Stern Drive Surprise

I dropped the lower end of my stern drive('87 3.0L Alpha One) to replace waterpump/empeller...I had an overheating problem...I am in question about a piece that fell out onto pavement when I pulled off the lower end of stern drive...It has a plastic core (about 3/4" to 1" diameter)..that is clearly melted/distorted..It has a metal plate around it.a black foam/gasket looking piece also fell out...in pieces...Is this what they call the water pocket cover???,,,,,,I called the mercruiser part store here and he seem to indicate this was part of the $50 water pump kit...Well, it is not...Thanks for your continued help.....Pete

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

pete, the melted tube is no big deal. ya get a new one when ya get the impeller rebuild kit from mercruiser. it's a guide to help ya get the water tube from the pump to the waterpocket cover lined up so ya can put it back together again. my guess for the black plate....i don't know....could be the waterpocket cover i suppose. ya might try getting a service manual so ya can identify parts. dougrussell.com might have a blow up of yer parts dia. too. there's an oil seal that's rubber that sits ontop of the waterpump. i'm not sure on an alpha1. but on my 1 drive, the waterpocket cover is black hard plastic. i thought it was metel till i removed it...don't remove it. it bolts to the upper and is supposed to stay with the upper when ya pull the lower. all the waterpocket cover is, mateing side of the tube that transfers water from the lower to the upper...ya don't want to mess with a waterpocket cover. ya break off one of them 4 screws, well....

since ya clearly had a meltdown. be sure to try and locate as many pieces of the impeller that ya can. i flushed ft. to back and back to front by removeing the main water hose up to the t-stat houseing. also check for melted parts. flappers, exhust hose from the riser to the exhust pipe.

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

The white vinyl piece is the guide sleeve the goes into the top of your water pump and should come with the water pump kit. It goes over the brass water tube when you mate the upper and lower. The rubber grommet goes on top of the water pump housing over the verticle drive shaft.

For any water pump kit I've ever bought, these parts come with them (as well as the gasket for the water pocket cover, which is not round nor foam).

Good luck,

Jake

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

Thanks for replies...Here is a pic from another post...It does not match what I have but the black material looks just like it..crumbles in you hand...I have not looked at the upper part of the drive yet...(where I disconnected the lower leg)...Does anyone have a good pic/diagram exactly what should be on the upper part with lower part of drive removed?.....Pete

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

Wow, I don't know what the heck that is.......I can't really tell what size it is based on that photo.

I have my Alpha1 drive on the bench of my garage while I await my seals to arrive from Mercruiser......I have my upper completely disassembled, to include the water pocket cover, and this doesn't look like any removeable part to me......

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

It kind a looks like part of the exhaust flapper that melted. I have an 88 3.0 with the alpha 1 gen 1 and I melted the flapper and what was left looked like that. If it is, I'm curious how it ended up in the lower unit, mine was stuck in the exhaust bellow. just my .02

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

Correct..It is a pic of a exhaust flapper...The only thing that looks like what I have is the black substance...(foam/gasket?)...It crumbles in your hand...and like I said ..when I disconnected the lower part of drive from upper part...it along with a melted looking circular 3/4" to 1 " plastic part fell out...the black piece is too big to be the O ring surrounding drive shaft...It is probably 3 inches across and of course not a full piece....Pete

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

OK...I got an actual pic...What do ya'll think?.......Pete

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

Piece on left is part of the upper pump housing, I believe it comes in the complete WP kit. Piece on the right is what's left of the exhaust flapper that helps keep the motor from getting water up the exhaust. I would replace it. When I did mine, they were about ~$20 each.

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

Correction, lower housing.

There are a few different sizes i think. The term I see at my favorite supplier is "Water shutter"

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

Ok,,,,,thanks...where is this water/exhaust shutter located?.....Pete

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

the piece on the left is the melted water guide tube between the pump and the water pocket......right piece is half a flapper.....it came from the exhust pipe like hm says....

Re: Stern Drive Surprise

OK.....thanks again......I went down and purchased a new "Shutter" ...quicksilver part # 60930.($20)..Is the riser the curved part of exhaust that attaches to top of block?..Is below the rubber sleeve with clamps of riser considered the top of the exhaust pipe?..and how do I place shutter in?. ...It is flexible......like a swing gate..It does have a notch on the backside of it that maybe goes into something?...sorry so many questions...just trying to save time and grief.......Pete