Alpha 1 Gen 1 top cover bearing

[marky48170]

OK, so the top cover bearing went on my drive is this a common problem? It also ate up part of the gears in the upper housing, is more cost effective to rebuild it or just buy to get amother one? If rebuild what do I need to replace?

 

[thumpar]

It is not common. Sounds like the gear lube may have been low. I would not rebuild. You now have metal pieces in your lube and to clean it requires taking the upper and lower apart. I will be cheaper to just get an SEI complete drive.

 

[Bt Doctur]

OK, so the top cover bearing went on my drive is this a common problem?
No, not a common problem. low oil level usually destroys a drive or mis-assembly .
Some special tools or the knowledge to assemble a rear end of a car(ring/pinion. heel/ toe)
Upper gear set ,complete $639.00 Sierra 18-2256
SEI upper

close

Brand: SEI Marine
Code: 90-106-01D
OE#: 9412A20
$645.00

 

[alldodge]

OK, so the top cover bearing went on my drive is this a common problem? It also ate up part of the gears in the upper housing, is more cost effective to rebuild it or just buy to get amother one? If rebuild what do I need to replace?

Agree with others, unless you have the special tools just look at getting another SEI drive. Might think about the entire drive, no expert here on the alpha (BT Doc is) but when I found metal in my bravo, I also found it in the bottom. If I didn't replace the lower as well I would take the lower apart to clean and inspect.

 

[Fishermark]

Agree with others, unless you have the special tools just look at getting another SEI drive. Might think about the entire drive, no expert here on the alpha (BT Doc is) but when I found metal in my bravo, I also found it in the bottom. If I didn't replace the lower as well I would take the lower apart to clean and inspect.

I agree. With the damage you describe, it would not be wise to simply bolt a new upper on the old lower without at least disassembling and cleaning. A tricky proposition at best. A new complete SEI would be the way to go. Great warranty as well.

 

[500dollar744ti]

I had this happen because water was getting in my drive and displacing oil into the bellows. Did you get a nice loud whining noise before it broke? That was when I first got the boat and hadn't pressure tested the drive. I always pressure test the drive now

 

[marky48170]

I started getting a loud rattling noise from the drive. I got it home and took the top cap off and seen the top bearing completely destoryed and the gears weren't to bad but alot of metal shavings and bearing parts. It look like someone put a roller bearing in a blender. I just pulled the drive off today and looked at the lower end and there's metal shavings down there to. I've already decided to replace the whole unit with an SEI next year. Is there anything I need to know when replacing the drive, I know it ships in 2 parts and you have to buy the install kit ( gasket and other parts to install ). The only thing that i'm pissed about is I've only have had this boat for a week and now this happens.

 

[Bondo]

I started getting a loud rattling noise from the drive. I got it home and took the top cap off and seen the top bearing completely destoryed and the gears weren't to bad but alot of metal shavings and bearing parts. It look like someone put a roller bearing in a blender. I just pulled the drive off today and looked at the lower end and there's metal shavings down there to. I've already decided to replace the whole unit with an SEI next year. Is there anything I need to know when replacing the drive, I know it ships in 2 parts and you have to buy the install kit ( gasket and other parts to install ). The only thing that i'm pissed about is I've only have had this boat for a week and now this happens.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.... The Gear ratio,.... What motor ya got,..??

 

[marky48170]

Its the 120 hp mercruiser. How do I determan the ratio? The web sites I've gone to suggest its a 1.94 gear and it has the longer input shaft. I measured alittle over 9 inchs.

 

[Bondo]

Its the 120 hp mercruiser. How do I determan the ratio? The web sites I've gone to suggest its a 1.94 gear and it has the longer input shaft. I measured alittle over 9 inchs.

Ayuh,..... That sounds right,....

 

[Rick Stephens]

Just did the install of a new SEI 1.94 ratio Alpha 1. I had a couple difficulties and a couple things I had to contact them on that would be easier if they told you. First one is, they leave off the intermediate shift shaft bushing. It IS unnecessary, but if you don't read the paper comes with the packing slip, which I didn't, you won't know that. They just let the intermediate shift shaft rattle around in the hole in the upper. once it sets down on the stub of the shift shaft it is held just fine.

My biggest problem was that the intermediate shift shoe did not end up straight forward in forward gear, but was cocked a bit. When I tried to slide onto the bell housing it would hit the slot on the upper shift shaft on one side and force the upper shaft to be twist and stop right there. Support guy, Justin at SEI, had me use a 5/16 end wrench to rotate the intermediate against its springs so it would line up as I installed the drive. It does have a bit of spring loading, so this worked. It is always going to be a PITA unless the shift assembly wears in a bit and allows the intermediate to sit straight. I also had to adjust the shift linkage to compensate.

Last thing - the paint on an SEI is thick and brittle and doesn't adhere very well. Anywhere that the drive touches something the paint will shatter and fall off. So be really careful during install. Even laying the drive on its side on a wood creeper beat paint off the housing. You have to be really really careful if you want to keep the new drive looking new.

Support was great. Good side to dealing with SEI.

Rick