Mercruiser outdrive installation questions

[Cptkid570]

Hey everyone, <br />2 quick questions regarding the installation of an Alpha One mercruiser outdrive:<br /><br />1. Are the 6 bolts long enough whereas you can put the outdrive onto the bolts, then install the driveshaft, and then slide the outdrive up the bolts? Or are they too short and the driveshaft has to go into the coupler first and then you put the outdrive onto the bolts/lugs?<br /><br />2. Has anyone ever heard of any rental tool places that rent the alignment tool?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Mercruiser outdrive installation questions

1 no, rest the skag on a block to support the unit while slideing the shaft in.<br />2 Some marinas will rent or even lend you one if you deal with them

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Mercruiser outdrive installation questions

Thank you!

 

[trog100]

Re: Mercruiser outdrive installation questions

the block of wood at exactly the right height is the secret.. it needs laying lengthways so as u can put the drive up on it far enough back to get the shaft in then jiggle the whole lot (along the block of wood dont try and tilt it) slowly forward..<br /><br />a friendly word (the promise of a tip) to a paid employee (not the boss) sometimes produces the odd tool.. it did in my case.. he he..<br /><br />the snags i encountered replacing my drive recently.. the little water passage O-ring fell out and was nearly missed.. it fell in the used oil container.. i split the unit just enough to slide it back in.. <br /><br />the (very thin) sides of the gasket squidged out and actually split.. the gasket had a little red ring all round it.. i thought this was sealing compound at first but it was a hardish plastic material that caused the gasket to split as it was tightened.. again i slightly opened up the joint and pushed it in place while nipping the bolts up..<br /><br />both my "snags" if not noticed could have let water in the gimbal u/joint area and caused expensive problems farther down the line.. both seem highly likely to happen if not double checked..<br /><br />trog

 

[dk6164]

Re: Mercruiser outdrive installation questions

Not to get off the subject or anything but, why do they want the gasket to split when you install it?<br />Does it seal better?

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser outdrive installation questions

Merc didn't design it to split the gasket, the red ring on the gasket is to help it seal, and ANY paper gasket is a one time use item anyway and should never be reused. Same goes with that rubber ring gasket (a in the pic below), one use only. If the ring gets out of place, it will allow water into the bellows, and then the problems get expensive. The gasket kit for installing the Alpha drive is only about $8 as I recall.<br /><br />

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser outdrive installation questions

Ayuh,...........<br /><br />I've been seeing posts about Squishing Out the Gasket,..............I've Never had a Problem with these gaskets,..........<br /><br />It's My Belief that People are just Over-Tightening the Nuts,.........<br />They're 7/16th nuts,+ only Require 45ft.lbs. of Torque,..............<br /><br />I'm Guessing that those Gaskets Disintergrate at near 80/100ft.lbs. of Torque................<br /><br />The Gaskets Sets are available at NAPA,.... Don's Right,... They List at $7.95,........Cost Me about $3.50........ <br />I buy them a 1/2 Dozen at a time..........That way I never have to worry about the Time of Day when pulling a drive............<br /><br />The O-ring is Easily held in place with a Glob of Grease,............ <br /><br />Oh Ya,...... Those Alignment Bars are down to about $35/$40.00 a copy now on ebay............