Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

[WAVENBYE2]

Ok maybe this will also help to show the Alpha One lower unit with the water intake vents on the sides that unscrew, then Gen1-Gen2 isn't set up that way. Well any way I said I would post pics.as soon as I can, and to help Identify the lower unit, wich I now believe is just an Alpha One irregaurdless of the year. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

I's an Alpha I, (NOT a Gen II) or at least what's left of an Alpha I.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

Thanks Don, ya I have to pull it, I know!! guess it was my turn.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

Ayuh,.... Whatcha been Dredgin',..?? Might be time for an SEI....

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

Ayuh,.... Whatcha been Dredgin',..?? Might be time for an SEI....

I agree totally!

 

[skippy867]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

that had to be one hell of a sound and thud!!!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

out of curiosity. are ya gonna continue to run with a whale tail?

i hit something on the river a few years ago. the whale tail i had broke my anti vent plate too. i've been w/o a whale tail ever since....

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

No Jim am not going to put one back, the only reason I left it on was I drilled the holes and it was already in place, so I just left it, I was thinking about Smart TABS,http://www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabs.htm I have always wanted to put them on, but not with the whale tail too. I brought the boat in to a guy who has some used lower units and he said that he refuses to touch SEI's, says there is a reason that there is a 3yr warranty and that they are not perfectly fitted for the alpha ones and I would regret putting one on, He says he will only use origanal mercruiser part if I was smart and wanted it done right. I would like to hear advice from every one hear, What do you think Jim?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

What kind of warranty is he giving you for the used drives?
3 years .,no matter what with SEI. The internals are just as reliable as OEM,
Even if you forgot to raise it at the ramp , your covered.Initially,when they were introduced there was a issue with the paint quality.but have since fixed it.I`ve installed quite a few, uppers,lowers, 2 counter-rotating.Can`t tell the difference except in the price paid.No matter whose drive system were talking, it`s not designed to hit things and survive, nobody`s. That goes for outboards too.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

I brought the boat in to a guy who has some used lower units and he said that he refuses to touch SEI's, says there is a reason that there is a 3yr warranty and that they are not perfectly fitted for the alpha ones and I would regret putting one on, He says he will only use origanal mercruiser part if I was smart and wanted it done right.

Wow... I don't think i have ever, or will ever, tell a customer "If you were smart.... you'd do this or that"

Here's the deal dude... It's all about WHO gets the money up front and WHO pays later on if there is a problem.

I've challegened the SEI guys and they have been on the boards a few times to defend their products.

My 2 cents.....

1. Are they the exact same quality as Merc (and that goes for every dohickey inside of the drive and the aluminum housing itself).... No
2. Will they work for your every day, average joe boater..... Yes
3. Are they noisier than merc drives.... Extremely at first, then they quiet down after a while. You also need to plan on doing 1 or 2 gear oil changes in the first year of ownership of an SEI drive
4. Have I installed them satisfactory to the customer... Yes
5. Have I had any problems with SEI drives.... yes and no. Never had a problem with the drive itself... Only problems I've had are typicall stuff. Fishing line around propshaft ruining seal. Stuff like that is not an SEI issue, just normal boating life headaches.
6. My rule of thumb... If your boat is worth clearly less than 10K... going SEI is a no brainer. If your right around that number... it may be worthwhile to you to have your Merc drive rebuilt/replaced. If your clearly over 10K... stick with merc.

I do not sell SEI drives but I have installed them for customers. My other rule of thumb is this when it comes to parts... including SEI. If I supply the parts, I will warranty the parts an labor during the manufactorers warranty period for all parts.
If you supply the parts, and there is an issue, warranteed by whatever parts manufactorer or not, you will be charged for all time/labor it takes to resolve the issue.

So with your mechanic you got there... and the drive you got there... Personally I'd buy a complete SEI drive if you have a less than expensive boat. If the mechanic gives you crap then let him walk without your business and find another. I'll happily install SEI drives all day long but I am also VERY CLEAR about what I cover and what I don't.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

Thanks JustJason, I am not knocking it, he had an alpha one in stock, he said it was an alpha one gen II that I have, but as every one has pointed out and my own research too it's a Alpha one, two bolts on the sides(one one either side) But I am getting the new housing which is Identical to mine and new impeller for around $600.00 labor included in price, I said go with it, new seals too, he is using the guts from mine. research says, Don S even says and Ziggy and every one else according to S/N# OD461783 It's an Alpha One

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

Might be to late, but no insurance?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

i'm suspicious....

he had an alpha one in stock

that would be a good reason for the shop to want to sell you a oem part. he's in biz to make money and parts sitting on the shelf don't make money, they cost him money to have them sitting there. i go up to my local dealer and talk to them about sei drives and get nothing but a bunch of rhetoric about how bad sei is. of course he's a mercruiser dealer and wants to sell mercruisers, not sei.. from reading iboats for years. i've seen many with success stories using sei drives.

i'm still suspicious...

But I am getting the new housing which is Identical to mine and new impeller for around $600.00 labor included in price, I said go with it, new seals too, he is using the guts from mine.

i don't believe this is your housing, but the price is double what yer paying. http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_Pictures3.asp?dnbr=%2099964&ivar=images/CRUISER/99964/30070.png&inbr=2203&bnbr=110&bdesc=GEAR+HOUSING(DRIVESHAFT)+-+MR
item 1, $1191.58. i don't see an alpha 1 gen 1 or i'd have used that example. mr is close though. how's your shop getting away with such a cheap price for the new gear housing by it self. let alone the labor to go put your parts back in it?

two bolts on the sides(one one either side)

i'll be corrected if wrong. but bolts on the side is gen II. gen 1 and older have studs w/nuts.

good luck with your decision and i hope ya get back on the water asap...
sorry i'm so suspicious. i just find peoples motivations are not necessarily in the best interest of others.. self preservation ya know.....

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Finally have pics. of messed up lower unit!

Thanks BT doctur and ziggy and every one else, I have read the success stories about SEI, but for what they are asking at the shop $350.00 for the housing and it is the exact same as the one I have, Don even sent me pics on this post and showed the differance, and i have an alpha one, 3 hrs labor at $75.00 hr. plus a new impeller $45, well I am listening!!