Alpha 1 gen 2 Gear lube issues

M

Michigan_boater

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After water pump replacement I have a gear lube leak. It may be coming from the upper where the driveshaft comes through. I know you could replace this seal from the bottom on an Alpha 1 but this is a Gen 2 and it doesn't look like I can do that.
So, do I need to replace this seal from the top (through the upper unit) or is there a way to do it without dis-assembling the entire drive ?

Also, after reading a bunch of forums it sounds like the seal I am looking at (from the bottom) may be just a water seal and the oil seal is above it - any truth to that ?

I would appreciate any suggestions/
 
achris

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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May 19, 2004
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Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 Gear lube issues

Michigan_boater said:
... Also, after reading a bunch of forums it sounds like the seal I am looking at (from the bottom) may be just a water seal and the oil seal is above it - any truth to that ?..
Click to expand...

On the Alpha Ones and before, yes, but on the Gen IIs that cavity is lubed by the gear oil.

Are you sure you have a leak, and not just excess oil running down the shaft. Quite a bit of oil drops out of there when you split the drive. Some of it could make its way down to the drain cavity.... If in doubt, pull the drive, drop the oil and pressure test... Doesn't take long and gives you peace of mind...

Chris....
 
M

Michigan_boater

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Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 Gear lube issues

THANKS for the replie !!
Yes, I can see bits of rubber hanging off that seal (the lower shaft seal in the upper unit) --- Still hope to get to it from the bottom, or that I do not need to pull the gears apart, or that someone knows a really easy way to pull those gears out, or that I magically don't care that it torn 'cause there are two seals ...... still hoping ...
 
achris

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
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Messages
27,468
Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 Gear lube issues

If it's just the lower seal you can do it from the exhaust cavity... Just split the drive, no need to open the top box up...
 
M

Michigan_boater

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Messages
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Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 Gear lube issues

And the correct answer is NO, you can not change the lower shaft seal in the upper unit of a Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive from the bottom. you must remove the drive, remove the upper unit gears to access - - once I figured this out and got the parts it took about 3 hours - but I have no more leaks. Thanks for the replies though !! -- happy boating --
 
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