2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

[TexasA&M]

Howdy everyone -

First post here. I tried searching, but couldn't find anything that would help. My apologies if this has been covered before.

I'm working on replacing the impeller on my 2005 Alpha One outdrive. I've got the four main nuts/bolts off, the one directly above the prop (holding an anode), and the one at the forward most anode (farthest from the prop). I cannot find any other bolts that would be holding this thing together. I've managed to get a gap of amout a millimeter on the front of the drive (again, opposite the prop), but other than that, this thing isn't budging. I've gotten after it pretty good with a dead blow hammer, and tried to do some prying, but I hesitate to do too much of either. Any tips/tricks to get the two apart? I was hoping to be done by now, but looks like it will be at least tomorrow before I can continue.

Let me know what you know.

Thanks,

- Steve

 

[Don S]

Re: 2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

DO NOT pull just the lower unit. IF you have had the boat since 2005 and the drive hasn't been off the boat, then you are way past a lot of very important maintenance items.
While the drive is completely off the boat and the gear lube drained is when you need to replace the raw water pump impeller in the drive. You really need to be looking at alignment, gimbal bearing, ujoints, and lubing the coupler splines.

Head up to the Adults only sticky at the top of the forum and download manual #14 and look at the maintenance schedule.

 

[TexasA&M]

Re: 2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

The outdrive has been off every year before this one (took it to the dealer for all of it's service until this year... have a kid now and can't afford the labor anymore). The two units have never been separated though because the impeller has never been replaced. It has never given me trouble, but I figure I'm on borrowed time now since this will be my 5th season with the boat.

I've done all of the needed maintenance... what I need to know how to do is pull the two drives apart.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: 2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

You know that there are two bolts by the piece the manual describes as the "trim tab," correct? That little fin above the prop, you take the first bolt out to access the second one. After that, you have the four on the sides, and the one right next to the speedometer connector on the bow side of the outdrive. You should not have to pry it off at all, I made the same mistake, and come to find out there was another bolt (the one on the bow side I didn't see the first time).

 

[TexasA&M]

Re: 2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

Finally found the last bolt. It was the one that the 'trim tab' was hiding. I had pulled the top bolt out, but I have a whale tail on my drive that was keeping the trim tab from falling out. Removed that, and found the last bolt. Once I found all the bolts, the drive basically fell off.

Anyhow, I'm getting ready to bolt the drive back in place. Impeller is replaced, although by the looks and feel of the old one, there was nothing wrong with it. Still nice and soft, but definitely set in a curl pattern. I've got the new one in now though, so I should be good to go for another couple of seasons.

Thanks for the help! I've bookmarked the page with the manuals. Those will come in handy down the road somewhere.

- Steve

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

I've bookmarked the page with the manuals. Those will come in handy down the road somewhere.

Ayuh,... You probably should download them,+ save them to your 'puter,...
That way if something were to happen to the links, you'll still have the manuals...

 

[TexasA&M]

Re: 2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

I thought of that as well and will probably do so today. Got her all bolted back up yesterday... now I just need to add oil back into the drive and then take her for a test run. Went really smoothly after I found the last bolt.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2005 Alpha One lower unit removal

Went really smoothly after I found the last bolt.

Ayuh,... That's always Better than having a 1/2 Dozen left over,....