Outdrive Rebuild

[BillyCond]

I have a 1989 searay with twin V-6 4.3 L , Drive S/N are OC559239 & OC559235, I think Alpha One's? I purchased this boat recently and have taken it out twice both times I noticed water leaking in when I was cruising and the engine stalls when shifting. Looking at the previous owners records the drives were last serviced in 1997. Reading some of the postings leads me to believe I have a few problems. One I need new boots/bellows and shift cables, while I'm at it water pumps rebuilds. I also have corrosion on both drive so I will need to clean prime and repaint the drives as well. Since this boat is in salt water 100% of the time I have to plan in advance of a haul out to minimize the cost for lay days at the marina.

I have never rebuilt out drives before and my concern is that I will get into this job and find that I forgot to order a gaskit or seal or special tool. Do you know of kits for purchase for DIYers? Or do you just recommend biting the bullet and having the marina do the work? What would one expect to pay for the work I described. I really think I'm capable of doing the job but I just don't want to get stuck half-way with a need for more parts that every expert knows to have on hand before they start the job. Can you advise on kits parts needed or get a pro?
Thanks

 

[45Auto]

Re: Outdrive Rebuild

I would get the shop manual for your drives and review what was required to rebuild them (special tools, shims, gaskets, etc). Then you should be able to make a decision on whether you were capable of the rebuild. As a rough guess, the marina will probably charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $90 an hour for a minimum of about 40 hours of labor. You probably have around $1000 or so just in parts (boots, glue, seals, gaskets, etc).

Keith

 

[MercMonster]

Re: Outdrive Rebuild

There's a few things that a new boat owner can figure out pretty easily. Some repairs, you might want to have a shop do just for the lack of specialty tools that can be expensive if you don't find a good source. As for do-it-yourself, do you have an OEM manual? You'll never figure out what needs what without one of those. I'm sending my drive to the shop this week for some minor repairs that I just don't feel like getting into at this point. I already have too many parts and specialty tools lying around that I don't feel like getting into deeper stuff. Once you get the correct manual, you'll get a better feel for what you can do yourself. Our shop charges $65 an hour, so I hate sending it out, but at least the repairs will be done correctly. I spent the last 9 hours working on rigging a new trim wire harness because they are no longer made for my year. And then installing new hydraulic hoses that needed replacing. Its whatever you feel like you can do.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Outdrive Rebuild

why are you going to rebuild the drives?
the water pumps dont require much in the way of special tools. the late style metal housing pumps need an alighnment tool or a careful eye when installing. the bellows dont require much other than the exhaust bellows tool and a shaft alignment tool to check shaft alignment.
if alignment is ok it takes 2 minutes.
sounds like you will need a shift shaft seal in the gimbal ring. they tend to rust away,a shift cable kit and the ujoint bellows.

your description doesnt indicate any rebuilds just routine maint.

 

[BillyCond]

Re: Outdrive Rebuild

Yes I more than likely just require some routine maintenance, I'm still getting the lingo down. Since the boat is still in the water I have not been able to rule out hidden issues. So assuming it's just routine maintenance do you have an idea of what i'm in for both $$ and time? Are there good kits out there that include all you need or do I need to study the manuals and find each possible item that seals the unit. My concern is that having never done this before I'll miss something and put it back together with a defective part. The manuals are good at telling you "how" but they rarely tell you the "what" is really needed to do it right.