New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

[ktbarrentine]

Just saw a new post on an old thread about greasing the "zerks" on an alpha-1 and it reminded me of a question I had, but hadn't asked yet. I recently purchased a 1990 Alpha-1 on a mercruiser 5.0L. Following the guidance of my service manual, I have greased the trim hinge bearings, the gimbal bearing and the top steering bearing (at the top of the gimbal housing). I cant find a grease fitting on the lower steering bearing... I seem to remember seeing a diagram showing an access hole on the starboard side of the gimbal ring (on later models?). Just wondering if I am not seeing something on my housing/ring, or what the trick is to lubing that lower bearing.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

There is no bearing or grease fitting there,just a bushing that does not require lube.

 

[ziggy]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

well, i'll add that i have a grease zerk on my mc-1 for the lower brg.

it's the little red dot ya see in the pic. just above and behind the trim ram hose fittings.
i don't know if the alpha1 has that or not. but my '75 mc-1 does. if the alpha1 does have it. i would think it'd be in about the same place..

 

[achris]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

As time goes by manufacturers are trying to make things 'less serviceable'. It ensures that they wear out quicker and you'll need a new one sooner.

When Ziggy's drive was made, they built them to be fully serviceable. Grease fittings on everything. Later they remove the fitting for the lower swivel shaft. On Gen II drives, no fittings for the upper swivel shaft or hinge pins. Also the unis are not grease-able. I remember in the late 90s there was talk about making the gimbal bearing as 'sealed' as the unis. That would be the last of the nipples gone. So, throw away the grease guns boys, Klug grease is here to save us from having to grease things every year. :facepalm:

Chris.......

 

[stonyloam]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

There is no bearing or grease fitting there,just a bushing that does not require lube.

Older Alpha 1's DO have a grease fitting for the lower swivel pin, newer ones do not. My 1987 has the lower swivel pin roller bearings and the fitting. So if you do not have a fitting you may assume that you have the bushing (nonserviceable) type bearing.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I think I have 7 grease zerks on my MC-1!

 

[achris]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I think I have 7 grease zerks on my MC-1!

7; that would be 2 unis, 1 gimbal bearing, 1 upper swivel shaft, 1 lower swivel shaft, and 2 hinge pins.

I've got 2 on my Gen II... One on the coupler and one for the gimbal bearing. The rest are 'sealed' and not grease-able.

Chris....

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

ok--I see 4 visible zerks --i got to learn more about the MC-1 and not post after consuming too may beverages!

 

[ziggy]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I think I have 7 grease zerks on my MC-1!

yep, me too.

ok--I see 4 visible zerks

hum, i see 5 on mine. 4 pivot points + the gimble brg. (you could have the mc-1 that didn't provide for greasing of the gimble brg.. that kind ya need to have the brg. in hand to grease it, they weren't permalub).... the other two are hidden inside the bellows. the two ujoints. 1 ea.... achris named them off for us..

and not post after consuming too may beverages!

yep, i've had that problem too. when think i should post after too many, i try to think about the times i have posted after too many. the next day i generally wish i'd not posted..... sometimes that's enough that i don't hit the submit button and go for delete by closing my browser. then whatever bs i wrote goes away never to be retrieved..

 

[stonyloam]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I think everyone should have a fitting on the coupler like Chris's.

 

[achris]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I think everyone should have a fitting on the coupler like Chris's.

That only started with Gen II. The coupler has a sleeve on it, with the nipple in that. The design of the earlier couplers prohibited the fitting of a nipple (flat rubber surface and no 'extension' sleeve).

 

[stonyloam]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I was sure I had a fitting on the coupler. I still think I do, but I am not so sure anymore LOL old age!

 

[achris]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I was sure I had a fitting on the coupler. I still think I do, but I am not so sure anymore LOL old age!

Your coupler looks like this... No grease nipple there... Sorry....

And mine looks like this... see the grease nipple?

 

[ziggy]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I think everyone should have a fitting on the coupler

The rest are 'sealed' and not grease-able.

it's like a catch 22. ya get a grease zerk on your coupler. some permalube ujoints, and there's no reason to take your drive off for service. no inspection for water intrusion into the bellows, no gimble brg. inspection, no alignment inspection. then no lub in the pivot points, . in a corrosive environment like water, salt worse yet... geeze. someone want's to sell parts, and labor imho... less work, but ya pay in the end is my guess...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I have to agree with you ziggy, less maintenance, but a huge bill when something eventually does go wrong. I think they are relying on people neglecting the routine maintenance, pay me now or pay me later....

permalube ujoints

Permalube (AKA lube for life) parts are great, until they fail,,, thus the end of their life...

I have 4 external zerks on my MC-1, wished I had the gimble bearing zerk, but don't. I have to pull the gimble bearing out to grease it, kind of a pain, but not bad once the drive is off.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

I am sure I pumped grease into a coupler, I am now pretty sure it was not my boat LOL. Sorry my mistake.:redface:

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: New thread on Alpha-1 grease fittings

grease grease grease.... i have them 1985 versions. plenty of zerks. they get grease a few times each year, pre and post season, plus a few shots during the season.