Lower unit repair and identification

[DanD34]

Alpha One Gen One 3.0. Lower unit apparently hit something on the lower part toward the front and got cracked and previous owner did a cobbled repair. However, never leaked oil and after doing input shaft seal repair a year ago I pressure tested outdrive and it held 12 psi for 36 hours until I just let the air out. Fast forward to this year. Still no leaks until suddenly a week ago started leaking from old repair while parked for the winter. There is no water inside. Oil was replaced last fall after last outing. Anyway..two questions
1. Can this be professionally repaired for example by a prop shop or other welder or is it best to replace?
2. If best to replace, how do I look at a lower unit and tell if its a genuine mercruiser and not aftermarket?
Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Generally speakin',.... That sorta repair requires strippin' it down to the bare case,....
Labor to put it back together bein' what it is,...
Replacement with an aftermarket lower unit is probably considerably cheaper,.....

Whether it's Oem, or aftermarket don't really matter does it,..??

 

[DanD34]

Ayuh,..... Generally speakin',.... That sorta repair requires strippin' it down to the bare case,....
Labor to put it back together bein' what it is,...
Replacement with an aftermarket lower unit is probably considerably cheaper,.....

Whether it's Oem, or aftermarket don't really matter does it,..??

It matters if the aftermarket is junk. Are they reliable? I hear both ways.

 

[racerone]

You have to wonder how they can make the replacement aftermarket stuff and sell it for those prices.----All assembled with parts made in a far away place.---A place where I worked at one time gets drawings in for parts to be precision made.----Often a note on the drawing says ----" no material sourced from overseas to be used in making this part "-----All steel and aluminum looks the same.-----All tires are black , but they are not all the same.-----Should be lots of genuine Mercruiser stuff around used.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Lots of folks on iboats have bought SEI replacement drives and it seems the vast majority of them have been pretty happy with them. Also, the SEI drives have a pretty strong warranty and good customer service, so if you do have trouble, you have support.

 

[Bondo]

Lots of folks on iboats have bought SEI replacement drives and it seems the vast majority of them have been pretty happy with them. Also, the SEI drives have a pretty strong warranty and good customer service, so if you do have trouble, you have support.

Ayuh,..... Exactly,....... I've had no problems with 'em, that wouldn't be the same problem with an Oem,......