Alpha one hard shifting into neutral and gear oil leak

[Rydogan]

Hello
new to site and new to boating.

I have a 2000 chaparral with a gm mercruiser 5.0L and alpha one. I have had it for a couple months and put about 20hrs on it with no issues since buying. Before going out last, I noticed the gear oil reservoir was very low so I topped it off. After launching from trailer I noticed a couple times it passed over neutral or it popped into neutral on throttle lever but was not in neutral. On the way back in to trailer the shifting issue was more difficult to find neutral without wiggling the throttle control. When I get boat back home I notice the bluish gear oil dripping off starboard side of lower end and now the gear oil reservoir is back to where it was before refilling before going out on water.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

 

[alldodge]

Howdy new boat owner
With all used and new to you, first thing you need to do is maintenance. With the drive leaking it needs it more so.

Pull the drive and see if there is lube in the bellows. Drain all the lube and pressure test the drive (Find how to in the Adults only section)

Will probably be splitting the drive to replace the water pump or at least impeller

 

[Rydogan]

Hi.
Thanks for responding. I finally got around to getting the drive off, drained, and pressure tested.
First, the oil began leaking again as I trimmed up the drive to get my stand under. It looked like it was running off near the shift cable. Then as I pulled the drive from the housing a decent amount of oil ran out. It did not look like there was oil in the bellows, at least not pools of it, looked like just grease in there. Again it only streams oil when it is in trailered position.
I created a pressure tester and it seems like it is holding pressure pretty well.
It seems like the oil is leaking from somewhere around where the outdrive attaches to the bell housing.


Thanks

 

[Bondo]

It seems like the oil is leaking from somewhere around where the outdrive attaches to the bell housing.

Ayuh,....... Welcome Aboard,....... The Alpha, Gen.II has an oil hose for the in-boat reservoir, in that area,......

 

[Rydogan]

Checked the oil reservoir tube and the plastic end piece is intact and works, no oil leaking until end depressed. Can the drive/bell housing gasket fail enough to let oil run out, as the gasket looks worn in areas.

Also, split the drive and have removed the water pump housing to change the impeller. Under the water pump housing and in areas where the upper and lower drive housing meet some of the black paint has come off exposing bare metal. Should I paint these surfaces before putting everything back together?

thanks

 

[alldodge]

It seems like the oil is leaking from somewhere around where the outdrive attaches to the bell housing.

no oil leaking until end depressed

The drive gasket should seal off around the quick connect fitting. That is if your taking about the fitting that connects the drive lube bottle to the drive

 

[Rydogan]

Yes, that is where it looked like the oil was leaking from. I will change the seal and put the drive back together, hopefully it was as simple as a worn and faulty drive gasket.

 

[Rick Stephens]

BTW, good job on diagnosing without just spending a bunch of money on it. Too many people think just going to replacing parts is fixing their boat.