Alpha one holes, buddy plugged them

[ryanr623]

My buddy just picked up a new, used, alpha one drive for his mercruiser 140.... off of another boat with a mercruiser 140.

The new drive has 2 holes on either side of the upper (pictured) and his old drive did not. They sort of look like they are meant to be there, but mine doesnt have them either... there is corrosion around them. Anyways he plugged them up with silicone for now. Can anyone identify these holes, and if it was bad to plug them?

 

[chargerboy]

Re: Alpha one holes, buddy plugged them

I don't have my alpha outdrive anymore, so I can't run out to check, but I don't think those holes are supposed to be there. They could be from somebody mounting a drive shower. The pic you posted is extremely small, can you take a better photo?

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Alpha one holes, buddy plugged them

I don't have my alpha outdrive anymore, so I can't run out to check, but I don't think those holes are supposed to be there. They could be from somebody mounting a drive shower. The pic you posted is extremely small, can you take a better photo?

The pic was very big and detailed, but iboats said it was too big. Im thinking either way he'll be fine to plug them.... menioned even getting some waterweld (by jb weld) and permanently seal them.

 

[mariner1900]

Re: Alpha one holes, buddy plugged them

On the 2 x MC-1 drives I have the holes are there.

When the engine is running a stream of water sprays from the hole so I always guessed the holes are tell tales for the cooling water discharge from the pump.

Not sure if Alphas have the holes but I suspect they do and for the same reason.

 

[chargerboy]

Re: Alpha one holes, buddy plugged them

Jb weld should do fine, clean the corrosion best you can first though. My Alpha Gen 1 drive never had holes on it ( i found a picture) and there was no discharge of water from the drive at all.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Alpha one holes, buddy plugged them

Whatch for "I have a crack in the upper unit, can I JB weld it?" thread next spring. Those holes are there for the reason, they are drain holes for the smal chambers behind them. There should be no water gashing out of them when you run it on muffs.

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Alpha one holes, buddy plugged them

Whatch for "I have a crack in the upper unit, can I JB weld it?" thread next spring. Those holes are there for the reason, they are drain holes for the smal chambers behind them. There should be no water gashing out of them when you run it on muffs.

He hasnt put the drive on, so i do not know. Good thing he only siliconed them...... course he has till winter before he has to worry about it freezing.... dont rush summer!!!