Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
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Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
In the winterizing process, typically I pull my lower (Bravo One) and grease the U-Joints, then reassemble and refill with fresh gear lube.
Does the Alpha need/have the same requirement? I am helping a friend winterize his boat and I wanted to make sure prior to pulling the lower for no reason.
Any tricks or things to be careful of when pulling the lower? I'm not real familiar with the Alpha....I know the sea-water pump is in the lower...should that be replaced every season?
Thanks for the input!!!
Does the Alpha need/have the same requirement? I am helping a friend winterize his boat and I wanted to make sure prior to pulling the lower for no reason.
Any tricks or things to be careful of when pulling the lower? I'm not real familiar with the Alpha....I know the sea-water pump is in the lower...should that be replaced every season?
Thanks for the input!!!
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Re: Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
Originally Posted by Dave1972
In the winterizing process, typically I pull my lower (Bravo One) and grease the U-Joints, then reassemble and refill with fresh gear lube.
Does the Alpha need/have the same requirement? I am helping a friend winterize his boat and I wanted to make sure prior to pulling the lower for no reason.
Any tricks or things to be careful of when pulling the lower? I'm not real familiar with the Alpha....I know the sea-water pump is in the lower...should that be replaced every season?
Thanks for the input!!!
Does the Alpha need/have the same requirement? I am helping a friend winterize his boat and I wanted to make sure prior to pulling the lower for no reason.
Any tricks or things to be careful of when pulling the lower? I'm not real familiar with the Alpha....I know the sea-water pump is in the lower...should that be replaced every season?
Thanks for the input!!!
As far as pulling the drive, just put it in forward gear(important for reinstall), and remove the nuts(6 I think), and the trim rams, and pull, now is a good time to check alignment too.
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Re: Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
I also have an Alpha Gen II and it's supose to have pre-lubed no grease'um U-Joints so how often should you pull the the drive to check the U-Joints. When you pull the drive what about the connection to the drive lube monitor. Never pulled a drive before but I know it's going to happen sooner or later.
Thanks
Thanks
#4
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Re: Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
Originally Posted by Badtoon
I also have an Alpha Gen II and it's supose to have pre-lubed no grease'um U-Joints so how often should you pull the the drive to check the U-Joints. When you pull the drive what about the connection to the drive lube monitor. Never pulled a drive before but I know it's going to happen sooner or later.
Thanks
Thanks
Sounds like yours is newer, becuase I dont have the drive lube Bottle, but the passage is in the housing for it, it is just an O-ring, they sell a gasket set so you can replace them all while your in there. If I can do it, anyone can, its easy, just get a helper, its a little tricky to balance it on your foot, and get the drveshaft and all lined up going back in.
#5
Re: Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
I used to pull my alpha every fall.
It was a good chance to inspect the boot, inspect and grease the spline and hub.
be sure to get the right gasket kit for the drive/helmet connection.
Having everything in forward is key.
Should you split the drive, make sure that you are careful not to compress the shift shaft where it mates to the geared spline at the rear of the top of the lower half. there are a couple "hidden" (not really but sort of) bolts that sometimes mess with people when they split the drive for the first time.
The impleller job is usually easy, but the first time you do it will be kind of weird. Sometimes the rubber vanes come off the shaft easy. Sometimes no.
They recommend replacing the 6 nylok nuts each time.
When in doubt. OSO member Iggy can do alphas with his eyes closed, sleeping, behind his back.
It was a good chance to inspect the boot, inspect and grease the spline and hub.
be sure to get the right gasket kit for the drive/helmet connection.
Having everything in forward is key.
Should you split the drive, make sure that you are careful not to compress the shift shaft where it mates to the geared spline at the rear of the top of the lower half. there are a couple "hidden" (not really but sort of) bolts that sometimes mess with people when they split the drive for the first time.
The impleller job is usually easy, but the first time you do it will be kind of weird. Sometimes the rubber vanes come off the shaft easy. Sometimes no.
They recommend replacing the 6 nylok nuts each time.
When in doubt. OSO member Iggy can do alphas with his eyes closed, sleeping, behind his back.
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Re: Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
My 2cents worth now.
It sounds like you have two questions.
(1) grease u-joints. Yes you have to pull the drive. Like everyone has said make sure it is in forward all the way. When you install it make sure the oudrive is in foward gear. You will see this shift shaft, it should be point straight ahead or the outdrive will not slide into place. The original Alpha you had to install a big seal (4 inches) that seals water from coming into the ujoint bellows. The newer ones might work like the Bravo's.
(2) if you are replacing the impeller you do not need to remove the outdrive. From memory there are 4 bolts to seperate it. There will also be a little o-ring between the cases that the gear oil transfers from upper to lower.
Have fun.
It sounds like you have two questions.
(1) grease u-joints. Yes you have to pull the drive. Like everyone has said make sure it is in forward all the way. When you install it make sure the oudrive is in foward gear. You will see this shift shaft, it should be point straight ahead or the outdrive will not slide into place. The original Alpha you had to install a big seal (4 inches) that seals water from coming into the ujoint bellows. The newer ones might work like the Bravo's.
(2) if you are replacing the impeller you do not need to remove the outdrive. From memory there are 4 bolts to seperate it. There will also be a little o-ring between the cases that the gear oil transfers from upper to lower.
Have fun.
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Re: Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
Originally Posted by 1BIGJIM
My 2cents worth now.
It sounds like you have two questions.
(2) if you are replacing the impeller you do not need to remove the outdrive. From memory there are 4 bolts to seperate it. There will also be a little o-ring between the cases that the gear oil transfers from upper to lower.
Have fun.
It sounds like you have two questions.
(2) if you are replacing the impeller you do not need to remove the outdrive. From memory there are 4 bolts to seperate it. There will also be a little o-ring between the cases that the gear oil transfers from upper to lower.
Have fun.
#10
Re: Winterizing-Alpha Drive Question
Originally Posted by 1BIGJIM
My 2cents worth now.
It sounds like you have two questions.
(1) grease u-joints. Yes you have to pull the drive. Like everyone has said make sure it is in forward all the way. When you install it make sure the oudrive is in foward gear. You will see this shift shaft, it should be point straight ahead or the outdrive will not slide into place. The original Alpha you had to install a big seal (4 inches) that seals water from coming into the ujoint bellows. The newer ones might work like the Bravo's.
(2) if you are replacing the impeller you do not need to remove the outdrive. From memory there are 4 bolts to seperate it. There will also be a little o-ring between the cases that the gear oil transfers from upper to lower.
Have fun.
It sounds like you have two questions.
(1) grease u-joints. Yes you have to pull the drive. Like everyone has said make sure it is in forward all the way. When you install it make sure the oudrive is in foward gear. You will see this shift shaft, it should be point straight ahead or the outdrive will not slide into place. The original Alpha you had to install a big seal (4 inches) that seals water from coming into the ujoint bellows. The newer ones might work like the Bravo's.
(2) if you are replacing the impeller you do not need to remove the outdrive. From memory there are 4 bolts to seperate it. There will also be a little o-ring between the cases that the gear oil transfers from upper to lower.
Have fun.
But he's totally right.
There is this bolt....
You will find your hidden bolt when you take of the anode/zinc "tab." It is a honking sized allen. If you don't take of the anode thingy off you will cuss and cuss.