Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

garyoNC

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
30
Okay so I removed the lower gear housing, replaced the impeller and O ring and can't seem to get it back on. Alpha 1 Gen1 1988. According to the manual, shift gear housing into forward, hold prop align and insert. When gear contact is made rotate prop CCW and finish pushing the gear housing up into place. I can't get it the last 3/4" to seat. Is there a trick I am not aware of?

Thanks,
Gary
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

if it's like mine. i always feel like it's the water tube that gives me the grief.. best thing i've found to cure it is putting the copper tube into the waterpocket cover and the plastic guide tube into the waterpump housing. lub the ends on both of them.

putting the lower back on while the upper is still on the boat is possible. but it's much harder and will take more attempts than if ya have the upper and lower on the bench. it's much easier on the bench and ya can do it by your self.
 

Evinrude Boater

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Jul 6, 2004
Messages
1,143
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

Make sure the upper driveshaft seal is still in place. The seal can get torn from the metal carrier ring and get jammed up in the upper gear when you push the driveshaft through it.
 

marlboro180

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Jun 23, 2009
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Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

If it is on the boat, try tying some rope tighly around it and the upper so you can move it a bit without losing your basic alignment. I take out the water inlet screens at the intake in the skeg and rope through there and the upper.

I agree it is easier on the bench and that you need to make sure the o-ring isn't jammed in the upper seal.

When it was off, do you rotate the driveshaft at all? If so, you might need to turn it a little bit to get the splines to line up. Also, make sure the shift shoe is in the proper alignment w/ the upper.

Good luck!
 

ziggy

Admiral
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Jun 30, 2004
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7,473
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

and O ring
ya got my curiosity up. what are ya describing as an oring?
since it's and 88 alpha1 gen 1, my assumption was that ya were talking about the quad ring. the little oring looking thing that is the seal between the upper and lower... if it was old like my 1 drive. i would assume that the oring yer talking about would be the one just below the splines on the lower drive shaft. you don't have that oring on an gen.1. only other thing i can think of that would be described as an oring would be the centrifugal slinger that sits on top of the water pump housing...

so. do be sure the quad ring is in place. it's most important, but don't interfere with putting the halves back together. the centrifugal slinger don't cause assembly issues either as it just sits on top of the water pump housing. and ya don't have a oring on the drive shaft just below the splines.. so, which oring?
 

Evinrude Boater

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jul 6, 2004
Messages
1,143
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

My Alpha 1 has the quad ring (seal) and O-ring on the driveshaft and the seal kit also includes it. Not sure why some wouldn't.
 

garyoNC

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
30
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

Well I finally got it. I guess it was just too much for this old man to balance a 65 pound gear case, align and insert at once. My brother in law came by and it was a piece of cake.

The original problem was solved. It was funny though the impeller looked good to me and a guy at West Marine. It pumps good now and the gauge says a rock solid 160 degrees.

I'll finish some wiring problems and next Saturday we're going to take it out.

Thanks everybody for all the help, in my threads and the ones that I searched out.

Thanks again,
Gary
 

cr2k

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
3,730
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

Hopefully you had the shift control box in forward too. If not you will need to re pull the lower and do it again. You didn't say if this was a Gen II. But I am guessing not because it had an O-Ring on the vertical drive shaft.
 

garyoNC

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
30
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

Yes, it was in forward and it is a Gen 1.
 

xltier

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 20, 2004
Messages
636
Re: Re-install lower gear housing Alpha 1 trick?

Well I finally got it. I guess it was just too much for this old man to balance a 65 pound gear case, align and insert at once. My brother in law came by and it was a piece of cake.

The original problem was solved. It was funny though the impeller looked good to me and a guy at West Marine. It pumps good now and the gauge says a rock solid 160 degrees.

I'll finish some wiring problems and next Saturday we're going to take it out.

Thanks everybody for all the help, in my threads and the ones that I searched out.

Thanks again,
Gary

if you pull the impeller out of the housing and the blades stay curled back,then it not gonna work good.learned the hard way.
 
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