alpha question
 

i was out on the lake the other nite and i stoped out in the lake to check on somthing in the bilge and as i was poking around i heard the sound of water trikling. on further inspection i found a small hole about 2 or 3 inches above the drive shaft that had a bit of water running in thru it. its about a 3/8ths inch machined hole and directly above the drive shaft. is this some kind of indicator to tell me the boot is bad. i got the leak stoped with a bolt wraped with teflon tape and will be pulling the boat out this weekend. just wanted to see if anybody could tell me where that hole goes. i just put boots on this boat mid last year hope its not bad already. thanks all :cool:

Re: alpha question
 

Gee, I never noticed that hole on mine. I'll have to look.
I'll bet it is a pressure equalizer port for the bellows. Better take a look at the bellows for a split. And check the clamps for tightness.

I've had my boat for 5 seasons now and I have yet to change the drive bellows. When we store it after use I always lower the drive to keep from stretching it and causing tears. The shift cable bellows went out last season. That wasn't hard to replace.

Re: alpha question
 

thanks iggy. actually both my bellows are new mid last season. one thing i thought might have happened is i have had some trouble with my trim limit swiches and when i trim it up to beach it it may have worn a hole in it. i beach it several times a weekend and thought that might be the problem. i havent really had a chance to look it over real good yet but will on sunday. right now i have the leak stoped with the bolt stuck in the hole. i was thinking that hole was some kind of vent to the inside of the boot and by leaking there was indicating the boot had gone bad. its directly over the shaft about 2 or 3 inches up and it is in the casting. thanks

Re: alpha question
 

yes all alphas have that hole, if water is coming though it then your u joint bellows is leaking!!!!


JOE
AMERICAN PERFORMANCE MARINE

Re: alpha question
 

You don't run the engine while it's in the trailer position do you??
If so, that's very bad, not just for the bellows, but the u-joints as well.

When you do get it apart, spray the hell out of everything with WD-40. With water inside the u-joints and such will rust. And grease the joints while it's apart too.

Re: alpha question
 

Did you use bellows adhesive, after scraping old adhesive off, and wiping surfaces (bellows and mounting surfaces of drive) clean with laquar thinner? Also, they may not have been in proper position when clamps (or clamp and rear sealing ring) were tightened/installed. Rear end of bellows goes in bellhousing to 2nd groove of bellows. I gooked both ends, let tack up, and assembled.
I have not done Alpha, but I have got to know Bravo; too well.

With outdrive off, inspect and grease u-joints.

And unplug the hole.

Pay attention before remounting outdrive, that sealing washer on shift cable, is on, THEN you push shift cable back into it's mounting hole in bellhousing, nut goes on then.

Then throw the outdrive on.

Re: alpha question
 

thanks guys. thats the info i was looking for. its a project i'm gonna tackle next week. i'm not useing the boat this weekend and am pulling it on sunday.

iggy- i dont run it in the trailer position but if my limit swich s acting up it may be up to farwhen i beach itv i will do those while i have it apart. thanks

Re: alpha question
 

just like everyone else.. If water is coming in the hole, its telling you the main u-joint bellow is leaking. Did my last summer. On mine the spring deal inside wore a hole in the bellow. I did mine just by taking the drive off.. Didn't have to take anything else off.. just need a little muscle :D