Bought a 88 marlin bowrider with 3.0. alpha 1 gear sheared

[Tony4705]

Ok picked the boat up yesterday and was told the flywheel coupler was sheared. During disassembly I noticed that the alpha 1 would lock and not spin then spin freely. took off the cap to the upper and the two spider gears are destroyed. went ahead and took the lower down and it seemed like there was an issue with the lower gears as well. took off the water pump and the Impeller is crammed in there and way off center. is it possible the wrong impeller was installed loading up the gears and eventually shearing them. Or is it more likely someone has been in the top end and forgot a shim. can upload pics if needed. this is my first boat but I've cammed an engine or two so I dont fear wrenches.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I would state offhand that your outdrive is trash. What shears gears is lack of lubrication, putting in gear with the motor revved up, hitting something or improper shimming when assembled. Once they are trashed, they cost more to fix than it costs to find a replacement. And yes, a frozen outdrive will definitely trash the coupler, so the motor has to come out to replace that. And no, the impeller cannot trash the gears. The impeller is designed to be off center. That is how a displacement pump works.

 

[Tony4705]

This water impeller has a keyway. Just looks wier to me. so general consensus is I have to buy a new upper and lower. Or find an upper? Nobody changes gears and bearings?

 

[Tony4705]

The bellow was full of oil water sludge. I guess maybe blew a seal and over heated?

 

[Tony4705]

also it looks like joints were installed yesterday on this thing. one of the reasons I was looking at replacing bearings and gears.

 

[achris]

Just to buy the special tools to set the shims up will cost you more than a brand new drive...

 

[Tony4705]

ok thanks guys.

 

[Scott Danforth]

it would be cheaper to buy a mid 90's bayliner with a rotten hull and take the whole driveline than it would be to fix your existing drive. if you play your cards right, you can get the bayliner for $500, pull out the whole driveline, then sell your 88 motor, the trailer that was under the bayliner and some bits and pieces and come out money ahead.

 

[Tony4705]

I'm just gonna say I like your attitude sir!