Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

[JOHN_T_65202]

Looking for some secrets here. I am trying to take off the lower unit on my Alpha 1 to change the water pump. I have all the nuts & bolts off but the unit is "Frozen" on. Celoc's manual says that it may be this way if it has not been off for awhile but they don't give any suggestions for loosening it. I was wondering if anybody here could help?

 

[rad1026]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Make sure the shift lever is in forward. Put a soft board, 2x4 maybe under the lower unit and lift up the outdrive and drop it a few inches on to the board. Sometimes it take a pretty good effort the first time. If you can get it to move a little then you can start with a thin putty knife and start prying a little. DO NOT!!!! try to pull it off using another vehicle, winch or anything like that. It will come off, don't get frustrated.

 

[JoChek219]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

did you try putting the drive in Forward ?

 

[rad1026]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Oooops, just reread your post, you are trying to take off the lower unit, sorry. Let wait and see if anyone else chimes in. I'm going to do the same thing this weekend.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

you probably don't have all the bolts out... did you remove the trim tab and get the one up under the trim tab off??

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

As mentioned, make sure you have all the nuts / bolts off. One trick is to put a spacer of some sort above the nuts and as you turn them to loosen and take them off, they will push on the top of the upper. Easy to do, hard to describe!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Here's a pic to show what I am talking about:

 

[JustJason]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

its 5 nuts and 2 bolts holding the thing together... do you have 5 and 2 in front of you?

 

[manofprawnz]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Love the spacer idea, had a real hard time getting my units to separate. Once I got a tiny separation at the leading edge, was able to work it with a thin blade, lots of WD40. Once you finally get some movement it should come apart fairly soon after. My problem was probably 2 fold: I had a lot of corrosion along the studs, should have worked on that, picked it clean, and secondly had the o-ring jammed up into the other shaft. Good luck, just keep working it.

 

[JOHN_T_65202]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

I have 3 nuts & 2 allen head bolts. Those are the only ones listed in the seloc manual. However I did not put the unit in forward gear. I will try that today.

 

[Don S]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Those are the only ones listed in the seloc manual.
However I did not put the unit in forward gear. I will try that today.

It's not required to put drive in forward to remove the lower from the upper. That is for removing the drive from the boat.
Here is the section of manual you should be using.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6B3R3.PDF
Go to page 3B-12

Here is the link to the whole manual.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf
Just click on the section letter you want to view.

 

[JOHN_T_65202]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Thanks, I think I see the problem now. The two nuts on the underside were not mentioned in the Seloc manual.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Thanks, I think I see the problem now. The two nuts on the underside were not mentioned in the Seloc manual.

Aren't Seloc manuals just wonderful!

 

[JustJason]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Funny... how did you see the one under the trim tab but not see those...

 

[JOHN_T_65202]

Re: Can't get lower unit loose Alpha 1 stern drive

Funny... how did you see the one under the trim tab but not see those...

Well, I actually saw them but, thought they came off with lower unit.

 

[JOHN_T_65202]

Thank You Everybody.

Thank You Everybody.

Thank You everyone for your input. Because of you I have probably saved alot of bucks because I would probably kept trying to pry it apart with 2 nuts still fastened!

 

[JustJason]

Re: Thank You Everybody.

Re: Thank You Everybody.

Sterndrives usually don't stick to often.... its the damn outboards with 30 inch shafts that like to freeze themselves in the couplers....
Had a johnshon 250 that was a bear to drop last year... It was a nightmare to get back up... but i eventually got it.