Need help with Alpha One Drive

kingduh

Recruit
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Messages
2
Hey guys, looking for some advice on how to extend the life of my outdrive a bit for summer usage until I can afford repairs. I have a '91 Bayliner Capri with a Mercruiser alpha one that I just bought. The boat runs fine and I've been using it but I took to a mechanic for assessment anyway just to see if any problems. The mechanic said he suspected a bad u-joint and gimbal bearing due to the growling noise while running so I removed outdrive and yep, the u-joint and gimbal are rusted and water was in the u-joint bellows with all kinds of grime. Here's my problem, I don't have $1500 to repair it and I just want to use it through the summer until I can save up cash to repair. I'm gonna put the drive back together but I want to know if anyone has any suggestions for a quick and cheap solution to stave off any further damage and keep it running for the time being, maybe 3 or 4 months. I can only afford maybe $100 bucks right now for grease, lube, maybe new gasket and seals, etc. Is there anything I can do for the u-joint and bearings? Put some grease on them or something. Should I change gear case lube? Any cleaning I should do? Maybe a quick fix for the bellows? I'm a newbie to this, my first boat so not sure how best to handle.

Any help would be really appreciated, thanks!

Bob
 

jtmarten

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
825
Re: Need help with Alpha One Drive

You can get bellows and gimbal for under $100, the driveshaft/u-joints is more. No quick fix. Bad bellows means water coming in, which worst-case could mean the whole boat going down.
 

62 pipestone

Seaman
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
55
Re: Need help with Alpha One Drive

why could you not just use an automotave u joint. i have done this before. i just took my shaft to a local driveline shop and they matched it up and the new u joint was like $25.00 and it had a zerk so it could be lubed whenever you do new bellows.if you cant do your own u joint thay can install it for less then $100.00 parts and labor.
 
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