Replacing shift seals in Alpha I Generation II

[smbaker]

My Alpha I Generation II had a damaged seal on the shift rod. This is the little vertical rod, where the top part has a little arm that connects to the shift cable. I purchased a replacement seal kit for it that came with two brass bushings. The top one is a large bushing that has seals pressed into it, and the bottom one is a simple sleeve bushing. I've managed to get the top one successfully removed. However, I have some questions...

My original top bushing had two seals in it. The lower-most seal looks identical to the seal in the replacement that I got. Behind that seal it has a hard rubber looking thing. The replacement only has one seal, and an empty void behind it. I want to make sure I'm not replacing it with an inferior part that's going to leak on me.

Also, any tips on reinstalling the new bushing? I was thinking of fabricating some tool that could be used to pound it in from below; maybe a rod with a round flat thing at the top.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Replacing shift seals in Alpha I Generation II

I believe you have the wrong bushing kit... that sounds like the gen one kit. They just hammer in with a 1/2" socket and extension. Install them from the ground upward.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Replacing shift seals in Alpha I Generation II

I believe stingray is right. I think you have the updated seal for the alpha 1. Here is the gen II bellhousing: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...96/4.png&inbr=1942&bnbr=90&bdesc=BELL+HOUSING #6 is the seal and it looks like this: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/showSpecialPicture.asp?pn=806036A1

 

[achris]

Re: Replacing shift seals in Alpha I Generation II

... They just hammer in ...

DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, hammer the bushing in. You run the very real risk of cracking the bell housing, it's just cast aluminium. I'm not saying you'll break it every time, but it will happen eventually. I made up a small press tool, using a bolt, some washers and a nut.

 

[smbaker]

Re: Replacing shift seals in Alpha I Generation II

the seal and it looks like this: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/showSpecialPicture.asp?pn=806036A1

That's not the one that came out of my stern drive. The one I took out is this one:

http://www.mercstuff.com/images/bellhsgbushings3.jpg

The replacement kit also looks like what came in the picture, minus the long black thing, which I'm assuming is a tool.

I am reasonably certain that my drive is a Gen II. Looking at this page (http://www.mercstuff.com/bellhousingstuff.htm), it's saying that this seal fits Gen II serial 0F94775 and below. I don't have my serial number handy, but it is a '93, so I suspect it's in that range.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Replacing shift seals in Alpha I Generation II

I have been tapping in for years and not had any problems. I guess if you really pounded on it you could ruin it and maybe a newbie who has no knowledge of how hard to tap might ruin one.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Replacing shift seals in Alpha I Generation II

The OEM Mercruiser has two seals in it. There was a post a while back where someone had gotten a GLM seal with NO seals in it. Guess you get what you pay for. I like to stick with OEM parts for the important stuff, seals, bellows ect.