Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

[rhillman75]

I am getting ready to do a complete bellows job on my Mercruiser outdrive, but I can't find the "right" seal kit for my upper shift. I noticed the upper shift shaft was leaking down the to lower shift shaft last year so I was going to replace it it, but all can find is "single" part numbers. Is there any "kit", or is it just one seal? Serial numbers are below if anyone has the information.

 

[Don S]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

Are you referring to the shift shaft in the bellhousing, or in the lower unit of the outdrive?

 

[rhillman75]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

I am needing the bell housing side. I just had the marina do the lower unit while they had it. But like I said... I could visibly see the gear oil coming down the upper shaft on the bell housing side, so I figured I would replace that since it is al broen down anyway.

 

[Don S]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

Not sure how you have an oil leak, that shift shaft goes through the exhaust passage and into the passage for the shift linkage going to the cable. There shouldn't be any oil in either passage.

 

[achris]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

I am needing the bell housing side. I just had the marina do the lower unit while they had it. But like I said... I could visibly see the gear oil coming down the upper shaft on the bell housing side, so I figured I would replace that since it is al broen down anyway.

The only way I can see gear oil appearing on that shaft is from when the drive was re-installed on the bell housing. There is a valve that connects the dive oil to the reservoir and it often drips a bit as you slide the drive back on. It could easily be the oil you're seeing. As Don said, no oil either side of that seal.

Chris.......

 

[rhillman75]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

Someone sent me a pretty good picture from this forum about this but I can't find it. It showed a picture of basically you laying down on your back and looking up at the upper shift coupling going in the lower shift shaft foot and there was a steady trickle of oil that came from the upper shaft down to make it "look" like the lower unit was leaking. The leak produced a 6" round pattern on the concrete over a 8-10 hour period of time. The oil was definately travelling down from the upper shift shaft. Like I said, I can't find the picture I was sent, but it is exactly what I have going on. I am questioning if it is the actually bushing and double seal the upper shift seal rides in. I read on another forum a guy had a similiar problem on another Alpha One Gen 2 of the same year and he was having the same leaking issue. My other question is probably simpler. When I go to buy all the parts this weekend, I don't see alot of Mercruiser O.E.M. parts on iBoats. Which aftermarket supplier is the MOST trusted?

 

[Pete104]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

Sounds more like the shift seal assy in the GEARCASE.

 

[achris]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

Someone sent me a pretty good picture from this forum about this but I can't find it. ....

This one perhaps....

 

[rhillman75]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

Photo looks similiar, but the upper foot and lower shaft were more oil. I have included a revised photo of where it looked like mine was leaking and down the the lower shaft then down the front of the lower unit (while it was in "trailer position") and dripping from the front of the skeggard. By the way... anyone have thoughts as to what aftermarket brand of parts to use if I can't find Merc O.E.M. parts on iBoats?

 

[Don S]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

That bushing doesn't even have a seal. The only thing that can come out of it is what is in the exhaust. With the engine not running, it should be nothing more that water.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

from what and where you describe a leak, the upper carrier seal in the drive is leaking.

 

[achris]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

Photo looks similiar, but the upper foot and lower shaft were more oil. I have included a revised photo of where it looked like mine was leaking and down the the lower shaft then down the front of the lower unit (while it was in "trailer position") and dripping from the front of the skeggard. By the way... anyone have thoughts as to what aftermarket brand of parts to use if I can't find Merc O.E.M. parts on iBoats?.

Mr Hillman,

I think for the purposes of this thread (and all others) you need to get your terminology correct. There is no 'foot', upper or lower, and I think the shaft you are referring to is the intermediate shift shaft, not the lower. That shaft engages with the upper shift shaft, which runs through a bushing and seal, then a bushing in the bell housing. Do you have the factory service manual? If so, please read it, look at the exploded diagrams and refer to parts by the name given to them by the manufacturer. If not, -> http://www.4shared.com/document/dPQUcyn_/Service_Manual_14.html

 

[achris]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

from what and where you describe a leak, the upper carrier seal in the drive is leaking.

No, that would put oil in the bellows, not the exhaust cavity...

 

[dubs283]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

have you pulled the drive to inspect the inside of the exhaust cavity of the bellhousing and other areas to locate the oil leak??

sierra brand is the closest you will find to oem for aftermarket, sold here on i-boats - any part with an 18- prefix is sierra brand

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

No, that would put oil in the bellows, not the exhaust cavity...

unless the gasket was damaged and its leaking oil into the shift cable area ,or the rubber sealing ring is misplaced.

 

[Don S]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

How would the oil get from the ujoint bellows area into the shift cable area?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

not having the rubber ring sealing correctly will allow gear oil into the shift cable area.
can be confirmed by finding oil in the bellows.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

I believe from your description the seal kit that you are looking for is #6 here: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...7753.png&inbr=1942&bnbr=90&bdesc=BELL+HOUSING That is the seals for the upper shift shaft. I believe they are designed to keep water from entering the upper chamber from the exhaust chamber. As stated by others there should be no oil in that chamber. You will have to pull the outdrive to see what is going on.

 

[Don S]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

So let me get this right, the front seal of the drive has to leak and get oil into the ujoint bellows, at the same time, the large quad ring (item 3 in stonyloams post above) without water and oil mix getting into the engine compartment. That section with the shift cable in it usually have water in them, they shouldn't but it's very common when that seal (stonies #6 item). Then the oil and water mixture has to travel down the shift shaft, and out the bottom bushing that DOES NOT have a seal.

Sounds like a lot of things have to be bad at the same time for gear lube to leak out of that bottom bushing.

 

[rhillman75]

Re: Locating a shift shaft seal kit for 96 Alpha One Generation 2???

I did get the drive fixed by the marina. It turned out to be 2 seals causing the leak. The shift shaft seal was leaking and the carrier assembly. Hopefully I have solved the oil spots on the driveway. Total cost for repair was just over $225.00.