alpha drive removal

focus

Seaman Apprentice
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Jul 30, 2006
Messages
34
hi all , i have searched threw most of the previous post and found a lot of info but still having problems, the boat i have has been bought as a project and i need to get the engine out, the engine is a 4.3l 1980 and a alpha gen 1

all the securing nuts and bolts for the engine ,stern drive and transom assembly have been removed before i got the boat and are not with the boat.
The 6 nuts holding the sterdrive on are also missing , i have removed the lower unit to get in to forward gear andwith alot of prying with bars i have managed to split the drive about an inch and then it just locks up
a couple of photos below
12-01-09_1050.jpg


12-01-09_1052-1.jpg


as can be seen there is some damage to the bellhousing and this will have to be renewed or a new transom assembly bought,
has anybody any ideas as to how remove the sterndrive , i have tryed wedges , pry bars ,slide hammer and even cutting the shaft at the engine side but that just blunted my hacksaw blade and i can not get the grinder in .
i phoned the boat yard and he is coming next week at a cost of ?40 an hour , i would love to get this of and save my money.

thanks for any replys
 

focus

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
34
Re: alpha drive removal

yes it is in forward , i removed the lower unit and manualy moved the lever to face forward as seen on a photo on another post on this site
 

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: alpha drive removal

Ive seen guys hooked back up the rams and had them push off the drive.

Others have hooked up a truck to pull it off.
 

focus

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
34
Re: alpha drive removal

neither are an option in this situation , no room for a truck and all the wireing is ripped out. could i cut threw the bell housing with a grinder and then cut the drive shaft ?
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,011
Re: alpha drive removal

Ive seen guys hooked back up the rams and had them push off the drive.
and all the wireing is ripped out.

Ayuh,... Hook the rams back up,+ Hot wire the Pump.....

You can't cut thru the bellhousing, the gearcase is another 4" long, Before you'll see the drive shaft..
 

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: alpha drive removal

What do you want to do use a stick of tnt and blow it off.

Got a come-a-long, hook a trailer wrench to it pull it off with that. One or the other.

By the way i got that gimbel sitting on the side of my house with the inner plate.
 

focus

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
34
Re: alpha drive removal

Ayuh,... Hook the rams back up,+ Hot wire the Pump.....

You can't cut thru the bellhousing, the gearcase is another 4" long, Before you'll see the drive shaft..

hot wireing the pump sounds an idea , do i just connect + to + and - to - on the solinoid and then jumper the wire to the other side of the solinoid

had a look at the manual for the drive and it shows which wires to jump , so i have just put a battery on charge and will see how we go .
cheers
 

focus

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
34
Re: alpha drive removal

What do you want to do use a stick of tnt and blow it off.

Got a come-a-long, hook a trailer wrench to it pull it off with that. One or the other.

By the way i got that gimbel sitting on the side of my house with the inner plate.

i dont think the people i rent the house of would enjoy the noise and mess from the tnt

the boat is on blocks so i would not like to pull it of these
 

Cptkid570

Ensign
Joined
Oct 18, 2005
Messages
967
Re: alpha drive removal

how much of the driveshaft would still have to come out of the engine coupler? I'm wondering that if you are pulling the engine anyway, maybe try to pull the engine and then you can pound on the driveshaft from the inside to holep push it out instead of pull it out.. I doubt that would work, but just trying to think of all possibilities... where is that hangine up? Are the o-rings hangine up on the gimble bearing?
 

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: alpha drive removal

If it was a omc yes you can pull the engine without removing the drive.

The motor don't have enough room to move forward in your engine bay, mr. Focus?

Me i would get a bunch of rugby players, and grab that sucker, and push it in and out, in and out, till it came all the way out.
 

focus

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
34
Re: alpha drive removal

i have room to move the engine forward by about 10 inch before it drops of the engine mounts . would i have to get the engine lifted slightly to do this,

will try the rams in the morning, do i put them and the drive in the up position and something inbetween the drive and bellhousing and then bring the rams down or use a block of wood between the top of thedrive housing and bellhousing and pusy the rams out

cheers
 

Bondo

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Messages
71,011
Re: alpha drive removal

Ayuh,...

The Rams have Much More Power going Up, than they do going Down....

With any Luck,... It'll come Off as you try to raise it,...
If not,..
Block the Top, so it Has to go Back,+ Not Up...
 

focus

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
34
Re: alpha drive removal

Ayuh,...

The Rams have Much More Power going Up, than they do going Down....

With any Luck,... It'll come Off as you try to raise it,...
If not,..
Block the Top, so it Has to go Back,+ Not Up...

thanks
and thanks for the other replys guys will let you no how it goes tommorow
 

Bondo

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Re: alpha drive removal

Ayuh,...

1 other Trick,....

With the drive all unhooked like it is Now,....
Put a 4x4, or a 2x4, Under the drive where it fits into the bellhousing,...
Then lift the drive,+ SLAM it down onto the Wood....
Many times,.. That'll break it Free...
 

mkast

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Messages
1,934
Re: alpha drive removal

The last time I saw this, the grease from lubricating the gimble bearing had dried on both sides of the shaft. Take a strap, inside the top and bottom of the drive, hook a chain hoist or come along to the strap. The other end of the hoist to a tree or something unmovable, ratchet the drive off. Hull has to be secured to the trailer, trailer to the tow vehicle so it can't move.
 

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: alpha drive removal

Block the top with a piece of 2x4 laid sideways when you activate the rams.

Will force that sucker off.

Be ready cause it ain't light, don't let it fall.

Have 2 guys one to work the switch and 1 to catch the drive.
 

chiefalen

Captain
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
3,598
Re: alpha drive removal

The rams are gonna push that sucker right off, anyone wanna lay bets.
 

mkast

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Messages
1,934
Re: alpha drive removal

You know, you can rent a port-a-power hydralic system for probablly $20 at the local rental shop. Use the power wedge and it'll be off in 60 seconds flat.

Remember, damage to the mating surfaces (aluminum) is not a good thing.
 

Surfdancer

Seaman
Joined
Feb 19, 2008
Messages
61
Re: alpha drive removal

When you do get it of, you'll probably find the gimball bearing rusted to the input yoke of the drive. I've been through that fight a couple times.

I've even pulled the engine by sliding it forward a few inches to disengage the coupler from the input shaft of the drive, lifted it out, then liberally sprayed the gimball bearing from the engine side with PB blaster penetrating oil. It's not easy, as there is a grease seal you have to work around with the straw from the aerosol can.

I've used the wood wedge trick successfully - just make sure you use a soft wood, like a whitewood pine stud 2x4. It reduces the risk of damage as it crushes a bit to better distribute the force onto the aluminum castings.
 
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