Alpha overhaul, is it rocket science?

[bobuk]

Hi People, I am considering overhauling my Alpha one stern drives myself, but am plagued by the thought of water coming in the stern on craning the boat back in the water, or nasty graunching sounds when operating them! I have worked on car engines before succesfully, but is it a tad ambitious to expect to overhaul these and get it right first time? It also seems from the manual (seloc, but i'd get a proper one) that there are various mercruiser tools required to complete the job. THis being the case would i be better of getting a qualified engineer to do the servicing ( they are as common as rocking horse crap in the uk). I know i would get advice from you guys if i needed it. The sterndrives are approx 1988 with a patchy service history so i expect they wont be in the best condition.
thanks in advance Bob

 

[tommays]

Re: Alpha overhaul, is it rocket science?

Resealing can be done DIY with some of the tools as you do not need to reshim BUT it is still pretty involved


Once you need to change bearings or other parts that affect the shims more and more special tools become required at a very high cost


Tommays

 

[stevieray]

Re: Alpha overhaul, is it rocket science?

Bob - cheerio, pip-pip & all that. Why not look into remanufactured units? For 1988 vintage drives, if they have been kept in the water for any length of time, the amount of effort required to disassemble & clean up may not be worth it. Try here at iboats or ebasicpower.com for starters if you want to look at remans.

 

[bobuk]

Re: Alpha overhaul, is it rocket science?

Thanks for that guys, I think the cost of getting stern drives into the UK could be costly, unless the new hand luggage rules dont apply. And Stevie, I was forced to see Breakback Mountain so I know where your cowboys get the phrase "raw hide"!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha overhaul, is it rocket science?

"is it rocket science?"

No,.........

But it's a Precision piece of Machinery,....
That Requires several Special Tools to Do it up Right............
And,........
A Factory Shop Manual,...........
An Aftermarket Book is Not a substitute................................