Mercruiser 1990 Alpha One Sterndrive for V8

Markboat

Cadet
Joined
Jul 29, 2002
Messages
6
I was asked to start a new topic for my problems.<br />So here it is. I will cut and paste discussion to this point below....<br />Here’s what I know:<br />Boat: Glastron Sierra, 19 foot Cuddy<br /><br />Engine:<br />5.0 Liter, Chevy V-8 <br />Serial #: 06674553<br /><br />Outdrive:<br />Mercruiser Alpha One, (R.H. ROTATION) <br />The serial number on the sterndrive itself is different from the one the inside of the boat cover says. The sterndrive label says: 0C815142, the Mercruiser web site doesn’t recognize the number.<br />The sterndrive serial number on the inside of the motor cover is: <br />Serial Number: 0C629497 <br />Model Number: 5010165BS<br /><br />Prop was:<br />Black Max Stainless<br />PROP NO RPT NO. RAKE<br />48-16316-19 19RBM 20 DEG<br />This was a 3-Blade Prop<br /><br />Here my problem:<br />At low speed while turning slightly to pick me up after a waterskiing fall, my brother hit the top of a large boulder. The prop bent up on the blade tips, and the Prop Shaft no longer turns when the boat is put in gear. I know, really bad right? But I drained the Outdrive lubricant I found little or no metal fleck. We also never heard any gear grinding noise or vibration. When we run the engine in gear, there is no vibration. When I turn the now free turning prop shaft, there is no resistance of any kind. I tried to pull the thing open and failed. It loosened but would not pull off. I also did not have and could not find to buy the “Outside Star” style socket required to remove the plate just on top of the upper gears.<br />So far I ordered a manual called, “Clymer Marine Repair Manual Mercruiser Stern Drives-Alpha One, Bravo One, Bravo Two & Bravo Three 1986-1994”<br />Is that the one I want? Or do I just want the Merc service manual and parts catalog?<br /><br />Here’s what I need to know:<br />1- Is a gear almost certainly stripped?<br />2- Is it likely that something else gave way?<br />3- And of so, what?<br />4- What is my correct Gear Ratio?<br />5- Where the heck do I get a star socket?<br />6- What the heck did I most likely miss trying to get the Outdrive off?<br /><br />7- I was gonna replace the prop by getting two composite props, from Comprop, via Overtons.com, they are both 4-Blade, one is 13.7 dia. x 18 pitch, the other is 13.6 dia. x 20 pitch. Any comments or suggestions on using either of these?<br /><br />8- Here’ what I want to know:<br />9- What’s the horsepower of my engine?<br />10- What’s the cubic inches of my engine? <br />11- How can I increase the horsepower?<br />12- Can I ever put in a larger engine?<br />12- What size engines are likely to fit?<br />12- Can anyone recommend an online dealer that might have everything I am seeing at MercruiserExpress.com?<br /><br />Loads of thanks in advance for anyone with helpful info,<br /><br />Markboat <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Posts: 3 | From: Albany, NY | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged <br /> <br />Markboat <br />First Mate <br />Member # 14042 <br /><br /> posted July 30, 2002 02:24 PM <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />O yeah, the Glastron Sierra is a 1990. <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Posts: 3 | From: Albany, NY | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged <br /> <br />UU <br />Captain <br />Member # 7882 <br /><br /> posted July 30, 2002 02:32 PM <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Markboat!<br /><br />Take your problem to the forum under a separate (descriptive) topic. Adding your questions to the ones originally asked in an existing post by another member makes no sense.<br /><br />You do ask a lot. I'm sure you will get help even though some of the info you need can be found in your manual. <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Posts: 339 | From: ME | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged <br /> <br />speadphreak <br />First Mate <br />Member # 14038 <br /><br /> posted July 30, 2002 03:03 PM <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Hey markboat I bet you snapped the vert drive shaft. When mine broke and it was disassembled the shaft looked like it had been sliced by a laser. Where the pinion gear goes on there is a slight bevel in the splines it twisted so clean it was flat. Its very possible that this is where yours broke as well it looks to be the thinnest most machined thusly the weakest part of the shaft. If this is the case you wont hear grinding cause there arent any little bits but most people dont get that lucky. The easiest way to tell if its the shaft is to put your ear by the front of the prop shaft(away from the prop. MAKE SURE THE BOATS NOT RUNNING) put the boat in forward gear(with the boat off) and turn the prop with your hand if its the vert shaft youll hear the gears turning. Also put the boat in gear and turn the prop look at the prop nut if its not turning then you spun the bushing in the prop pray this is the case since you have to buy a new prop anyway your problems will be solved. The proper socket is a twelve point 3/8th socket or a T60 or 65 torx and any hard ware store carries all three but you really dont need it I would almost guarantee your damage is in the lower unit. Also go buy the proper clymer manual for your boat your jumping into things you dont need to. Your ratio is 1.50 to 1. There are two nuts on the sides right above the cavitation plate toward the front of the boat. The horsepower of your boat is 190 to around 210. The two props arent that different one will give slightly more bottom end one slightly more top end. I believe you have a 305 chevy but it could be a 302 ford if its the 305 a 350 will drop right in make sure to have the motor aligned or you will destroy couplers left and right. Uh markboat Im not trying to be rude but if you dont know what a twelve point socket or a torx socket is you should probably let a mechanic or at least a friend with a little more mechanical experience do this or at least help there are a alot of little things that need to have very close tolerances or you will destroy the gears when you get back in the water. <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Posts: 3 | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged <br /> <br />Markboat <br />First Mate <br />Member # 14042 <br /><br /> posted July 30, 2002 04:30 PM <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Thank You so much Speadphreak,<br />A lot of your information was very helpful.<br />I had already confirmed I hadn't simply spun the bushing. <br />Don't worry about offending me. I know I am a very mediocre mechanic. But in my own defense, I know enough to know what a Torx is, and simply hadn’t run into a twelve point before. And yes, it has twelve points. I had been told that it was an outside star by a guy at Auto Palace, but looking on the net I see that “Star” is only a synonym for “Torx”, and used more on European web sites than U.S. <br />I have two problems with hiring somebody. One is trust, the nearest marina said I probably stripped the gears and needed to replace the Outdrive unit and it would cost $5000 to fix my $6000 boat. The other problem is time. I am on a long awaited vacation from August 3rd to 11th. The boat was gonna be the focus for me and some of my family on that vacation. I can’t see anybody else getting it done in a workable timeframe. I don’t mind starting my vacation late to get this fixed. <br />I also don’t get to see the boat until I weekend commute 4 hours away. So what you told me was prefect because I can relay it to my Brother. If the top gears move and the bottom gears don’t I will then know what parts to have FedEx bring!!!<br />I believe it’s Mercruiser’s<br />Ref # Part Number Description Price<br />14 45- 41939F 1 DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY $390.95 <br />I will run to the hardware store around the corner here in Brooklyn to try to find the Twelve Point.<br />Are there any other special tools I will need?<br /><br />Thanx again,<br /><br />Markboat
 

Walter

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
787
Re: Mercruiser 1990 Alpha One Sterndrive for V8

Mark...<br /><br />Have you made any progress yet? Sounds like Speadphreak (?) has given you some great advice...<br /><br />Let us know where you're at with this...hopefully you'll have your boat out on the water again soon.<br /><br />Walt
 

deserttoad

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 14, 2002
Messages
44
Re: Mercruiser 1990 Alpha One Sterndrive for V8

Been working on a lower unit rebuild for my old '73 mercruiser 140, and before you even think about ordering from a dealer or direct from Mercruiser, check out Amarket.com for aftermarket price. They had a shaft for 169.00 which saved me from buy an entire lower for 750 used!<br /><br />deserttoad
 

Trent

Captain
Joined
Nov 17, 2001
Messages
3,333
Re: Mercruiser 1990 Alpha One Sterndrive for V8

Is it now overheating??
 

speadphreak

Recruit
Joined
Jul 29, 2002
Messages
5
Re: Mercruiser 1990 Alpha One Sterndrive for V8

As far as special tools you will need a gear puller with really long arms to get the bearing carrier out. A spanner wrench(or a dull cold chisel and hammer to spin the retaining wring off right behind the prop look for the arrow on the ring it woll show which way is off). A spline socket for the top of the vert drive shaft(useless if the shaft is broke use vise grips about an inch above the water pump use to install new shaft also the pinion nut should be tourged to 80lbs but grab the shaft with the vise grips put a long 7/8ths openend wrench on the nut and tighten as much as you can unless your "Arnie" with vise grips it will actually put right about 80lbs on the nut) This one is pretty cheap go to pharmor or eckerds and get a nice dental pick and mirror set their like 10 bucks. If your shaft is broke youll need these to pull the wire spring out of the groove in the clutch dog once the spring is poke the retaining pin out and the prop shaft clutch dog will slide out drop the pinion gear and broken part of the shaft out and then the reverse gear will come out. If your not changing the gears you just reuse the shims that are there and assembly is the reverse. Make sure the boat is in forward when you take the drive apart very critical. I just did this rebuild on mine last week and everything seems to be ok but it wont rev over 4000rpm it should rev to 4500 my mechanic friend says this is important but doesnt think its drive related.
 

Markboat

Cadet
Joined
Jul 29, 2002
Messages
6
Re: Mercruiser 1990 Alpha One Sterndrive for V8

********** UPDATE **************<br /><br />I had my brother do the test Speadphreak described in which he put the boat in gear and turned the prop axle. He said all that he heard and felt was a gradual increase in tension and then a release with a lick to it. I asked him how many times per revolution of the prop axle this occurred. He told me 6 times. So I went back over the diagrams and found the “Sliding Clutch Dog”, (LOVE THAT NAME). It has six graduated teeth that would cause that effect. Looking at what I think it does, made me wonder what direction he was turning the prop axle. I call him back. He says clockwise, facing the back of the boat from the land. AND he says that it won’t turn at all in the other direction. I believe that other direction is the forward gear direction. When putting the boat in reverse, the effect is repeated in reverse. So now I am wondering, if it doesn’t turn at all when clutched, does that mean maybe I have only “spun the bushing” after all? <br /> So now I will have him put pliers, (or the bent prop), on the prop shaft and try to turn it. If something is broken it should give way under torque, and if not then he should be able to tell if he is moving the flywheel a little. Right?
 

Markboat

Cadet
Joined
Jul 29, 2002
Messages
6
Re: Mercruiser 1990 Alpha One Sterndrive for V8

Again Speadphreak thanx a ton.<br />If you have computer or network questions, let me know. That's my specialty.<br /><br />And I have a simple and dumb question, anybody know size my prop nut is, I can't remember, either 1 1/8 or 1 1/16. I wanna pick one up around the corner during the week. By the time I am at the boat, shopping is more difficult.
 
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