alpha1gen2 leaks

[lucky7]

hi all i have an alpha1 gen2 2006 that has a puddle of drive lube coming off the skeg. seems to be coming off the leading edge, and its not wet up near the bullet. could it be coming from the speedo intake tube? is this a common issue or did i maybe crack my case over the winter? i thought i winterized properly, but live and learn i guess. if i pull the dric\ve off at the 6 nuts post gimble housing do i need to pull the bellows off?
thanks for any insight.

 

[Don S]

Re: alpha1gen2 leaks

You should have pulled the outdrive during the winterization to check alignment, check the bellows for water, lube ujoints and check/lube the gimbal bearing. Did you change the oil in the drive during winterization? Did you replace the gaskets on the plugs?
Time to pull the outdrive, drain the gear lube and do a pressure check of the drive.
Don't forget to put the control in forward gear to pull the outdrive, and go up to the Adults only sticky and download the manual before you pull the drive. You want #14 for the Gen II drive.

 

[achris]

Re: alpha1gen2 leaks

After you have done that, check that the fill screw and its washer are intact.

Chris.....

 

[ziggy]

Re: alpha1gen2 leaks

check that the fill screw and its washer are intact

and that there is not two of them in place. my 1 drive loves to leave the old seal behind in the drive and has to be pried, picked, whatever, out of the drive.

 

[lucky7]

Re: alpha1gen2 leaks

thanks for the quick replys. i did drain and fill the oils last fall. didnt pull the drive. i am hoping nothing is cracked, as i flushed out the system with a/f. if its leaking lube out the speedo hole might an impeller job do it? or could it be anything above it?

 

[Don S]

Re: alpha1gen2 leaks

An impeller replacement is not going to fix an oil leak. If you actually have oil coming out of the speedometer hole, the only way it could get there is with a bad shift shaft bushing seal, or I should say seals as there are two. an oring for the oil side and one for the water side. The only other way would be a cracked case, but I doubt that even more.
Do like I suggested. Pull the drive,drain the gear lube, and do a pressure test. Use some soapy water in a spray bottle all over the drive and look for bubbles.

 

[lucky7]

Re: alpha1gen2 leaks

THANK all for the quick support. upon further inspection its the drain plug. kinda embarissing , but i'll take the good luck. the drive is factory assembled, and i was afraid to pull it, maintenance it and put it back together correctly. it has 120 hours in 2 seasons of use, cools fine. sorry to take up your time on such a minor issue. here is a nice picture.

 

[Don S]

Re: alpha1gen2 leaks

but i'll take the good luck. the drive is factory assembled, and i was afraid to pull it, maintenance it and put it back together correctly.

Your good luck might not stay good if you don't start doing the maintenance on it. If, the engine was not aligned properly when new, or a motor mount came loose or something was off a little bit. You could end up destroying your coupler. Then you will have to pull the engine out of the boat to replace it.
I't not hard or expensive to pull the drive and to the maintenance. but it is difficult to pull the engine and expnsive to replace a coupler.