shift shaft seal alpha 1 bell housing confusion

[kramerpage]

Older Alpha units had a poor seal set-up and the seals would fail from the hot exhaust passing by it.
Mercruiser came up with a new style Shift Shaft Bushing and Lever Kit which improves the Shift Shaft Seal.
If you are replace your shift cable on an Alpha One, make sure you have the new style Shift Shaft Busing and Lever Kit installed.
The Kit helps save your shift cable. If you replace the cable without replacing the seal it will go bad in just a short time.
Is this the kit I need. I am installing a new shift cable OEM.
45518T1?Shift Shaft Bushing and Lever Kit
(for Alpha One
My shift cable slide and shift shaft showed no signs of water entry but I don't want to chance it. I dont fully understand the old bushing seal parts that seem to fail and the new improved set. Seems like I just keep pouring money into this rebuild using all OEM parts.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Here is a picture of Fishermark's installed

The upper bushing is also a seal.

 

[kramerpage]

Thanks Eric. I saw the difference in the picture. I have ordered the new style kit.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

There's a small set screw on that arm at the top of that shaft. It can be a real bear to remove it. Many on here use a small sharp cold chisel and hammer to give it a crack if the screw doesn't cooperate.

 

[kramerpage]

Hey Eric
I'm ready to roll. Just waiting on the mailman. It actually the only thing on the whole resto that didn't fight me. I t was in good shape and actually came apart. Lol. Thanks

 

[stardog]

What are the part numbers or link for new kit? Is this also for gen 2?

Thanks,
John L
Bethlehem, GA
97 Sea Ray 175 4.3

 

[kramerpage]

What are the part numbers or link for new kit? Is this also for gen 2?

Thanks,
John L
Bethlehem, GA
97 Sea Ray 175 4.3

John,
My drive is an Alpha. I don't know if the kit fits or is even needed for Gen 2 drives. Here is what I purchased.
Mercruiser Quicksilver 45518T 1 45518T1 SHIFT LEVER KIT
I paid 43.50 for this OEM kit.
I'm sure someone while chime in to help answer.

 

[kramerpage]

No Title

 

[kramerpage]

No Title

Got them installed today. Thanks Eric.

 

[PeterB26]

There's a small set screw on that arm at the top of that shaft. It can be a real bear to remove it. Many on here use a small sharp cold chisel and hammer to give it a crack if the screw doesn't cooperate.

It will come apart with some careful heating to 500 degrees F .....and if you can use a gunsmith's screwdriver which has a hollow ground blade. The threads are at the head end of the screw, not the tip. I used a small charcoal grill butane lighter to get a small, hot flame right on the screw itself. Once apart clean off the red loctite with toluene and a wire brush and reassemble with blue loctite and you will not have issues in the future unless the corrosion has gotten awfully bad.

 

[j cat]

It will come apart with some careful heating to 500 degrees F .....and if you can use a gunsmith's screwdriver which has a hollow ground blade. The threads are at the head end of the screw, not the tip. I used a small charcoal grill butane lighter to get a small, hot flame right on the screw itself. Once apart clean off the red loctite with toluene and a wire brush and reassemble with blue loctite and you will not have issues in the future unless the corrosion has gotten awfully bad.

I saw this post and just want to add to your good info on this seal issue.
my seal was leaking and when I removed the drive for the winter water was in the shift cable area MR drive 1979 yr.. I saw that this upper shift shaft oil seal was the cause. I tried to unscrew the loctite red screw and had no success. so I used a small pencil type torch with MAP gas. adjusted the flame to a 1 inch flame. pin pointed the flame tip to the top of the screw shaft. took 10 sec to heat it up and I used a flat blade tip filed to set into the head of the screw snug and it came out easy .. also no damage to the seal or washer . this OEM seal design is weak .. the new style looks good much better merc 23-805041a2 .

it did last about 20 yrs though ..