Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

[erikgreen]

Guys -

I have a pre-alpha sterndrive that is in decent mechanical shape... it runs, anyway, and without too much noise. Frankly it's the better of the two I have. The only obvious thing wrong with it is the upper seal is bad, and when I lay it on its side it leaks a bit. I checked for rust and water in the lube, and none is apparent. The U joints look ok too.

I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to rebuild it (pay someone to) or if I should just get an SEI drive.

Has anyone had one rebuilt, and what did it cost you?

Erik

 

[Don S]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

It doesn't need a rebuild, it needs a seal, possibly a yoke (grooves in sealing surface) and a pressure check.

 

[oops!]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

don knows a lot more than i do,
but when i was playing with my drives, everone kept telling me a thousand bucks, what ever the question was .....it was a thousand bucks. upper...lower....thousand bucks. then i asked what can i get for a good running gen 1.... they said 500 bucks!!!! WTF!!!!
i thought they were full of ......ka ka.....!
but it was from three different mechs!

you can get a new gen 2 off E for 1500

hope that bit of history helps
cheers
oops

 

[ziggy]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

i'm up to $400+ for parts only on my 1 drive. doing the yoke + seal + brgs. and spacers, + ujoints only. the project ain't done yet and i don't have the tools to do the deed yet..ie drive gear shim tool, 85 ft lbs torque wrench. might need a dial inch pounder too..... need to see what parts i got i guess to see what i need for tools........ point is, bet i ain't done spending yet.....

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

Well, my drive needs the upper seal, and I expect all the others too. It was serviced by a guy with more heart than knowledge, and he put in an impeller too. On top of that it needs to be repainted.

I guess what I'd like is for someone who knows these drives to take it apart, check out all the parts, and replace what needs replacing. I'm guessing from what people have said that it would cost more than a few hundred $$ to do that, so I'm thinking I might try opening it up myself and see what I can see, or maybe just sell it as-is for parts or rebuild, and spend the cash on a new one.

I still have another working drive on the boat to use, but it's in worse shape (bent metal from a trailer accident).

Erik

 

[Don S]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

You haven't mentioned anything about what year this drive is. Some here have mentioned Gen II drives, which won't replace what you call a Pre-Alpha.
What exactly do you have?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

I might try opening it up myself and see what I can see, or maybe just sell it as-is for parts or rebuild, and spend the cash on a new one.

on my 1 drive, it cost me 66.99 + shipping for a spanner

http://www.iboats.com/Spanner_Nut_W....271116--list_time.1197680155--view_id.271181

to take off the retainer nut...then ya still don't see anything. ya need a torque wrench to put the nut back on. i believe up past 121 ft. lbs. to gain 200 ft lbs on the retainer nut(spanner nut wrench + torque wrench leangth). my replace the ft seal project is leading me to some expensive tools......

so is it the 888 in yer profile yer talking about?
ya should just put it in yer sig. then folks know what ya got......

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

You haven't mentioned anything about what year this drive is. Some here have mentioned Gen II drives, which won't replace what you call a Pre-Alpha.
What exactly do you have?

Sorry... they're both MC-1 sterndrives, one from an 888, one from a 228. So they're the old style wider bell drives.

If I bought an SEI I'd be looking at the SE106.

Edit: Since don asked the year, the older drive is a 1973, the newer a 1982 (I think). They look identical.

Erik

 

[ziggy]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

the older drive is a 1973, the newer a 1982 (I think). They look identical.

i'd guess there's differences. from the research i've done. one would be the 73 the brgs. have a small spacer. ya torque the brg assy. to 85 ft lbs. the newer one i bet uses the rolling torque method. it don't have a small spacer. it uses a rolling torque method of installing the brgs. apppently the drive gear on the newer is taped, hence the rolling torque press fit method. the earlier one the spacer takes up the preload.....thats the way i'm gettin it.....anyone feel free to correct me. i'm in the middle of it...... i don't know the year of the change so i could be out right wrong.

that sei drive alledges it R&R's bouts 73 or 2 1 drives thru the end of alpha 1s.......and since alpha 1s and 1 drive are mostly interchangeable, it's believeable......once again, the way i get it anyways.....

 

[Don S]

Re: Cost to rebuild sterndrive?

From the link below, you can download manuals for those drives, one note, manuals 1 and 2 are over 1 GB in size, #4 is 300MB and #6 is only 18MB.
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/sisdata/srvcovr.pdf
Outdrives from 63 to 73 Service Manual #1 manual includes engines.
Outdrives from 74 to 77 Service Manual #2 manual includes engines.
Outdrives from 78 to 82 Service manual #4
Outdrives from 83 to 91 Service manual #6