How hard to replace the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals...86 Alpha 1

[paultjohnson]

I have been chasing gear oil leakage on my 86 Alpha1 gen 1. I was getting some gear oil leaking after using the boat.. Originally coming out of Stbd weep hole, and water intakes on lower unit. . Pressurized, and sprayed some soapy water on it and got bubbles around the water pump. Replaced base and seals, fixed. Now leakn again. And i am getting a tiny amnt of water in the gear oil. After almost every use I have been draining the gear oil, puttin my pressure tester on it, Normally it holds 15 lbs over nite. Last time it held 18 lbs for 3 days. But its just sittn, nothn turning. So its not leakin much. Some times not at all, sometimes i teaspoon in 2-3 days. I split the drive today,this time its coming down the drive shaft from where the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals are. I appears I can replace the lower seal without removing the u joint assem and upper bearing assembly. But to do the upper [ more important] seal, that has to come apart. NOW MY QUESTION... I can get my hands on the spanner wrench. Sooooooooo it it a DIY job ? Can I just take off the big retaining nut with the spanner wrench , remove the top cover. Take out the u joint assembly. Take out the upper bearing assembly from the top. Tap out the lower seal from the top. Tap out the upper seal from the bottom Replace the 2 seals. Drop the upper assem back in, put the u-joint assem back in, alinging up index marks, torque the retaining nut to 200 lbs. Replace the top cover , torque to 20 ft lbs and call it a done deal ? At the start of the season I had the upper bearing and race replaced, rolling torque set and all. I wanna know if i am overlooking something. My mechanic said its only about a half hr job, But I want it done yesterday not a week or more out. Busy season of course here in Mn.It looks relatively straight forward in the manual. but the manual covers TOTAL disassembly and reassembly. I just want to change the seals.. Sorry this is so long winded.... Any body ? Thx !!! BTW I am out of work, Not much $ on hand so I am looking for the inexpensive route until I can get the whole drive resealed....

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: How hard to replace the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals...86 Alpha

should work just fine. make sure to replace the O ring in the top cover.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: How hard to replace the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals...86 Alpha

should work just fine. make sure to replace the O ring in the top cover.

Thx Doc.... Will do........................So I am not over looking anything as far as you can tell I guess, Kool..........

 

[fat fanny]

Re: How hard to replace the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals...86 Alpha

Make sure you get the torque back on the retaining nut I didn't have the spanner wrench so I welded a socket onto the end of one I made and it worked just fine.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: How hard to replace the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals...86 Alpha

Make sure you get the torque back on the retaining nut I didn't have the spanner wrench so I welded a socket onto the end of one I made and it worked just fine.

How did you make one ? Any chance you could post a pic ??? Thx

 

[Don S]

Re: How hard to replace the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals...86 Alpha

should work just fine. make sure to replace the O ring in the top cover.

+1 with the above, the only thing I would add, is to use some red locktite on the outside of the seals when you install them in the housing, and also replace the quad ring between the upper and lower

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: How hard to replace the upper and lower drive shaft housing oil seals...86 Alpha

Thx Don and all