Need to put it back together; correctly

[Weirthit]

I needed to replace my u-joints due to a gradually louder knock when I turned from straight to port or starboard. In the process I will be replacing the gimbal bearing, three bellows, shift cables and possibly the helm control due to breakage. I rebuilt the water pump in the lower unit last year and did not want to go there this year.

I am working on 1988 Welcraft. The serial number on the gimbal housing is 08989579. Pretty sure it is an Alpha. Not sure it is an M or MR. The outer housing of the water pump in the lower unit was plastic and stainless lined (I think that was an identifier). The engine is a 5.7 L GM (LG/SGI; F235?) Not sure of the serial number.

I have read a lot of Threads so far and believe I should get the #6 OEM Service Manual?

In the mean time, should I take the gimbal ring off to instal the bellows?

Thanks for help.

 

[achris]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

You don't need to remove the gimbal ring to put new bellows on, in fact it would be more difficult to remove the ring. The serial numbers you supplied are invalid. If it is 1988, then manual #6 is the correct one... And it would be an Alpha One. All Alpha Ones and prior have a plastic pump housing with a SS cup. Only Alpha One Gen II has an all SS housing...

The correct serial number format for an assembly of that year is 0Bnnnnnn or 0Cnnnnnn, where 'n' is a digit.

Chris........

 

[Weirthit]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

OB989579. I wondered what the alpha characters were doing in the Identification and History chart I found. Any chance of finding a #6 or should I just go to ebay and pull the trigger?

Brian

 

[achris]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

Brian, please recheck that number, it's coming up as a TR/TRS 1.50 drive, not an Alpha One.

Manual 6 -> http://www.4shared.com/document/zz_5pj9o/Service_Manual_06.html

 

[Weirthit]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

Thanks for the link to the manual. I'm sure to have more questions and will do my best to search first.

I rechecked the number located on the gimbal housing. I scraped the sticker off located at the top of the housing because it was hard to read. Under the sticker was stamped B989579. Judging from the pictures I have seen and owners manual it looks like an Alpha.

Are parts interchangable between the TR and Alpha? I am a little worried about ordering now.

I was also wondering the best place to buy Mercruiser OEM parts?

 

[Binford]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

I was also wondering the best place to buy Mercruiser OEM parts?

Did you learn of a good source for Mercruiser OEM parts? I'm in the same boat myself (pardon the pun) and want to avoid imports of questionable quality....

 

[Pete104]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

You have to know what you have! TR & Alpha are 2 different animals. Except for the fact that each have their own serial number!

Time to post some pics!

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

Binford: In my almost 2 years of getting oem Merc parts for both my boats, I can honestly say I have not found just one good source. Some of the time my local Merc dealer had the best price and parts in stock, sometimes it was Ebay, sometimes 2 Internet sites had about the same best price but one had free shipping and the other did not; even Walmart had Quicksilver Hi-Po gear oil for the best price. Once I found a place that did not have it in stock but was about the same price as others but had to order it from San Jose and drop-shipped it right to my door and because of the dollar amount, I paid no shipping. What I found worked for me is that once I had the part number, I would check my local Merc source and just google that part number and spend a little time seeing what the best deal was depending on who had it in stock and how soon I needed it. What I did though is if I needed some help from my local Merc dealer to find out exactly what I needed because I could not determine that on my own, then I bought from him figuring he deserves the sale and not me gleaning from him then going elsewhere to save a couple of bucks.
Mark

 

[achris]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

...Are parts interchangable between the TR and Alpha? I am a little worried about ordering now.

I was also wondering the best place to buy Mercruiser OEM parts?

No... TR and Alpha not interchangeable...

 

[Weirthit]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

I originally posted the serial off of the gimbal housing instead of the sterndrive. I have since scrapped off the sticker on the port side of the drive to reveal serial number 0B927784.

I have priced out my parts list from mercruiserparts.com and have found that the local distrubutor is roughly $5.00 more per part on the items that are more than $100.00. I think it will be worth it (excuse the pun) to purchase locally. There will be no shipping and returns will be much easier.

It appears that the sticker package containing the one I scapped off to get to the serial number is roughly $100. Better make record of that number.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

It appears that the sticker package containing the one I scapped off to get to the serial number is roughly $100. Better make record of that number.

I found an Alpha one sticker set(1985) for about $30 on Ebay...Seems to be of good quality and fitment.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

I have priced out my parts list from mercruiserparts.com and have found that the local distrubutor is roughly $5.00 more per part on the items that are more than $100.00. I think it will be worth it (excuse the pun) to purchase locally. There will be no shipping and returns will be much easier.

Ayuh,... That's what I do,... Look up the Oem part #s on-line, 'n call the Marina across the bridge,...

He always has 'em the followin' weekend, for the same prices, plus tax, which is cheaper than shippin'...

 

[Pete104]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

Dealers can "in most cases" have them the next day! A good parts person can expidite the order from any warehouse. Hek with the shipping!

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Need to put it back together; correctly

Dealers can "in most cases" have them the next day! A good parts person can expidite the order from any warehouse. Hek with the shipping!

Not to get off-topic but I'll throw in my $.02 worth regarding what I've learned about Merc dealer and 'shipping' albeit I don't know if this true for all dealers or just mine here in SoCal: if he does not have an order of $100 or more, he will have to pay shipping and of course that would get passed on to me; and that's even ordering from the warehouse in NoCal. So when I needed a $20 part, he said it will take a few days until he gets other orders or needs parts himself not in stock to meet this $100 minimum. If what I need totals over $100, then yes, order by 10:00 am and he can usually get it the next day if stocked in NoCal.
Mark