Alpha 1 Carrier Removal-How much heat?

[qystan]

I am trying to disassemble my Alpha 1 lower unit to change the seals and inspect the bearings. Its in saltwater use all the time.<br /><br />Its the standard problem with all aluminium parts- stuck. <br /><br />The manual and recommendations is to heat it. Question I have is: How much? Concern is too much which will damage parts-seals are not a problem as they will be changed. <br /><br />1. Are butane burners enough? Are those portable units that uses the Camping Gaz cartridges useable?<br />2. Or I need an oxy-actyl torch? <br />3. Heat until the paint burns off or more? <br /><br />So far all my heating efforts to remove anything has been quite useless. Ultimately the parts end up being cut and pried out. The retainer rng was cut and removed.<br /><br />Cutting and breaking the carrier does not seem possible(?).<br /><br />Thanks in advance for all advice.

 

[tommays]

Re: Alpha 1 Carrier Removal-How much heat?

http://www.mercstuff.com/bearingcarrierremoval.htm <br /><br />this link gives a way with out special tools<br /><br /><br />i am assumeing you have the correct puller to remove the part<br /> and oxy tourch can be a dangerous thing for the health of your drive in the worng hands<br /><br />it usally takes heat that is VERY EVENLY USED AROUND THE WHOLE AREA OF THE DRIVE THAT THE CARRIER IS IN to get enough expanison to allow it to slip out<br /><br />a lot of this assumes that the last person who worked on the drive used the correct lube on the carrier when they put it toghter<br /><br />be carefull alu is funny stuff it goes from solid to junk much faster than than steel<br /><br />tommays

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Alpha 1 Carrier Removal-How much heat?

Best thing to keep in mind is that you heat the housing to make it expand.If you heat too long or too hot,the bearing carrier also expands.<br />DHP

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Alpha 1 Carrier Removal-How much heat?

oxy acetylene.<br /> I use it daily.<br /> its great stuff. I had to heat a yammy case the other day until the aluminium bubbled at the cover nut area<br /> depends on how badly yours is stuck.if the maint is done as per the manual I have never seen one stick.<br /> the manual says to remove and clean the carrier yearly in saltwater.<br /> good luck and use gloves

 

[qystan]

Re: Alpha 1 Carrier Removal-How much heat?

Thanks guys. Great info. Another feather for this forum, great people and sharing.<br /><br />Tommays, thanks for the link, completely forgotten about that.<br /><br />Dhpmarine, I suppose for that reason an oxy-acty torch is best as it can heat up localised areas quickly as a slow heater will warm up everything else. Only thing is to be careful enough not to melt the whole thing and end up with a lower glob.<br /><br />Rodbolt, will go on the annual regime. Over here, the high humidity 90+%, yep you can almost drown out of water ;-), contributes to constant corrosion even when out of water. Unless well ventilated, partially enclosed areas do not dry out for months.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Alpha 1 Carrier Removal-How much heat?

hello<br /> yep here to. that and most the stuff I work on is used in the atlantic ocean. kinda salty. nobody follows the yearly routine some I can get everyother year most wait until it fails and pay me to struggle.<br /> good luck with it but your heating a heat sink. it can take a lot more heat than ya think just dont let the flame stay in one spot for long. <br /> good luck and keep posting