Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

[mozbornj]

Ok Here is the deal.
I knocked a whole in the lower unit of my GenII outdrive 3 weeks ago.
I took it to the shop and had a SEI lower installed. My first time to have it back out today I was running through the brake in when the drive stopped pulling all together.
I got a tow back and got the boat to the house and removed the top oil plug to find no oil. I went to the engine and looked at the reservoir and found no oil. I pulled the top cap off the upper unit and the gears are worn smooth. Apparently my shop didn't fill the reservoir or the foot correctly.
I know I should have checked it but didn't.
Now my question is am I going to need to replace the lower unit also since I am sure the metal filings fell into the lower unit? This unit only had 4 hours on it.
Also is there a way to tell if the oil wasn't filled and not leaking? In my experience if the oil is gettin out the water is getting in. Am I correct? There was no water at all in the oil in the lower unit.

Thanks Guys. I am new here and this is the first I/O I have ever owned I have always had OB and assume it is pretty much the same mechanics involved.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

Depends on the customer. Did you specify just install or a full get ready.
I would think that most shops, would not let a drive out of the shop without oil or a plackard tie-wrapped around the prop saying "NO OIL".
Check you papers and see exactly what work was performed.

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

It was a full service. I forgot he also changed the engine oil at the same time.
That was the last thing I asked the mechanic before I hooked to my truck. "Did you put oil in the outdrive?" There were sure 2 quarts on the bill for merc hi performance gear oil.
But am I wrong in thinking there would be water in the lower oil if it was leaking oil out?

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

Any more opinions?

 

[bigbroncoxlt]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

If they put it in, It had to go somewhere and I'd be willing to bet if its not in the transom of your boat then it most likely came out of the lower unit. I'd take it back to them. It wasn't lake ready if it only made it 4 hrs.

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

I just called them and they said. They only put 1.5 quarts in. They said they didn't know it had a reservoir on it.
Looks like I picked the wrong shop to mess with on this job.
Again. I should have checked it and not taken their word on it.
But if it was leaking that much wouldn't there be water in the lower unit oil?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

I'd take it right back fuming. I mean who installs a lower, or a whole drive for that matter and doesn't fill/check the oil???? Who doesn't check to see if there is a resevoir?
If you pop the top or pull the lowers bearing carrier you should still have a thin film of oil on everything, especially if its the green oil, even if it all leaked out.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

I would take it back and politely but very firmly tell the shop owner the situation (if you aren't talking to him already) and ask that they make it right and quickly since it is the middle of the boating season. see what they say.

If they don't jump at the opportunity to make it right, think about it at face value:

You paid a grand or more for a outdrive repair / replacement and full service, four hours on the water and it died hard. where do you think the judge in small claims court is going to wind up on this one if push comes to shove? (small claims court here costs 50, doesn't require an atty and goes up to 5 or 6 k max suits... if he doesn't make it right, something to look into). imho

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

The bottom unit is full of green oil. The magnet on the drain plug had what appeared to be tiny filings from the break in. No large chunks like in the upper unit. Which leads me to believe they filled the upper unit oil drained to bottom and left the upper empty.
I just ran a pressure test on the unit overnight and no leaks big supprise, so my only guess is they didn't fill the unit from the bottom as I have seen recomended.

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

I am taking it to him in the morning. I know the owner personally. I guess we will see how he reacts to his mechanics mishap/ignorance.
In MS it would be justice court. Up to $3k with no atty. Of course my wife is an attorney and she is pissed.

I would take it back and politely but very firmly tell the shop owner the situation (if you aren't talking to him already) and ask that they make it right and quickly since it is the middle of the boating season. see what they say.

If they don't jump at the opportunity to make it right, think about it at face value:

You paid a grand or more for a outdrive repair / replacement and full service, four hours on the water and it died hard. where do you think the judge in small claims court is going to wind up on this one if push comes to shove? (small claims court here costs 50, doesn't require an atty and goes up to 5 or 6 k max suits... if he doesn't make it right, something to look into). imho

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

I have one more question. If it was leaking oil wouldn't I see some sign of oil on the gearcase somewhere? I mean between the upper and lower units surely somewhere there would be some sign if it was leaking. Or am I wrong here too.

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

One final question.
I ran a pressure test last night. At 7 pm I pumped in 15 PSI this morning at 6am the pressure was still exactly 15 psi. No leak at all.
My question is is there any way for oil to leak if the unit holds pressure for that lenth of time? I turned the input shaft and out put shaft and it still didn't leak air. Any other way oil could have escaped without me knowing it?
I have ordered me a manual but it hasn't come in yet and I am trying my best to have this thing on the water by the 4th.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

My question is is there any way for oil to leak if the unit holds pressure for that lenth of time? I turned the input shaft and out put shaft and it still didn't leak air.

Ayuh,..... Probably Not.... I doubt it was properly filled in the 1st place...

 

[mozbornj]

Re: Alpha One upper Stripped PLease Give input.

I am just trying to cover all my bases. I built a pressure testing rig yesterday here at the shop and removed the drive for a 3 hour test. Then reinstalled the drive and clamped the reservoir hose for the over night test. I just don't see how in the world it could leak if it will hold 15 psi.