SEI Alpha or used

[tunacious]

After toasting the upper gears in my 1988 Alpha drive last year, I am contemplating replacing the complete drive with either a new SEI drive for $1200 or a used one for $500. Any info on SEI. Ive read the archived posts that were mostly positive. Also, any problem with replacing the Alpha with a pre Alpha 1981 drive in case I go the used route.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

As long as it is gen 1 it will work.....<br />I have heard mostly positive things about the SEI....<br />I would go new....<br />An 81 drive is 25 years old....JK

 

[tunacious]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

Thats what I was thinking. Plus you get a warranty with the SEI.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

As I understand, the pre-alpha driveshaft is a bit shorter than your alpha and will not engage the spline of the alpha setup's coupler fully.<br />Those with pre-alpha transoms can go to an alpha drive, but not the other way 'round....

 

[Bondo]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

Originally posted by hystat:<br /> As I understand, the pre-alpha driveshaft is a bit shorter than your alpha and will not engage the spline of the alpha setup's coupler fully.<br />Those with pre-alpha transoms can go to an alpha drive, but not the other way 'round....

It also has to do with In-line, Vs. V-motors too......<br /><br />Just make Sure the Input shaft is the Same length as the 1 removed......

 

[Boatwizard]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

The only sei drives I've seen fail were the early ones behind a 350. We use them all the time on 4 and 6 cyl applications. Haven't had a problem other that a couple of lowers were noisy in reverse. Never gave any problems mind you, they just had a loud hum in reverse. <br />One of our service boats has a 3 liter with a sei drive, it has about 850 hours on the drive.

 

[AaronG]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

I think I'd go with the SEI drive. They've been around long enough that if they were a mess, you'd see all kinds of negitive posts.

 

[qystan]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

I am using a SEI lower, its been one and a half years now. <br /><br />No troubles, should have done this from the start than after trying to fix the old alpha. At the price, its cheaper than mech's time plus parts and downtime, especially if you get a badly done job that needs revisits.

 

[Pan-one]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

I purchased a SEI for $1200.00 last year after toasting my forward gears. I've put appx. 50hrs. on it and no problems. I run a 5.7 260Hp.Merc. I'd go new.

 

[ziggy]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

sei or mercrusier? i don't know. but it raises a question to me. like usuall. anyways, who will service the sei drive? the mercruiser dealer?

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

Originally posted by ziggystardust:<br /> sei or mercrusier? i don't know. but it raises a question to me. like usuall. anyways, who will service the sei drive? the mercruiser dealer?

I can't see why a merc dealer wouldn't change the oil and greasu the joints etc...<br />As far as repairing it? Who cares... how much mercruiser repairing can be done for $1200 ... throw a new one on every 1200 hours.... that's $1/hour

 

[qystan]

Re: SEI Alpha or used

Have opened up my unit, the parts are the same as Merc. You'll not have problems finding someone to fix it. <br /><br />But as Hystat puts it, why try to fix $1200, especially major work. The mech fees and parts will easily bust $1200.