Trouble separating Alpha 1

[Cptkid570]

Hey everyone,
I'm trying to split my Alpha 1 (gen 1) outdrive so that I can change my impellor and I'm having a hard time getting it to come apart. I've undone the allen wrench bolt, 2 nuts on the bottom, 2 nuts on the top, and the 1 nut at the front (closest to the transom by the shift shaft). I don't think I am missing anything. I've gotten it to come apart on the back end of it (prop end), but can't get it to separate on the front end (shift shaft end).

Any suggestions on how to separate this? I don't want to bust up the casing or anti-cavitation plate by prying or banging on it too much.

My next step is to just take the drive off of the boat so that I can take a hammer to the front bolt (I'll partially put on a nut so that I'm hammering the nut and not the bolt)..

 

[BigBK]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

sounds like u have all bolts out

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

Yep, all bolts out.. it just seems jammed up in that front area and won't separate...

 

[rbh]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

did you try tapping with a rubber mallet or mallet and 2x4?
splines could just be sticken together.

 

[dingdongs]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

mis read problem

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

did you try tapping with a rubber mallet or mallet and 2x4?
splines could just be sticken together.

Yup, work it with the mallet, whatever you do, don't pry in the center of the starboard side....
That is where the o ring for the oil passage resides, if you bugger that surface, you will have a problem.....
Wood shims can be helpful to get it moving as well////
If is has been more than a year since the upper half was off, you might consider taking that off to sevice the u joints, AFTER you get the lower off......

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

I've made progress. I've been able to separate the two halves by about an inch... took a lot of prying and pounding. Haut - thank you for the reminder of the oil o-ring, I've stayed away from that area.

I'm finding that it's not the driveshaft or shift shaft that is hanging up.. it's that very front bolt. Must've corroded in there some. I've only gotten it an inch because that's the furthest my pry bar and then my ball joing separator would take it out. I now have a 5lb wedge that I'm going to stick in there. I'm confident that will get the two halves apart. If I get to where I'm fearful that I'll hurt the drive, at this point, I can cut the bolt and then deal with the removal of the bolt later...but, I don't want to have to do that.

I appreciate all of your advise on this. I can't believe it's stuck so bad.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

I got it separated! Wow, I can't believe how stuck it was... it was definitely corrosion on that front (closest to the transom) bolt.

New question - first of all, with the beating it took, I'm surprised that the rim where the two halves meet held up as well as it did.. it's not damaged at all around the oil passage hole, but in front of the driveshaft it did get bent up a little. Do the two halves have to seal perfectly and keep water out? Or is it just the oil section that seals up? There is no gasket that goes between the two halves, so I was thinking that maybe water does get in there..I figured I'd just smooth it out and put some 3M 4200 when I put it back together just to be safe. I was looking at the front of the outdrive though, and it looks like that section is not perfectly sealed and that water does enter in there.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

I just want to bump this thread up with 1 last question on this.

How water tight do the upper and lower halves of the Alpha 1 outdrive have to be? I understand that the oil passage needs to seal properly, but I did chew up my outdrive a little bit while having to pry it apart.

Do the two halves have to be perfectly sealed up or are they allowed to let some water in?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

As long as the area around the oil passage is not damaged your ok, there is always water between the units. Just curious, how long has it been since the drive was split last?
Clean the holes with a drill bit, use waterproof grease on all the the studs,and do this every 2 years.You`ll have no more problems

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Trouble separating Alpha 1

Thank you for your reply.. it's probably been about 3 or 4 years since it was split, but it's gotten a lot of use..