Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

[nowwhat!]

Hi,

Noob here, I have an alpha circa mid 80's drive that was had a mess of oil come out when I removed the drive. I am assuming that this is supposed to be there to protect the gimble bearing? When I reinstall, what weight oil do I use, and how do I fill it?

Thanks

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Ooops! That oil is not supposed to be there! It is from your outdrive and indicates you have a yoke shaft seal failure (where the driveshaft enters the outdrive). Need to pressure test your drive to confirm. What did the drive oil look like when you drained it (if you have drained it yet). Hopefully only oil came out and water did not get in (if there was no evidence of water in the drive bellows along with the oil, you may be ok in the bellows department.). The only thing that should be in the drive bellows is residual grease from U-joints and from the gimbal bearing. By the way, how do your U-joints look/feel?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

The gimbal bearing has a ZERK fitting outside the bellhousing to pump grease directly into the bearing. (should be on the starboard side)

If you have the drive on... and grease the bearing, you never know when it is full and could fill the bellows with grease without knowing. I always top off the gimbal with the drive off, give it a spin with my fingers and then hit it again.

IF the bellows are full It could ALSO be water getting into there which would be a bad thing.

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Ya, I haven't pressure tested anything, I was pulling it off a parts boat to have a spare. I am totally frustrated with these POS mercruisers! A mercruiser mechanic has the most secure job in the world I think. I have been trying to piece together a engine outdrive from various sources and it has proven to be extremely difficult. Mostly because of my limited knowledge of all the various changes in mercruisers designs. I have wasted so much money on parts that turn out to be completely useless to me!

 

[Don S]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

I am totally frustrated with these POS mercruisers! I have been trying to piece together a engine outdrive from various sources and it has proven to be extremely difficult. Mostly because of my limited knowledge of all the various changes in mercruisers designs.

Let's get this straight, you have a boat that is almost 30 years old, you are trying to piece together with used parts from all over, and because parts are upgraded yearly with newer models that are better that suddenly it's their fault?

Name me one thing that is the same as it was 30 years ago. Your car? TV? phone? Computers? none of them takes the same parts year to year.

I have wasted so much money on parts that turn out to be completely useless to me!

That is because you are buying the wrong or defective parts, that's your fault, not Mercruisers :facepalm:

 

[scarpint]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Ya, I haven't pressure tested anything, I was pulling it off a parts boat to have a spare. I am totally frustrated with these POS mercruisers! A mercruiser mechanic has the most secure job in the world I think. I have been trying to piece together a engine outdrive from various sources and it has proven to be extremely difficult. Mostly because of my limited knowledge of all the various changes in mercruisers designs. I have wasted so much money on parts that turn out to be completely useless to me!

Easy there chief...you might get some pushback from the forum for equating MC with a POS. kinda like my gear and I'm a nabob. So, take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and then post specific questions that will get answered by MC enthusiasts who might not want to hear insulting comments, no?

 

[scarpint]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?



Oops. Too late.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

If you tell us what engine you have and the year. or even better... the serial number off the metal tag stamped to the block, we can tell you what ratio you need and what drive will match up.

There's good and bad for everything.... Fords, Chevys, Mercruisers. The bottom line is how well was it maintained. Not any of the manufactures faults all owner.

Video on how to fill an outdrive with lube... Ignore the monitor in step#2 in the boat ...you won't have it, but the rest is the same up to 6:32 then stop.

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Easy there chief...you might get some pushback from the forum for equating MC with a POS. kinda like my gear and I'm a nabob. So, take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and then post specific questions that will get answered by MC enthusiasts who might not want to hear insulting comments, no?

Definitely vastly more difficult/complicated learning all of the mercruiser nuances than it is to put an outboard on and go. BTW to the MC enthusiasts, thank you very much for helping me with my frustrating endeavor, your knowledge is invaluable.

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Easy there chief...you might get some pushback from the forum for equating MC with a POS. kinda like my gear and I'm a nabob. So, take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and then post specific questions that will get answered by MC enthusiasts who might not want to hear insulting comments, no?

Ok, provided I haven't insulted everyone to the point of not helping me here is my current predicament. I had what I thought was a alpha transom assembly/gimble, I bought a batwing style exhaust to match it because the exhaust I had did not allow for the power steering cylinder to be mounted. Further I bought my 2nd parts boat to get the serpentine belt brackets and pulleys so I could mount a merc power steering pump. The parts boat had an alpha transom/outdrive, I pulled it off for spare parts, it was the one with the oil in the bellows.. Well when I went to bolt up the new exhaust to what I thought was an alpha I found out it doesn't fit! Must be a MR. The PO told me he had the transom assembly completely rebuilt so I really wanted to use it. My question is how hard is it to take all the parts from the MR and move them to the Alpha? Is it even possible? Sorry for the long confusing post but my problems are all long and confusing!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Hi,

Noob here, I have an alpha circa mid 80's drive that was had a mess of oil come out when I removed the drive. I am assuming that this is supposed to be there to protect the gimble bearing? When I reinstall, what weight oil do I use, and how do I fill it?

Thanks

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... All that oil means, the big seal at the top of the drive is gone, 'n the drive's oil puked into the bellows...

It Ain't supposed to be there,... alittle bit of purged grease is all you should see,.....

Water, 'n/ or oil is Bad....

Check out the Adults Only section at the top of this forum,...

It's a treasure trove of Great Info compiled by Don,... Mercruiser Info, like you wouldn't believe,...

What's the motor, 'n drive yer tryin' to resurrect,..??

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Ok, provided I haven't insulted everyone to the point of not helping me here is my current predicament. I had what I thought was a alpha transom assembly/gimble, I bought a batwing style exhaust to match it because the exhaust I had did not allow for the power steering cylinder to be mounted. Further I bought my 2nd parts boat to get the serpentine belt brackets and pulleys so I could mount a merc power steering pump. The parts boat had an alpha transom/outdrive, I pulled it off for spare parts, it was the one with the oil in the bellows.. Well when I went to bolt up the new exhaust to what I thought was an alpha I found out it doesn't fit! Must be a MR. The PO told me he had the transom assembly completely rebuilt so I really wanted to use it. My question is how hard is it to take all the parts from the MR and move them to the Alpha? Is it even possible? Sorry for the long confusing post but my problems are all long and confusing!

Ayuh,.... Paragraphs would do Wonders friend....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Ok, provided I haven't insulted everyone to the point of not helping me here is my current predicament.

I had what I thought was a alpha transom assembly/gimble, I bought a batwing style exhaust to match it because the exhaust I had did not allow for the power steering cylinder to be mounted.

That was yer waste of money, they're an engine failure waitin' to happen,... DON"T use 'em...
Get 2 piece sets...

Further I bought my 2nd parts boat to get the serpentine belt brackets and pulleys so I could mount a merc power steering pump. The parts boat had an alpha transom/outdrive, I pulled it off for spare parts, it was the one with the oil in the bellows..

For the serp belt,..??
Well when I went to bolt up the new exhaust to what I thought was an alpha I found out it doesn't fit! Must be a MR. The PO told me he had the transom assembly completely rebuilt so I really wanted to use it. My question is how hard is it to take all the parts from the MR and move them to the Alpha? Is it even possible? Sorry for the long confusing post but my problems are all long and confusing!

I still wanta know What yer Startin' with,..??

The y-pipes have changed,. 'n you DON'T want those manifolds,... they're Junk...

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

I still wanta know What yer Startin' with,..??

The y-pipes have changed,. 'n you DON'T want those manifolds,... they're Junk...

Yes there seems to be several different y pipes, I own/bought all of them except for the correct one!lol I am using center riser volvo manifolds/risers that are brand new.

To further shed light or make things confusing, I have an 5.7 volvo with all mercruiser parts installed except for the manifolds. The donor engine was a 98 mercruiser 2bbl with serpentine and thunderbolt v, I managed to swap everything and get it running nicely with a few mod's to the serp brackets. serial number is 0k019098.

The original outdrive serial number is OC582279, I don't know where/how/if there is a transom assembly number? I believe I was told it was an alpha, but time and the wrong expensive parts have led me to believe it is an MR. More hair pulling!

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

i guess I should further clarify that I bought the boat without an engine but the PO was setting it up for a GM 350 with the "MR" outdrive.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

You have a boat that was originally setup for Volvo and someone "started" to convert to Merc and you are blaming Merc for your problems?

:facepalm:

 

[Bondo]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

i guess I should further clarify that I bought the boat without an engine but the PO was setting it up for a GM 350 with the "MR" outdrive.

Ayuh,... I'm gettin' more, 'n More confused,....

Bat-wing manifolds fit the 4.3l, 'n you say you've got a 350, 'n a boat set up for the V8,..??

What's the Question again, anyways,..??

The MC-1, R drive, MR drive, 'n Alpha 1 are all reasonably interchangeable, to a point,...

I just can't see where yer headed... Where's the goalposts in this contest,..??

 

[Don S]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Go buy a boat that works and is in good shape. It's cheaper than what you are doing or trying to do.

You are trying (without success) to buy a bunch of cheap used parts to make a running boat. That's the most expensive way anyone could do it, even with used parts and buying the right (GOOD) used parts.
Without understanding what you are doing, how the systems work together, and having some basic marine skills, you don't stand a chance in ell of making that boat useable.

 

[nowwhat!]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

Go buy a boat that works and is in good shape. It's cheaper than what you are doing or trying to do.

You are trying (without success) to buy a bunch of cheap used parts to make a running boat. That's the most expensive way anyone could do it, even with used parts and buying the right (GOOD) used parts.
Without understanding what you are doing, how the systems work together, and having some basic marine skills, you don't stand a chance in ell of making that boat useable.

I consider myself fairly handy, i have owned, outfitted, and maintained several boats in the last 20 years without the intervention of a mechanic.

My failing here is definately a lack of knowledge of mercruisers, i/o's and grossly underestimating the cost to fill in the gaps. I guess there's a reason so many people convert and put an outboard on.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Can Someone Please Explain The Alpha Gimble Oiling System To Me?

I still don't understand how outboards are cheaper. You just throw out the old and put on a new one. That would get expensive. The problem you are facing is that you have an I/O that someone messed up. If it was still a Volvo setup it would be easy to fix.