Alpha One Gen II outdrive won't go in all the way

[gjm27n]

Finally got my motor in and aligned. Trying to install the Alpha One Gen II outdrive and can't get it in all the way. Seems to be hung up somewhere or just real tight. It has less than 1" to go. It is in forward and everything seems to be lined up correctly. I believe the spline is engaged with the motor because if I spin the prop it will spin the motor.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Too much grease in the o-ring groove on the driveshaft maybe. Or too much grease in the coupler.

 

[gjm27n]

Thanks Rick, interesting thought. I did grease it up pretty good. Are you thinking it might be an air lock?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Yeah, could be. You want a very, very thin coat on that part of the shaft or it’s a bear to get on.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Too much grease in the grooves makes the o-rings stick out a lot, and it won't press out easily. Too much grease in the coupler and it just stops the shaft, no where for the grease to go.

 

[dubs283]

gen 2 couplers have an air bleed hole at the forward (flywheel) end to prevent airlock from too much grease. the only time i've experienced airlock when installing a drive is on older (70's) in-line engines/drives and i use a dollop of spline grease (1.5 fl. oz.) on a long screwdriver inserted into the coupler to grease the splines.

don't bother with slathering grease on the driveshaft splines, it will get wiped off by the seal in front of the gimbal bearing anyways

verify the shift foot and fork are lined up

light oil/grease on the drive shaft o-rings and some working up and down of the drive should coax it past the gimbal bearing and get it mostly seated

 

[Bt Doctur]

With everything properly aligned you should be able to push the drive on to within an 1/8 to 3/16 . The alignment bar goes in easily and pulls out with 2 greased fingers