Plug on alpha drive

[backwater dawg]

I seem to be having trouble keeping the plug on the upper side of my 1988 alpha drive housing-it's about the size of a quarter. A month or so ago the gimbel bearing was making noise so I pulled the boat and found the plug had popped out after 20 years of use--I replaced the it and used a little sealant around it. Yesterday I found the plug was missing again---any ideas how to keep that thing in where it's supposed to be. Also the gimbel bearing is quite right now--I'm going to take it out tonite and regrease the bearing--is the bearing ruined or will it take enough grease to be OK??????

 

[thrasher]

Re: Plug on alpha drive

I think you are describing the outdrive oil level plug (on the port (left) side of the outdrive). Any chance of a photo to be sure of the plug you are talking about. If it is the Oil level plug, you need to drain the outdrive as you will have water in the outdrive and that will not do it any favours!! There should be a sealing washer behind the plug that prevents it from coming out due to normal vibration.

You say it hasn't come out in 20 years, so that leads me to think that you might be describing a different plug (I hope you aren't running 20 year old oil!).

What year is the drive?

Is your question about the gimbal bearing related to the missing plug or is it a different problem?

Gary

 

[Don S]

Re: Plug on alpha drive

Describe exactly which plug you are talking about. There are several.

Did your old gimbal bearing have water in it? Did you replace the bellows?

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Plug on alpha drive

No-it's not the oil level plug--I change oil every year-the plug I'm refering to is on the right hand side as you look from the back on the upper case--It is about the size of a quarter and is a frost plug type--a flat plug with no screws--it covers an internal plug of some kind--until it fell out, I did'nt ever know it was there either--with that plug out, water drains thru the bellows boot into the gimble and ruined the previos bearing--the drive is an 1988---thanks-Steve

 

[Don S]

Re: Plug on alpha drive

You need to replace your ujoint bellows, not just keep replacing the gimbal bearing, you also will be getting water into your drive and ujoints.
I think it's time you start doing some serious repair work.
Here is a link to the OEM manual, scroll down to the manual outline and click on the section LETTER you want to look at.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf


There is supposed to be a pipe plug under the core plug.
Items 3 and 4

http://media.stemtostern.com/LSDATA/LSDATA_FULL/CRUISER/99964/13.GIF

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Plug on alpha drive

What I seem to be figuring out is maybe a 2 fold thing-I did have water in my bellows - gimble area which is why the bearing went out--I then found the plug out and assumed that was where the water was coming it the gimble---I replaced the bellows a couple of years ago and we inspected it and it seemed fine--also when We replace the drive gasket--we noticed that the old drive gasket may have been leaking--so my question is--will any water leak thru this frost plug thing or was my previous problem a different source--thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Plug on alpha drive

Nope, those problems are not related.
Every time that drive comes off, a NEW gasket set (including the rubber rings) MUST be replaced.

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Plug on alpha drive

Thanks--I think I have this figured out--I always replace the drive gaskets when I take the drive off and on--I may just have screwed up installing the drive this spring---can I replace the plug with the boat in the water--thanks