Drive Problems?

[swansont]

I have a 1987 Sea Ray Monaco with a 454/Alpha 1. Had the boat out the last couple days, ran great till yesterday afternoon. I had just dropped a skier off and was throttling back, I could hear and feel a vibration. Checked the engine compartment, it was definitely coming from the drive somewhere. Limped back to dock, by the time I got there, I was down to a idle, the vibration was so bad. I could still give it gas and make it move though, enough to get it trailered. This drive was gone through by the previous owner three summers ago and only has about 20 hours on it since. I have always had outboards, I'm new to the I/Os, except for the last three years. I hydro-locked it last year, got away with no more than new water shutters and an oil change. What do you think I screwed up now?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Drive Problems?

I would pull the drive and inspect the u-joints and gimbal bearing for starters......J

 

[vipzach]

Re: Drive Problems?

I think J is right on, those two things are the first thing I would look at.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

Level of difficulty pulling the drive? I do most of the mechanical stuff on my older vehicles, but like it said, this drive would be new territory for me.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Drive Problems?

Look at this link, it will show how hard it is to pull the drive off. I am assuming it is a gen 1 drive. It is not that hard to pull off.<br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A2R3.PDF

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Drive Problems?

Easy, put helm in foreward, remove the two bolts from the trim ram, and slide it out. Remove the zinc, 3/8" allen. Remove allen under that 5/16". Remove the six 5/8" nuts. Drive should slide out. Try to set drive skeg on a piece of ply wood or hard surface before removal, this will make re-install much easier. ...J

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

Thanks for the replies and the link, I'm sure I'll be back on to let you know what I find, when I get a chance to work on it. Also in progress with replacing a electric fuel pump on my 1979 MGB.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

Drained the oil, definitely metal in there, real fine. Pulled the drive off, the drive shaft, u-joints and gimble all are fine. The upper gears that I could see under the plate were also fine. I am suspecting the lower unit, cheaper to buy another built unit or rebuild this one? Or should I investigate refitting with a complete bravo drive that is rated for the 330 hp of the 454?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Drive Problems?

Refitting with a Bravo is a big job, and will be very expensive. You will new to replace the transom plate & everything.<br />You sir, are one of the unlucky few that have a rare combo. 454s with Alpha was only done for a couple of years, and that was for good reason. They wear out behind those big high torque motors. I don;t know what size and style a Monaco is, but if it's big old heavy boat, the problem is compounded.<br />Get a remanned lower unit, and baby your boat as much as possible. And be prepared to replace it again if you keep it for many more years. Sorry.

 

[Don S]

Re: Drive Problems?

You are going to have to get the drive checked to find out what the problem is. You may have damage in the lower, but the small metal shaving go from upper to lower, so there may be damage to the bearings also.<br />Depending on what is wrong is what will determine the most cost affective method of repair or replacement.<br />Changing over to a Bravo drive isn't just pull off the Alpha drive and install a Bravo. You would need to pull the engine and replace the complete transom shield and exhaust Y for the Bravo drive.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

Thanks gents, for the replies, yes the boat is probably to heavy for the combo, it's a 21' cuddy, probably goes at least 4000#, without passengers. The 454 wasn't even an factory option for the boat, the original owner had it installed when the boat was new, don't know if it was somehow at the factory or at a dealer. I have a feeling that is why when I bought it from the second owner there was a brand new lower unit on it. Now that I know the bravo is not a realistic replacement I will have the outdrive checked and go from there.

 

[Olds Eddie]

Re: Drive Problems?

Before you pull the drive you might check the prop. I put the original stainless prop on my boat after hitting bottom with my new aluminum prop and damaging it, and had a vibration. I later had the prop hub spin and had to send it off for rebuild. When I got it back, it looked like new and the vibration was gone. <br />That is a lot of motor for an Alpha, but I understand that if you don't feed the throttle too quick it can take it.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

Thanks Eddie but this started light and got worse, to barely movable within 10 minutes. After doing reading these posts, it sounds very expensive and difficult to make the changeover to bravo. I will probably just end up getting a new alpha drive so I can sell it with a clear conscience. I wouldn't be able to restrain myself from flogging it, that's what I like to do when I boat, mostly skiing and tubing. Once I sell it I'll find something that will take a little more power. Hate to get rid of the Sea Ray, I really liked it.

 

[novicetech]

Re: Drive Problems?

Swansont, www.sterndriveengineering has those alpha one lowers for a heck of a price.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

I had to tweak the address a little but I found it. WOW, those are good prices, I couldn't find shipping charges, have you dealt with them?

 

[Vitalidle]

Re: Drive Problems?

I just ordered a Alpha 1 today from them. They are back ordered though. They won't ship mine till August 5th. They charged me $84.59 to ship to michigan. My local mechanic turned me on to this outfit. He has bought 2 so far without any problems so far this year. Hard to beat the price with a one year warrenty. Good luck.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

I checked with them and it will be around a $100 to ship a complete drive to N. Colorado. I'm ordering mine today, it's to bad they are back-ordered. Oh well, still will be plenty of summer left, give me time to send my prop off, have it checked to make sure it wasn't the culprit to begin with. Maybe I hit something and didn't realize it and has knocked it off just a hair. If I'm putting a new drive on, I don't want to take any chances.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

OK, I need some more advice. I called to order the drive and they don't carry the 1:32/1 ratio that is in mine. The closest they have is a 1:47/1 but the gal I talked to there said I would probably have to repitch my prop. This isn't a stock prop anyway, I don't even know what pitch it is, it's a five blade stainless steel. The original owner had the gears changed out before, I don't know what the stock gears were. Anybody out there knowledgable about any of this? Can I make the 1:47/1 work? Is prop pitch that critical after changing ratios? Advice?<br /><br />Oh, and if I did order one, they won't warranty it because of the 454, I wasn't that surprised on that. I still would like to do one of their drives, $1300 shipped can't be beat for a complete.

 

[rbezdon]

Re: Drive Problems?

swanson, can you post the corrected link?? I tried a couple of mods to the original but didnt connect with them.

 

[swansont]

Re: Drive Problems?

Here you go!<br />www.sterndrive.cc