alpha ujoint help

[mhirsch05]

hey all. i have been doing work on my boat to get her ready for the year and i noticed thaat the ujoint bellows are ripped. i shined a light inside and ure enough the ujoints have some surface rust. not sure if they are toast but i figured they better be change. i have heard from some this is easy. others tell me its almost impossible without 1000's of dollars worth of tools. what i would like to know is if it would be better to replace the ujoints themselves and gimbal bearing or would buying an assembled ujoint and shafts be easier. i have included a link to the assebly i am talking about. let me know what you think and any other stuff that i should fix while in there


http://www.amarket.com/im020ca.htm

 

[mhirsch05]

Re: alpha ujoint help

i should mention i am an automotive mechanic and have a large tool selection as well and have performed maintnance on this boat like impeller and prop so i have that knowledge

 

[Augoose]

Re: alpha ujoint help

I just changed my u-joints last year. If you are mechanically inclined and can follow directions, you can change the u-joints yourself with no special tools except a press, a grinder, and the ordinary tools you'd need if it were a car-wrench, etc. However, I can't comment on changing the bellows - haven't done it myself.

As for the u-joints, I watched some youtube videos in addition to reading the manual - helps having some visual examples to go along with the written instructions. Pull the drive and then you have access to the u-joints. Test them first before replacing to avoid unecessary work. Just like in a car, do they twist and turn freely and without binding? Grease them up and you may be good to go.

If you have to pull them, remove the c-clips and then begin pressing out the outside u-joint which is accessible. You'll then notice that you need a bearing wrench to remove the bearing nut to get access to the remaining inside u-joint. Or, do like I did and follow Don's instructions that were just posted yesterday on the forum - it explains how to grind down just two corners of the bearing nut just a bit so you can get access to press out the last u-joint.

Its not a bad job. I used Spicer u-joints with the grease fittings from AdvanceAuto on mine. Good luck!

 

[dn010]

Re: alpha ujoint help

I changed mine with a 6" bench vice and a few sockets... I've changed all my u-joints this way in fact with no problems.

 

[mhirsch05]

Re: alpha ujoint help

you both have boosted my confidence greatly. i was considering selling the boat cause of this until i read your replies. im gonna try and tackle this tomorrow im hoping. anything else you can think of replacing while im in there?

 

[mkast]

Re: alpha ujoint help

Have you tried the factory manual for your drive?

 

[Don S]

Re: alpha ujoint help

you both have boosted my confidence greatly. i was considering selling the boat cause of this until i read your replies. im gonna try and tackle this tomorrow im hoping. anything else you can think of replacing while im in there?

The bellows, the gimbal bearing, and check your drive for water intrusion. You may want to consider changing just the ujoints, not the complete assembly you linked to. You are also going to need an alignment bar, and the spanner wrench to remove the retainer to replace the front seal in the drive.
If you actually have an Alpha I drive, here is a link to the OEM service manual you can download for free. http://www.4shared.com/document/zz_5pj9o/Service_Manual_06.html

 

[Augoose]

Re: alpha ujoint help

Don, for my own knowledge, can you confirm whether the alignment bar is only necessary because he'll be replacing the gimbal bearing, or is there a need for the alignment bar due to swapping u-joints?
thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: alpha ujoint help

The alignment bar is going to be necessary to not only align the gimbal bearing to the coupler, but also to verify the alignment of the coupler (engine alignment) is also correct. The alignment can go out by mount failure, either rear or front, or even a front side mount comming loose.
Basically, if you own and work on your own boat, an alignment bar is just one of those tools you need. Kinda like a spark plug wrench, or a pump to put gear lube in the drive. You just need it, because an out of alignment engine causes coupler failure, and that, causes you to pull the engine to replace it. your choice.

 

[aldfaa]

Re: alpha ujoint help

I cannot comment on a alignment as have not yet performed one, but the outdrive service is easy enough. My mechanical background is attending/completing an aviation maintenance program then a few years as an industrial mechanic. I have been a desk jock for the last 4 years and have not touched an aircraft since completeing the program. IF I can do it so can you!

 

[Augoose]

Re: alpha ujoint help

The alignment bar is going to be necessary to not only align the gimbal bearing to the coupler, but also to verify the alignment of the coupler (engine alignment) is also correct. The alignment can go out by mount failure, either rear or front, or even a front side mount comming loose.
Basically, if you own and work on your own boat, an alignment bar is just one of those tools you need. Kinda like a spark plug wrench, or a pump to put gear lube in the drive. You just need it, because an out of alignment engine causes coupler failure, and that, causes you to pull the engine to replace it. your choice.

Thanks Don!

 

[Plotus]

Re: alpha ujoint help

I went ahead and bought a pivot pin tool ..... and I'll toss it in the tool box when I get it all I really needed was a 1/2" allen socket which I already had. Thought you guys ought to know and save a buck.