Alpha 1 Gen 1 oil fill hose

[KaptKaos]

I recently bought a 1984 Tiara with twin 488's and what I believe to be A1G1 drives. Each drive has a reservoir mounted inside the aft locker and a ss braided line that threads into an adapter that threads into the drive upper screw plug hole. When I removed one of them the threads came out with it. It was barely hand tight so I suspect the previous owner stripped it in the fall.

My questions are:

1: Are these reservoirs and lines really necessary?

2: Are there oversized plugs available or some other reasonable fix for the stripped hole?

Engine serial # 6860059

Drive serial # 6832497

 

[Chris1956]

Alpha 1 gen 1 drives did not have reservoirs, that I know of. A 1984 boat orig equipment would have been A1 G1 drives, so maybe you have replacement drives.

I once had a Merc OB with a stripped gearcase drain plug. Someone had tapped it oversize and installed a brass (or bronze) insert like a flush bushing, which used a standard SS plug. Not sure where it came from, but it looked to be specifically made for that purpose. I would do a search on "outboard gearcase stripped plug" and see what you get.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.......
1) The Alpha 1s didn't have 'em originally, so no,....
2) With care, a 3/8" - 16 helicoil can fix that housing,...

 

[KaptKaos]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.......
1) The Alpha 1s didn't have 'em originally, so no,....
2) With care, a 3/8" - 16 helicoil can fix that housing,...

Thank you!
I didn't think they were needed as I have never seen a set up like this on G1's.
I will look into a heli coil kit. Thanks much!

 

[KaptKaos]

Alpha 1 gen 1 drives did not have reservoirs, that I know of. A 1984 boat orig equipment would have been A1 G1 drives, so maybe you have replacement drives.

I once had a Merc OB with a stripped gearcase drain plug. Someone had tapped it oversize and installed a brass (or bronze) insert like a flush bushing, which used a standard SS plug. Not sure where it came from, but it looked to be specifically made for that purpose. I would do a search on "outboard gearcase stripped plug" and see what you get.

Definitely original drives according to serial numbers. The reservoir and hose set up looks like a factory install by Tiara. If its a DIY job by a previous owner, they did a real nice job! I will search that topic. Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Just be very careful you don't get filings into the care when yer opening the hole for the insert, or when shortening it to fit,....

 

[Scott06]

Thank you!
I didn't think they were needed as I have never seen a set up like this on G1's.
I will look into a heli coil kit. Thanks much!

Mercruiser offered a kit to add the drive reservoirs to gen one drives. Very rarely seen them in service. The 1991 and up gen two had it from the factory. You can run them without. Only advantage is having it if the input shaft seal goes you loose drive oil into the bellows and you may not see it until the upper runs low on oil. If it is kept on a hoist or trailer it’s no big deal to check level at the screw , but if boat is in a slip you would see level dropping

 

[theorifice]

I have the same setup on a 1987 Carver Santego. Dual Sterndrive. Was never quite clear if was necessary to drain and replace the reservoir for a gear oil change. As far as I can tell, it never even gets used up.

 

[04fxdwgi25]

That was a common mod on those drives in the 80's (had one on a pre-Alpha). Mercruiser made the kit for it. Round tank to mount inside engine compartment, thru-hull fitting for the hose and hose to connect to the vent plug.

 

[KaptKaos]

Thanks for replies everyone. I decided to make the necessary repair and keep the reservoirs. They are clear cylinders mounted inside. One was just laying in the locker and leaked out. That was a fun clean up. lol

 

[Scott06]

Thanks for replies everyone. I decided to make the necessary repair and keep the reservoirs. They are clear cylinders mounted inside. One was just laying in the locker and leaked out. That was a fun clean up. lol

If you have them I think they are worth keeping for sure

 

[Chris1956]

Castrol Super Clean (and the generic "Purple Stuff") is a good degreaser. Use full strength, wait a bit then wipe it down and hose it off.

 

[04fxdwgi25]

Thanks for replies everyone. I decided to make the necessary repair and keep the reservoirs. They are clear cylinders mounted inside. One was just laying in the locker and leaked out. That was a fun clean up. lol

Yup, that is the same one as the mod kit had in it.