replacing water pump in alpha one

[jeepofino]

I replaced the water pump in a alpha one sterndrive and all is going well but when putting the upper and lower units together I noticed there is a seal, i think in the upper unit where the shaft goes up that has some wire in it...It is bad and what is this called? I assume it keeps the oil from leaking down. No use going any farther till I find out about this. I don't know if I made this clear enough.....it's just at the entrance of where the shaft enters the upper unit.

 

[dubs283]

Re: replacing water pump in alpha one

the "wire" you refer to is actually a garter spring

there are two seals in that location, one facing down to keep water out and one facing up to keep lube in

i have seen those seals fail on occasion usually due to someone installing the drive halves incorrectly and damaging the lower seal

if it looks out of round at all i would replace both seals, but definitely pressure test the drive upon final assembly!!

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: replacing water pump in alpha one

the "wire" you refer to is actually a garter spring

there are two seals in that location, one facing down to keep water out and one facing up to keep lube in

i have seen those seals fail on occasion usually due to someone installing the drive halves incorrectly and damaging the lower seal

if it looks out of round at all i would replace both seals, but definitely pressure test the drive upon final assembly!!

Very sound advice.

 

[jeepofino]

Re: replacing water pump in alpha one

Not much problaem getting the one facing up out...I'll look for the other. What do I ask for and are they common enough to be found locally? Memphis has only one boat repair place that I know of...
glad I ask the question..sounds like they need to be replaced. Probably going to have to ask a few more to put the halves together. What I have read is make sure the shift is in forward on both the gear (clockwise) and the copper on the upper half...is this right?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: replacing water pump in alpha one

It is not uncommon for the lower seal to be bad, and unless your unit was leaking, I wouldn't suspect any problem with the other seal. Here's what the seal looked like on my dad's boat the last time I took the lower off. I didn't even think he had a seal in it!

Here's what was left of the old one compared to the new seal:

(It looks to be a different diameter, but it is just an optical illusion)

What I have read is make sure the shift is in forward on both the gear (clockwise) and the copper on the upper half...is this right?

Not sure what you mean by "the copper." If you mean the intermediate shift shaft, then yes, it stays in the upper.

It is easy to forget the stainless washer that simply sits on the lower shift shaft pictured here:

 

[jeepofino]

Re: replacing water pump in alpha one

found the exploded view on sterndrive parts...would these be called upper and lower drive shaft oil seals? What kind of tool and where can I get a pressure tester?

 

[ziggy]

Re: replacing water pump in alpha one

i believe the seal your looking for is item #10 in this link. http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...br=80&bdesc=DRIVESHAFT+HOUSING+AND+DRIVESHAFT

ya can use a screw driver or a seal puller to remove the old seal. also check the mating surface of the drive shaft in the lower. where that seal rides at. it can devolve wear in this area on the shaft itself (caused by the seal, seal wear).
ya can buy a pressure tester somewhere. ebay, mercruiser, probably other places too. or ya can make one. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430 go to #8. ya can see what i made for a tester plus what others have done too...

 

[jeepofino]

Re: replacing water pump in alpha one

Thanks Ziggy, that's exactly what I ordered yesterday and should have them tomorrow. Merry Christmas! Thanks for the link on the pressure gauge also.