Alpha one outdrive

[brendanstl]

I just pulled my outdrive apart and I have a few question, it's a alpha one gen 1. First off how much oil should have been in it? I attached a picture below showing the only three gasket (one of them being stainless steel) that were below the pump housing but the rebuild kit shows six parts that should have been there, can anyone explain why this was? My last question is, should I replace the pump base as well since there was some melting on the impeller housing and it was run so long with the damaged impeller that the outdrive oil was pure black?

I did inspect everything else as far as how well the shafts turned and made sure there was no play in them or grinding and I think I'm going to check out the condition of the water pocket as well.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

1 Go to the Adults Section and download the proper manual for your drive, you`ll need it to identify the correct order for the gaskets.
On average it holds 1 - 1/2 Qts. but you fill from the bottom untill it comes out the top.No guesswork.If the pump base shows signs of melting ,it must be replaced because there are 2 seals the hold the oil in the drive

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

1 Go to the Adults Section and download the proper manual for your drive, you`ll need it to identify the correct order for the gaskets.
On average it holds 1 - 1/2 Qts. but you fill from the bottom untill it comes out the top.No guesswork.If the pump base shows signs of melting ,it must be replaced because there are 2 seals the hold the oil in the drive

Yes, I have the proper manual but I was just wondering why it only had three gaskets and if this was typical but I guess the person who did the last pump change missed a few steps and thats probably why the impeller was rubbing aat the top and bottom I know the oild is filled from the bottom but I was just wondering how much was supposed to be in there. Is there anything I can use to flush the outdrive clean before I put new oil in it?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

Do you have the Mercruiser Manual from the Adults Section?
Let it all drain out and you should be fine.
There is the correct base gasket for your application (3 supplied) , gasket below the steel plate and one above it(the ones with the curved end,and they are specific how there installed)
The gasket on the left you circled is for the Series 1 drive that uses a preload pin in the top of the lower drive shaft.is this what you have ?
no pin ,that is the later Mr,Alpha type and uses a different base gasket.

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

Do you have the Mercruiser Manual from the Adults Section?
Let it all drain out and you should be fine.
There is the correct base gasket for your application (3 supplied) , gasket below the steel plate and one above it(the ones with the curved end,and they are specific how there installed)
The gasket on the left you circled is for the Series 1 drive that uses a preload pin in the top of the lower drive shaft.is this what you have ?
no pin ,that is the later Mr,Alpha type and uses a different base gasket.

I have an M stamped on the end of my prop shaft if that helps any and it's an 89. And yes I think I have the proper manual from the ADULT section its manual #6

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

Then the base gasket circled is incorrect for your application

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

Then the base gasket circled is incorrect for your application

The three that I have circled are the gaskets that were in between the top housing and the base one of them being the stainless steel one.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

A, under SS plate
B SS plate
C above SS plate

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

A, under SS plate
B SS plate
C above SS plate

Ok, this helps a lot but I'm still confused of what the series 1 gasket is and the one extra one in the picture i posted.

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

This is an exact picture of what was ordered for me (not by my choice) from my local dealer. There is five gaskets here and it looks in the manual like there are only three gaskets that get used beside the ss one.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

From what I can see, the base appears to be Series1 type, the MR,Alpha has a flatter bottom where the seals are. You will have to remove your base and look at it or post a pic of it. The bases are not interchangable. If you have no pin on the driveshaft you use
Sierra 18-3420 ,If you have a pre load pin use Sierra 18-3417
These water pump kits also fit some of the Mercury outboards, the reason for the extra gaskets and O rings

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

From what I can see, the base appears to be Series1 type, the MR,Alpha has a flatter bottom where the seals are. You will have to remove your base and look at it or post a pic of it. The bases are not interchangable. If you have no pin on the driveshaft you use
Sierra 18-3420 ,If you have a pre load pin use Sierra 18-3417
These water pump kits also fit some of the Mercury outboards, the reason for the extra gaskets and O rings

Do you have a picture of what I should be looking for on the driveshaft?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

Page 3C-1 this link.The springloaded pin on the top of the shaft.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6C3R3.PDF
3B-20 shows the other type of base that does not have the pin on the shaft

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

LOL.... no wonder I didn't know what I was looking for because my outdrive is missing the pin, there is a spot for it but there is no pin and it does have an o-ring grove. Now the question is where is the pin, I looked in the shaft and in the upper housing and there is no pin.

Is it likely that someone didn't know what they were doing when they changed the pump last time and put the wrong one in because my base looks like the 3420 base and it has a hole in the shaft for the pin but no pin. My S/N number is 0C695871

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

When you remove the base from the drive, look inside and compare what you see with page3B-35 ,pic #4, "B" retainer.

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

When you remove the base from the drive, look inside and compare what you see with page3B-35 ,pic #4, "B" retainer.

Does this help any?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

That the MR,Alpha .It does not use the preload pin. Your kit should be 18-3320.The gaskets needed are the 4 in a line in my pic

 

[brendanstl]

Re: Alpha one outdrive

That the MR,Alpha .It does not use the preload pin. Your kit should be 18-3320.The gaskets needed are the 4 in a line in my pic

Thanks a lot Doctur!!!!!! I guess I can stop looking for the pre loaded pin.....LOL