigger boat.

If a break down and tow in is dangerous with where you typically boat, then bite the bullet and either buy your bigger boat now, or a new outdrive.

If you sell, simply disclose what you know about it and price it accordingly.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Alpha one opinion needed

If the gears are just pitted and not noisy I would just replace the seal and go for it. When you can hear the gears I would worry. But the bearings may be pitted too and that may be a different story with a shorter life span.

 

[todd d]

Re: Alpha one opinion needed

Thanks for the comments.

Ziggy, I had the local shop look at the drive, and they were the ones who told me the gears were pitted. I guess I need to pull it apart and see just how bad it is in there. It's either change the seal, or buy SEI, or nothing.

Fishermark, I'm not sure if the boat will meet all our needs. It worked great for tubing and skiing on the pond, but I would like to take it out on the sound for some fishing. They have three tow boats operating in town, so if I break down at sea it shouldn't be that long of a wait. An inconvenience, but not to dangerous.

CR2K, How big of a job is it to change just the oil seal? I'll have to get out the manual and start reading. If I can change the seal without having to mess with all the gears, shims, and bearings, then great. Otherwise I think I will drive it till it dies. A few more trips would help me decide if this is the right size boat for my needs.

Thanks
Todd

Todd

 

[badbowtie]

Re: Alpha one opinion needed

You can search around if you are not sure for a step by step to remove the drive. The only tool you need to replace the seal is a spanner wrench (I think that is what it is called) and a half inch drive torque wrench. You can borrow a torque wrench for free from autozone if you don't have one. For the spanner wrench you can see if their is a marine place around that will lend it to you. Really not that hard of a job to do.