2000 Mercruiser Alpha One Transom Seals

[BriggsysBoat]

Hi all. First time boat owner and first time poster here. Just acquired a 2000 Ebbtide Campione 182. It has the 3.0 Alpha Engine in it. Runs really well (had it going in the driveway today) but the transom seals are shot. Looking online to find a replacement and it looks like perhaps Sierra is the way to go. But they sell a repalcement for Alpha Gen 1 and Alpha Gen 2. For the life of me I can't figure which Gen I have. I am sure it is way easier to figure out than I am making it, but I just can't tell and I really don't want to order the wrong parts. Also - I plan on replacing the gimbal bearing while I am in there. Is this going to be a doable job? I consider myself relatively mechanical. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Scott06]

You should have a gen two.

google pics of alpha gen two and alpha gen one biggest visual difference is just above the prop shaft the vertical fin is raked back as it goes up to meet the cavitation plate.

on a gen is straight vertical here

you can also post pics of your drive... or serial number


for bellows and water pump impellers I’d stay with OEM merc vs aftermarket parts . General consensus is they hold up and fit better.


achris gimbal bearing is no big deal need a good size 5-10 lb slide hammer to remove , alignment bar, and a driver to seat outer race of new bearing. I’ve used a 3” pvc pipe and 1” dowl to seat it.

I think a Chris has some good videos on you tube he can give a link or I think his handle on you tube is Chris660 ?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... Welcome Aboard,..... The Gen.II Alpha came out in '91, so if original, yer's should be a Gen.II,......

 

[harringtondav]

"Relatively mechanical" skills will get your work done. You will need a three jaw slide hammer to pull the gimbal bearing. Before that you will need to pull you out drive. Shift it into FWD, and disconnect the speedo tube at the drive. The six nuts torque back up at 50 ft-lb.

While you have your drive off there are other checks you should make. I won't elaborate now. The real pros will chime in on those. Keep us updated as you proceed and have questions. There is a ton of help here.

 

[Bt Doctur]

To change the actual transom housing seal you need to remove the drive, the engine and then the housing
Do you mean the main bellows and shift cable bellow?

 

[achris]

... like perhaps Sierra is the way to go. ...

Nope! Sierra bellows are poor quality. Had more than a few fail, and that takes out the gimbal bearing and the unis when it does. I've only ever tried putting on one Sierra bellows, never again!

For bellows, OEM is really the only option. Part number for a Gen II transom seal kit (includes 3 bellows, gimbal bearing, bell housing gasket and a water hose) 30-803099T1

Chris......

 

[Rick Stephens]

I would strongly recommend you get a copy of an OEM Mercruiser manual #14 for your outdrive and start there. Assume no maintenance was done in the last years of a bored owner tired of doing maintenance. You can get the manual by purchasing a hard copy by online at boatinfo or by begging for a PDF link.

Then start in on all the scheduled maintenance. Do not start after individual items, something you didn't know is a maintenance item is going to bite you. Need to check everything.

Rick

 

[BriggsysBoat]

I knew I came to the right place! Thank you all so much for the infomation. I purchased the SELOC Mercruiser Stern Drive Repair and Maintance Manual, and hoo-boy is there a lot of info in there, but I'm feeling like some of the actual step by step instructions and pictures are a little lacking. I will look for the OEM Manual (thanks for the link Rick Stevens) and between the two of them, plus the good old YouTube, I think I can handle it. My buddy is loaning me his Slide Hammer and Gimbal tool so I think I am good there. I will also order the OEM kit - thanks for the part # achris. I'll keep you all posted on the progress.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Brig, check your messages

 

[Rick Stephens]

Questions should come here, not UTube. Unfortunately, no way of telling right from wrong there.

 

[BriggsysBoat]

Brig, check your messages

Thanks Bt Doctur really appreciate it.

 

[BriggsysBoat]

Questions should come here, not UTube. Unfortunately, no way of telling right from wrong there.

Will do, Rick. Thanks so much! Just ordered the OEM parts. We'll see how long they take to arrive.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I knew I came to the right place! Thank you all so much for the infomation. I purchased the SELOC Mercruiser Stern Drive Repair and Maintance Manual,.

I take it you were out of toilet paper? needed knee pads seriously the SELOC manual is full of wrong information and makes great knee pads, or TP in a pinch. you need a factory manual. links in the stickies..... many of us have PDF versions

 

[achris]

you need a factory manual. links in the stickies..... many of us have PDF versions

Or both.

 

[Searay205]

the only bellows i ever had fail was an aftermarket shift cable bellows. I changed all the bellows what a complete waste of effort. they were perfect after 25 years. Oh the reason the shift bellows failed, it was 1" shorter than the OEM so was always stretched. if you keep your boat in the water that one thing if its trailered your bellows never need changed, again my boat was a 1987 Starcraft medalist 1601 with 3.0 liter, salt water bellows, driveshaft, exhaust, inlet hose LIKE NEW AFTER 25 YEARS. complete waste of time...

 

[achris]

the only bellows i ever had fail was an aftermarket shift cable bellows. I changed all the bellows what a complete waste of effort. they were perfect after 25 years. Oh the reason the shift bellows failed, it was 1" shorter than the OEM so was always stretched. if you keep your boat in the water that one thing if its trailered your bellows never need changed, again my boat was a 1987 Starcraft medalist 1601 with 3.0 liter, salt water bellows, driveshaft, exhaust, inlet hose LIKE NEW AFTER 25 YEARS. complete waste of time...

Thank you.... I have been saying for years that MERC bellows don't require replacing all that often. It's a hangover from Volvo's rubbish bellows and their requirement for them to be changed every 5 years. Now people think ALL bellows need to be changed every 5 years. I've had mine on since new (2006) and I still only look at them every 3 or 4 years... 14 years old, still look like new.

Chris......