Re: 1993 Mercury Alpha 1 Outdrive / dissembly question
Likely its the upper drive seal behind the yoke. <br /><br />If that leaks, oil will leak into the u-joint bellow and in your case you have the reservior which provided enough oil to fill the bellow to get it out the breather hole to the port of gimbal bearing.<br /><br />Taking the drive off is not difficult. You don't have to separate the lower gearcase.<br /><br />1. Put the throttle lever in FULL forward.<br />2. Disconnect both tilt actuators.<br />3. Remove the 6 nuts on the drive.<br />4. Get help, its heavy, watch our back. Get a pan to catch oil from the bellow.<br />5. Pull the drive off.<br /><br />If you see oil, the seal is gone. You need to change the oil seal and o-rings.<br /><br />To change the seal, you will need wrench P/N 91-17256. Installation torque is 200 ft-lb, remember to compensate for the wrench. Don't forget the gasket kit.<br /><br />The yoke shaft that rides on the seal should be checked, if rusty needs to be changed, else will eat away the new seal in no time.<br /><br />While its out, check the u-joints, upper drive bearings, bellows, gimbal bearing, engine alignment. <br /><br />Good luck.
