Dave,

I am far from an expert, but it sounds like you may have a number of problem.

If you're positive you're getting gear oil in the bilge are you also
getting a lot of water? Could be a cracked driveshaft bellows and bad
o-ring(s) on the driveshaft. If there is no water it could be bad
driveshaft o-rings, and perhaps a bad waterpump seal.

I think the only seals you can replace without specialized tools are the
outdrive kit, the water pump base, and those found in the waterpump
housing kit.

I hope this helps.

Bob Dimond


In article , D.B.
wrote:

I have a 1989 Stingray with a 3.0 liter Mercruiser engine with an
Alpha one outdrive. I have been getting about a half a cup of water
in the foot after about every 4 hours of operation. I have been
changing the foot oil after every use (4hours) so as to keep things
from going poop until I could put it in the shop. I recently changed
from the expensive Mercruiser outdrive lube (quicksilver) to a cheaper
80W90 gear oil (seeing as I was changing it after every 4 hours of
operation). I have been noticing what I thought was gear oil in the
bilge, but was not sure until I changed lubes. Now I am positive that
I have gear oil from the foot in the bilge. My question(s) are
these.... would it be that the upper water seals in the outdrive are
causing the water to get into the foot and the oil to leak into the
bilge? Question number two....I am a decent mechanic.....without
having specialized tools, is it practical for me to replace the seals
myself (I did rebuild a Porsche motor several years ago....to give
you a benchmark of my mechanical capabilities)

Any help would be appreciated.

Dave

Thanks Bob

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 10:59:47 -0400, (Bob
D.) wrote:

Dave,

I am far from an expert, but it sounds like you may have a number of problem.

If you're positive you're getting gear oil in the bilge are you also
getting a lot of water? Could be a cracked driveshaft bellows and bad
o-ring(s) on the driveshaft. If there is no water it could be bad
driveshaft o-rings, and perhaps a bad waterpump seal.

I think the only seals you can replace without specialized tools are the
outdrive kit, the water pump base, and those found in the waterpump
housing kit.

I hope this helps.

Bob Dimond


In article , D.B.
wrote:

I have a 1989 Stingray with a 3.0 liter Mercruiser engine with an
Alpha one outdrive. I have been getting about a half a cup of water
in the foot after about every 4 hours of operation. I have been
changing the foot oil after every use (4hours) so as to keep things
from going poop until I could put it in the shop. I recently changed
from the expensive Mercruiser outdrive lube (quicksilver) to a cheaper
80W90 gear oil (seeing as I was changing it after every 4 hours of
operation). I have been noticing what I thought was gear oil in the
bilge, but was not sure until I changed lubes. Now I am positive that
I have gear oil from the foot in the bilge. My question(s) are
these.... would it be that the upper water seals in the outdrive are
causing the water to get into the foot and the oil to leak into the
bilge? Question number two....I am a decent mechanic.....without
having specialized tools, is it practical for me to replace the seals
myself (I did rebuild a Porsche motor several years ago....to give
you a benchmark of my mechanical capabilities)

Any help would be appreciated.

Dave

In article , D.B.
wrote:

Thanks Bob



Your welcome, Dave. I don't know if you need to check gear tolerances
and reshimm the gears when redoing seals. Assuming you do, TanPS
mentioned most of the tools needed for dealing with the upper and lower
housings.

Here are the cost from www.mercstuff.com:

Upper housing retainer wrench $48.00
Upper housing gear shimming tools $102.00 (both)
Pinion Shimming tool $100.00
Bearing carrier retainer wrench $55.00
Shim Kits $32.00 (all)

Total thus far almost $350.00

Not including the $70.00 shaft alignment tool (which SHOULD be done
whenever the upper is removed), if you need all the tools listed on the
mercstuff tools page, your looking at about $550.00 without tax or
shipping.

This does not even take into account the health of the driveshaft assembly
(yokes, ujoints), or gearsets once you tear into the drive.

Over the winter an aftermarket manufacturer of Alpha One drives came
online, Sterndrive Engineering Incorporated. Their website:
www.sterndrive.cc

They have complete new drives from $1195.00 with uppers at $595.00 and
lowers at $695.00. Units come with a 1 year warranty (warranty vague), and
is completely interchangeable with all OEM parts, although they state
gearsets should be either one type or the other.

So if your problem is upper seals, for the price of efforts and tools, you
can pretty much order a drive that is ready to bolt on.

I'm going to post a message to both the group and company to try to get
more information, as I am in the market for at least one new lower.

Hope this helps.

Bob Dimond

Bob, you da man!! I agree, after purchasing all of the necessary
tools and replacement parts and not to mention the BEER needed to do
the job AND my time involved.....whew!! A bolt on unit is sounding
better and better.

Thanks again,

Dave


On Wed, 05 May 2004 10:07:42 -0400, (Bob
D.) wrote:

In article , D.B.
wrote:

Thanks Bob



Your welcome, Dave. I don't know if you need to check gear tolerances
and reshimm the gears when redoing seals. Assuming you do, TanPS
mentioned most of the tools needed for dealing with the upper and lower
housings.

Here are the cost from www.mercstuff.com:

Upper housing retainer wrench $48.00
Upper housing gear shimming tools $102.00 (both)
Pinion Shimming tool $100.00
Bearing carrier retainer wrench $55.00
Shim Kits $32.00 (all)

Total thus far almost $350.00

Not including the $70.00 shaft alignment tool (which SHOULD be done
whenever the upper is removed), if you need all the tools listed on the
mercstuff tools page, your looking at about $550.00 without tax or
shipping.

This does not even take into account the health of the driveshaft assembly
(yokes, ujoints), or gearsets once you tear into the drive.

Over the winter an aftermarket manufacturer of Alpha One drives came
online, Sterndrive Engineering Incorporated. Their website:
www.sterndrive.cc

They have complete new drives from $1195.00 with uppers at $595.00 and
lowers at $695.00. Units come with a 1 year warranty (warranty vague), and
is completely interchangeable with all OEM parts, although they state
gearsets should be either one type or the other.

So if your problem is upper seals, for the price of efforts and tools, you
can pretty much order a drive that is ready to bolt on.

I'm going to post a message to both the group and company to try to get
more information, as I am in the market for at least one new lower.

Hope this helps.

Bob Dimond