Hello,
I have a 2006 Merc Alpha 1 Gen II outdrive coupled to a 3.0 of the same year. It's on an Eastern 24 Lobster boat. A few weeks ago I hit a rock while backing on my anchor(stopped us dead from 2 or 3 knots), toasted the prop, but I didn't notice any other damage at the time. Today while doing some maintenance I noticed a little side to side play in the outdrive that I don't think was there before I hit the rock.
After doing some investigating I've come to the conclusion that it's play between the steering lever and gimbal pin, there is zero play between the gimbal housing and pin (I tightened it just to be sure) so it must be in the steering lever. Everything else is tight.
It seems to be about 3/8" of side to side play measured at the prop shaft, when I lightly move it back and forth with someone inside the boat they verified that the steering lever is not moving at all, that's how I've come to the conclusion that it's the pin/ steering lever. It seems the only way to remove that pin is to pull the engine and pull the transom assembly apart, is that right?
From the parts diagram it looks like the pin is a square spline, that leads me to think that my 3/8" of play probably isn't much to worry about, while it can't get any better it doesn't seem like it would really get worse (maybe wobbling back and forth while trailering)? Since it's a square pin, I can't imagine it's anywhere near stripping out or being a safety concern at this point.
What does everyone think? Pulling the engine doesn't look like much of a project (I've done much worse), but it's also not something I really want to do. However, I would much rather do it now, that in the middle of the season next year...
Thanks in advance!
I have a 2006 Merc Alpha 1 Gen II outdrive coupled to a 3.0 of the same year. It's on an Eastern 24 Lobster boat. A few weeks ago I hit a rock while backing on my anchor(stopped us dead from 2 or 3 knots), toasted the prop, but I didn't notice any other damage at the time. Today while doing some maintenance I noticed a little side to side play in the outdrive that I don't think was there before I hit the rock.
After doing some investigating I've come to the conclusion that it's play between the steering lever and gimbal pin, there is zero play between the gimbal housing and pin (I tightened it just to be sure) so it must be in the steering lever. Everything else is tight.
It seems to be about 3/8" of side to side play measured at the prop shaft, when I lightly move it back and forth with someone inside the boat they verified that the steering lever is not moving at all, that's how I've come to the conclusion that it's the pin/ steering lever. It seems the only way to remove that pin is to pull the engine and pull the transom assembly apart, is that right?
From the parts diagram it looks like the pin is a square spline, that leads me to think that my 3/8" of play probably isn't much to worry about, while it can't get any better it doesn't seem like it would really get worse (maybe wobbling back and forth while trailering)? Since it's a square pin, I can't imagine it's anywhere near stripping out or being a safety concern at this point.
What does everyone think? Pulling the engine doesn't look like much of a project (I've done much worse), but it's also not something I really want to do. However, I would much rather do it now, that in the middle of the season next year...
Thanks in advance!
