Replaced lower on Alpha 1 Gen 2 sounds/feels like rubbing when running and pushed on?

[cps425]

I just completed a swap of a lower unit on my Alpha 1 Gen 2 sterndrive as was told by a tech that my issues with shifting into reverse where due to a worn clutch dog. My lower was pretty beat up, so I picked up one from Marine Parts Supply in MS. They rebuild the water pump and leak test them before shipping.

I went through and followed all of the guides that I found online, everything went pretty smoothly after getting the old one off. Filled with gear oil, fired up, plenty of water out of the exhaust and no real leaks that I can see.

I did notice while the boat is on the trailer, not in gear, but running, if you push slightly on the bottom of the lower housing, you can feel almost that something is rubbing or coming in contact with the inside of the lower housing. Is this normal? What could be going on? I am concerned about running it if there is something that could be loose in this new lower.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Not quite sure what you mean by pushing on the lower, if you mean resting your hand on it and then putting side pressure on it it feels like something is grinding inside, or rubbing more...... hmm. Could just be more vibration from uJoints you're feeling.

You can use a stethoscope and listen to the all parts of the outdrive. The gears do make quite the racket heard through a decent stethoscope. Or just use a wooden dowel, couple feet long. Tough to your ear and to different parts of the drive. You'll get good sound conduction and can isolate where it comes from.

That a new unit? Warranty? Support?

 

[cps425]

I had a friend come over and take a look, he confirmed that it seems like its u joints. Correct, side pressure. We determined it goes away when its lowered down.

I am getting a bit of water leaking out around where the upper and lower meet, but i figure that is slightly expected as there isn't any gaskets between the surfaces. All i have now is a bit of noise when it is in reverse, but I am assuming it needs adjustment to the shift cables? Can the cables not engage fully, causing some "skipage" in reverse?

 

[cps425]

It does have a 30 day warranty.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I'm guessing the noise is when the drive is up. Just so you know, you should not run the motor at all with the drive up. The ujoints are binding up and that's where the noise is coming from.