Subject: Alpha 1 gen 2 lower shift shaft asmbly - UPDATED/FIXED

[Whateft]

Hey all,

Ro change this out can I just pull lower unit off of outdrive, or do I need to pull outsrive and then seperate? Also any other tips wod be apprciayed!

Thanks!

Al T
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[wellcraft-classic210]

Hi -- You need to pull the whole drive --

While its off you may want to do any maintenance that's due-- Some component failures in that area tend to cause collateral damage.

What are you trying to repair?

How old are the impeller and bellows ?

 

[Whateft]

OK, thanks. Everything else was already done - why I didnt want to pull it off again. :blue:
Oh well. (New impeller, bellows and oil tube last year, new shift cable this year). Such is life!.

Thanks Again!

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

Pulling the drive goes pretty fast in most cases -- you will need a new gasket -- It must be in forward for the shift hardware to align in a way for it to slide out.


Just curious --What are you repairing ? -- Is their a shift shaft related problem

 

[Bt Doctur]

Either the seal is leaking or he cracked the plastic housing assembling the drive

 

[Whateft]

Sorry, been having problems getting online. a long story short:

Got the boat last year, and kept losing oil out of the port drive, had it looked at, they changed boots and and oil hose, said no water in oil, but still leaked, so kept an eye on reservoir and went about business. Also saw no indication of water in oil when I drained in fall. This spring I changed out the Shift cable and replaced the drive, but left drive partially up, where i discovered oil leaking down drive leg. After research, determined it was most likely the shift shaft assembly. Which led to question above. Now, to finish the saga....

Took off drive, and noticed a bend in the shaft - although it still was shifting the drive properly. When I split the drive, it was apparent that the shift shaft had been severely bent and had worn the seal out. It was obvious that even if I replaced the assembly, the bend in the shaft was so severe it would, in short order, start leaking again. The drive had t have been dropped, or something big hit it as the bend is around 30 deg. which means that the plastic housing around it must have been broken, so the marina knew what they did. Anyway, I am now waiting to get a replacement shaft, which was supposed to be yesterday but will hopefully be today, so I can finalize this issue. And yes, even though the waterpump is only one season old, since I was in there I replaced that also.

Once I get all replaced, I'll post a pic of the shaft. Amazing it was making contact at all.

thanks Again.

 

[JoLin]

Certainly sounds like you need to replace the shaft and seal assembly, but I'd be leery of assuming that's the reason you're losing lube. A leaking shift shaft seal could leak lube, I guess, but it definitely lets water in.

My .02

 

[Whateft]

Thanks. There was actually an indication of a small amount of water, but nothing like the milky/frothy one might expect given the amount lost. The last culprit may be the tube from reservoir to transome, but there is no indication of gear oil in bilge. Anyway, I'll keep an eye on it. For kicks and grins, the old shaft I replaced tonight....

 

[Roadblock007]

Why haven't you done a pressure test? That will tell you what's going on right away.

 

[Whateft]

Thanks Did a pressure test, all was fine, held 15lbs for over an hour.

 

[Whateft]

New problem - Gen 2 shift shaft change

So, my previous thread I discussed doing the lower unit shift shaft change on port side (Counter Rotation). Well, I did it, all was good. Boat shifted fine non-running, and on on muffs. Put her in the water, at marina mooring tested shifting both engines several times, all good, same at gas dock. When I got to my mooring, as I was maneuvering her, I lost the port motor, started her back up, she turned over right away, but as I was shifting she wasn't responding right when i realize i have no reverse. She is stuck in forward. There is a little movement when I shift to neutral, enough that when I turn engine off she slips out of gear, but that is it - she stays in gear once she is engaged until turned off.

I am having her pulled this weekend, hopefully to look at. The shift shaft is now stuck (i got into very cold water to make sure), or at least I assume as the cable is also brand new. As it is costly to have her pulled (32'), any insights would be appreciated. 2 things I am not sure of:

On the old shaft was a small sleeve that is also in diagrams. On the old shaft, it just sat on top of the new seal housing, so that is where i put it.

Also, it was windy, first day out, and i was shifting a bit quickly to get in place - could an overly fast shift from fwd to reverse, or vice versa, cause a jam? And if so, any suggestion on getting it undone while in water?

Also, props are SS if it matters.

Any insights on what to look for would be appreciated. I am going to just pull the lower to isolate the shift assembly just in case it is something with the cable or the shifter in the outdrive, but if anyone can give me any insights on what else to look for or do, I'd appreciate it.

I am also going to talk to the marina about cost of a rebuild just in case.

Thanks.

 

[GA_Boater]

Lets keep this all in one thread for context. Thanks

 

[Whateft]

If you say so supreme Mariner! I was concerned it would get lost as folks wouldnt realiz e a new problem!

 

[GA_Boater]

If you say so supreme Mariner! I was concerned it would get lost as folks wouldnt realiz e a new problem!

We're smarter than you think.

 

[Whateft]

Hey all - does anyone have any suggestions for me? Going to work on her Saturday of all goes well!!!

 

[Rick Stephens]

Not enough information for me to know what happened. In my opinion, you are going to have to get the drive off and see what happens when manually shifting at the lower shift shaft. It either works or it doesn't.

 

[Whateft]

Thanks. I was hoping there might be some wild thing I didn't know about!. I actually suspect I somehow screwed up the new shift cable, as I do get a slight movement at the shift shaft. I moved pretty fast between fwd and reverse, and the shift interupter was not quite right (was going to fix it after we got tied up) so i am crossing my fingers it is that, not the lower!

thanks for responding!

Al T

 

[Whateft]

UPDATE - lower shift shaft asmbly

Just to close the loop, and as a warning for others, it appears I never learn - it was my error. The whole story is here:

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/eng...ubject-alpha-1-gen-2-lower-shift-shaft-asmbly

I somehow managed to route the cable wrong, it slipped, and was rubbing against the outdrive shaft - you can guess the rest. An expensive lesson (having boat pulled for short haul, put on blocks) but could have been worse. Of course, had I stopped when I got tired, it wouldn't have happened at all.

Stop working when get tired - It was late, I should have stopped, but was sooooo close, and so didn't. Checked other engine and it was fine.

Anyway, if changing that shift cable, check your routing!

Silver Lining - sort of :uncomfortableness: - when taking her over on one engine, in a turn I heard a rumbling, so will change out the gimbal bearing on other side while she's out.

I have probably removed and replaced these drives more this year than most people do in 5 years!

Anyway, will finish her up tonight and back on water this weekend. All in all, only missed one weekend, and the weather was crappy on Saturday anyway!

Enjoy the summer!