Trouble with upper part of lower unit

[seasport31]

The motor cut out today when Zmoto and I where coming in and the lower unit was making a hell of a noise before it died.
To the retard in the Lund or the Alumacraft that went speeding by at 40 mph,Thanks for waving at least, when you see a guy waving his arms widly that usually means he needs help.
Anyway, when I trimmed the motor all the way up the noise quit. Do any of you know what to check for first. The resovoir was empty when I checked it and I think the lower unit ran dry. Just don't understand why it got quiet when it was trimmed up. Harp

 

[Don S]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

Might want to read this thread. Then try again.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=220416

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

It's a 2004 Alpha one connected to a merc 130 H.P. inline 4

 

[Don S]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

Pull the outdrive, bet you have gear lube in the bellows.

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

Would gear lube in the bellows make that awful grinding noise?

 

[Don S]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

Could if the gear lube came from the drive.
May be a lot of things. But pull the drive and drain any gear lube that may be in the drive and look at it. Ya gotta start somewhere.

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

The noise was from the very top of outdrive. Sounded like a sucking noise of water. I think that noise was metal on metal.
Just took the prop off and drained the lower unit, the lube was brand new looking and there was a 8 inch piece of power pro wrapped on the shaft. The magnet on the drain plug had no shavings on it.
The bolts to remove the area that seemed where all the noise was coming from are star heads. If I open that up can I see anything?
HARP

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

How much lube came out when you drained it...........? Should hold ~36oz or so. I'm guessing you had some line under the propshaft oil seal, leaked out some lube and damaged the upper gears............you can take the top cover off and check the upper gears.

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

The usual amount came out and there was no line under the propshaft oil seal

 

[Don S]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

The bolts to remove the area that seemed where all the noise was coming from are star heads. If I open that up can I see anything?

Those star heads just take a 12 point 7/16" socket. Nothing special.
Yes, you can pull the top cover and look. It's possible a tooth on an upper gear broke, and destroyed the upper gears in a second or two without contaminating the lower. Unlikely though.
You still need to pull the drive and the top cover. Not just to find out what happened, but also to find out WHY it happened so it doesn't happen again.
Do you have the OEM service manual for your drive? If not, here is the link to the downloadable one.

http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf

PS: You could have ujoint problems, coupler problems, or drive problems. But, till you get that drive off, it's a guessing game.
It's a ten minute job.
1 Put shifter in forward gear
2 Remove aft trim ram pin.
3 Remove 6 nuts holding drive to bellhousing.
4 Pull drive aft and remove

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

My friend steered me here and said you guys were real helpful. Guess he was right, thanks and keep posting help as you are able. Harp

 

[Don S]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

More posts won't help, pull the drive and the top cover and tell (or post pictures) of what you find. THEN, we will be able to move on to the next step. Talking about it does nothing.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

You should have had a red flag, towel and wave that.

Cg rules actually say you should have one.

I'm not saying he would have stopped.

But he would have known you needed help.

You did get into the dock though. On your own power.

How about when my son was on the bow of my boat waving a red flag at a CG aux.cutter, and they didn't even slow down or pick up the mic. when i made a call on the radio to them. They were 100 yards away.

And i know he saw me.

Now i carry a kicker motor in my cuddy, your alone when your in trouble.

For 225.00 you can join sea tow here.

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

The bolts on the top are not 7/16ths. Is it a specific star socket I need? Harp

 

[Don S]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

Sorry, 3/8" 12 point. They are not special star sockets, they are just 12 point.

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

Hi all, took off the top cover and the roller bearing is completly gushed and fell into the lower unit. Didn't pull the lower unit yet, but I suppose that's the next step since everything fell in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/dan31harp/007-4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/dan31harp/006-5.jpg

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/dan31harp/006-5.jpg

 

[JustJason]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

man thats ugly. time for a full rebuild, or a new SEI drive depending on your wallet.

 

[seasport31]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

If the roller bearings fell down in under power, does that mean the whole outdrive is kaput?

 

[Don S]

Re: Trouble with upper part of lower unit

Hard to tell in those pictures, but if that is metal shavings all around the gear on the vertical shaft, and it also looks like at least one tooth is broken off the gear, and since the same gear lube circulates thru the upper and lower units, then YES, you have probably damaged the lower also. And if it needs new gears and bearings also, the repair costs more if done by a Merc dealer (with the proper special tools and knowhow) than buying a new SEI outdrive.