alpha one vertical play

[delta1]

I was checking out the drive and noticed some play in the vertical direction. It appears that there is some slop where the pins go through the hydraulic cylinder mounts, both fore and aft. Is this normal wear, or do they all have this play in them? Possibly from the bouncing trailering gives it? Should I be concerned? Any repair to be made?

Thanks,
Paul

1993 alpha one mercruiser

 

[Bondo]

Re: alpha one vertical play

Ayuh,.....
It's possible the rubber donuts have degraded,....

How much play are we talking about,..??

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: alpha one vertical play

There should not be any, that is what the rubeer grommets are there for......
They do get old & dry out....​

 

[delta1]

Re: alpha one vertical play

Thanks for replying, I'll check the rubber mounts and try to measure the travel.

Paul

 

[Don S]

Re: alpha one vertical play

You have an Alpha I Gen II drive, and they don't have the rubber grommets like the Alpha I's and earlier. There should be thin plastic bushings inside the trim cylinders, if they are missing there will be about an 1/8" of slop.

Items #11 in the picture below.

 

[delta1]

Re: alpha one vertical play

Hi Don,

You are right, it is an alpha1 gen II. The plastic bushings look ok. The wear seems to be were part #10 goes through the gimbal ring (?) and not the cylinder rod ends. It appears most of the wear is at the gimbal end and a little bit of wear at the housing where the rod goes through at the aft end. There is about 1/4 inch of play maybe more when eyeballed at the rear of the skeg. Is this rod normally a snug fit through this area?

If this is abnormal could the wear be caused mostly by the bouncing the outdrive gets when trailering? Should one install a transom saver to stop this?

Paul

PS. I want to thank you all for your willingness to share your experiences and knowledge, it has helped on more than one occasion.

 

[Bondo]

Re: alpha one vertical play

Is this rod normally a snug fit through this area?

Ayuh,..... It's usually a Slip fit with little or no Play......

If this is abnormal could the wear be caused mostly by the bouncing the outdrive gets when trailering?

Unless you've racked up a couple hundred thousand miles on dirt roads.....
No.....

I'd sooner think there's some Corrosion going on......

 

[Don S]

Re: alpha one vertical play

It's definitly not normal. Like Bondo said, it's just a slip fit.
I would be removing the cylinders and looking at the gimbal ring and seeing if something is actually cracked or broken and not just worn.
Also, here is a link to the OEM service manual for your drive, you can access it for free. Just scroll over the manual outline and click on the section LETTER you want to open or save.