2011 alpha one stern drive dropping while trailering

[TMoeller]

Last night we loaded up our Crown line 21SS boat and left lake for home. During drive home, a car pulled up next to us telling us the motor was down. I pulled over with a sick feeling in my stomach. Stern drive had been dragging for a bit. Chewed up prop and skew. I raised motor back up thinking I had mistakenly left it down at the ramp. Still wasn’t 100% sure I had because that was a mistake I couldn’t believe I had made...but was only logical explanation. So $200 later, I reinstalled a new 4-blade prop on drive at house. Loaded up and drove it to storage about 5 miles from home. The last 50 yards of road a clanking started again.....drive dropped again. Damnit. I am assuming hydraulic seals in trims are going bad??? Anyone have this issue? I am looking at a transom saver or something to secure the drive when trailering.

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

There are a few reasons for the drive to drop. Check the fluid first.

Transom savers don't work well on IO's. You could get some trailering clips to support the outdrive, before and after the TnT is fixed. https://www.iboats.com/shop/searchrabbit/result/?q=trailering+clips

 

[Rick Stephens]

I’d just use a 1 inch tie down strap up to the tow ring to hold it up for sure.

Very possible a little bit of trash gets in the valve and hold it open on the pump. Or seals gone bad. I broke off half my skeg towing the boat around the yard here with a tractor when I missed that my drive had dropped. I rebuilt the pump and cleaned out its tank and fixed it. Few minutes with a welder and the skeg good as new.