Alpha 1 gen 2 maintanance

[enn858]

Hi from Scandinavia

I have a Mercruiser 135 (3,0 FWC - Alpha 1 gen 2 modelyear 2006) the boat is used in Fresh water only - and have until now 130 hours of use over the last 2 seassons

I have winterised the engine and drive acc to the original Mercruiser manuals - the drive is now off the boat and i have checked alignment and gimbal bearing and Bellows - evrrything looks fine

As this is my first i/o i am in doubt as to wheather i should change the bellows - or wait another 1 or 2 years. I am also in doubt as to wheather i should change the gimbal bearing at the same time.

The bellows look perfect - but on the other hand - the boat is in my workshop now and i have plenty of time and all nessesary tools manuals etc to do it now.

So what would you recomend - wait another year or two - or do it now?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 maintanance

Wait. If you trailer that boat and it's only two years old, your bellows should be good for a few more years, at least. Same with the gimbal. if you are greasing it, and it's not getting water in it, it should be good for a few more years.
(For example, my 10 year old boat still has the original bellows and gimbal bearing, and has 760 hours on it.)

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 maintanance

I agree

Dont fix it if it aint broke. Enjoy it

Those parts are practally new as it is w/ 135 hours.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 maintanance

Origional bellows and gimbal too at 18 years (200 some hours). but.... I will be changing them this year, bellows at least. They are starting to crack. Gimbal is smooth as butter and spins perfect so I wont be touching that.

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 maintanance

I have found the Gen II's have a small problem with the bellows. At about 800 hours they will start to leak. I tracked the problem to the hinge pins. They are a couple of threads too long and as the leg is turned side to side the ends of the pins just rub on the sides of the bellows. Eventually they go through. Just keep an eye on the sides of the bellows and when they feel a bit thin, throw a new set in... easy . If you don't let any water in there the gimbal and uni-joints are basically good forever. The thing I like to do with the Gen IIs is to remove all the bolts and screws (one at a time of course) and put a high quality waterproof grease (something like 'Aqualube') on them, particularly the 4 bolts that hold the upper and lower housings together and the screws that keep the anodes in. Just makes it so much easier when it's is time to take them apart....

Good luck,

Chris........

 

[enn858]

Re: Alpha 1 gen 2 maintanance

Thank you for alle the answers.

I will not change bellow or gimbal this year - i just keep up examining them every year.

I have too removed almost every screw and nut and greased it on my Alpha drive

However my engine/drive only runs in clean (drinking water quality) fresh water - and the engine has a FWC on top of that so corrosion will not be a major issue on this stearndrive (i hope)

BTW i read a lot on this excelent board - and have followed these adwises:

-Bought original Mercruiser manuals for engine + drive
-Removed the "anti tampering device" on my carburator and adjusted lean mixture (wow - it was like getting a new engine)
-Adjusted timing on the engine
-Adjusted the valves (with engine runing)
-Installed a RACOR /fuel filter/Water separator filter element

These few adjustments have made my Mercruiser 3,0 run better than ever - especialy the removing of the "anti tampering device" made a huge difference - seems like these engines are adjusted much too lean from the factory - after adjustment the engine will idle perfect - it was like getting an entire different engine ;-)