changing seals

[babyman]

i own a 1994 Crownline with a 350 magnum V8 and a mercruiser alpha one sterndrive. there is a drive oil leak and so im told i need to change the seals in the lower unit. i need to know which seals to buy. and which gaskets...if i need them. if someone could tell me some specifics on which ones to get and maybe where to get them...it would be very much appreciated. thanks.<br />jake

 

[Don S]

Re: changing seals

What you need to do is drain the drive, and do a pressure and vacuum check to find which seals are leaking. Do you have a visable leak, oil or water in the bellows, water in the drive???

 

[babyman]

Re: changing seals

most of the drive oil ends up in the hull of the boat under the engine with some water (i dont know how it gets there) there is also drive oil all around the back of the boat in the lake which only occurs after the boat is put in gear. the oil in the lake comes in the form of little bubbles from around the lower unit and then pop when they get to the surface. and yes there must be water getting in the line because the oil in the reservoir is all milky and seperating. i want to go ahead and change all the seals and gaskets, i just dont know which kit of seals i need or how to go about it. thanks for your help.<br /><br />jake

 

[Don S]

Re: changing seals

Then you need a new ujoint bellows also. The water that gets into the bellows also gets into the drive and throught the gimbal bearing and into the engine compartment. <br />Other than the front seal and probably the yoke in the front of the drive, you probably need a gimbal bearing and ujoints along with the bellows.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: changing seals

no probablys here, if your getting gear oil and water in the hull you will need a yoke,ujoints gimbal bearing and bellows. the complete drive shaft may be cheaper. you can buy upper and lower seal kits as well as a master kit for the drive.<br /> you will need to know which alpha ya have so you will need the drive seriel number for the correct parts, takes a few special tools and a new pinion nut and tension washer. and a few days spent studying the correct service manual before wrenching always works well.

 

[babyman]

Re: changing seals

thanks for all the help...ok so if i just go ahead and get a master seal kit, it'll pretty much cover everything and give me all the seals i need? for the lower and upper? it will cover the yoke, ujoints, gimbal bearing, and bellows??? im just trying to make sure im understanding correctly. also, anybody have any idea how much this kit might cost??? <br />thanks again.

 

[Bondo]

Re: changing seals

1994 Should be an Alpha 1 GenII,... I Think.....<br /><br /> All the Parts are listed Here,................................................<br />

im just trying to make sure im understanding correctly.

Just so you know,......<br />What you're proposing is Not considered a DIY job,.......<br />Lot's of Special Tools,+ Knowledge are Absolutely Nessessary to complete the task, Right.......

 

[Don S]

Re: changing seals

The gimbal bearing, ujoints, yoke and bellows are all seperate from the seal kit for the drive.<br />These are Merc list prices.<br />Gimbal bearing 62<br />Ujoints (2 sets) 100<br />Ujoint bellows 92<br />Yoke 75<br />Upper seal kit 29<br />You will also need the tools to remove the old gimbal bearing and install the new one, and of course an alignmenent bar.<br />Do you have a manual (Mercruiser, not Clymers or Seloc) if not. Here is a link to one online.<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf

 

[babyman]

Re: changing seals

a buddy of mine works at a marina repairing boats...hes gonna help me out and should have all the tools we need at his shop. but first i need to purchase all these parts and i'd like to get a manual or something so i kinda know whats going on and am not just standing there without a clue.<br />thanks for all your help guys. i really appreciate it. please add anything you think might be helpful to me.<br />thanks again.

 

[Don S]

Re: changing seals

I gave you the link to the manual Mercruiser manual. But you have to click it and open the different sections yourself.<br />Here it is again.<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf