HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

[copelandcf]

Hey everyone,

On everyone's advice I decided to do the water pump myself. So far so good except now that I'm ready to put everything back together I'm not sure whether I use all the o-rings in my Quicksilver kit. This is a picture of my kit http://www.go2marine.com/go2_structure/8/6/3/7/86377F-f.gif .

The ones I'm confused about are a small orange o-ring, two blue ones (assume these are oil drain and vent), and there are two washers (one rubber, one gasket material), then there are two small pieces of black rubber tubing about a 1/4" long, and lastly a single small black o-ring, and also a pin. I did not see any of these parts in dissemblance.

I know where to put the o-ring towards the top of the drive shaft, and to put the centrifugal slinger, I know what the key is and where to put it, but the other parts baffle me. Are they for a gen II or R application? Thanks for any help. I'm stuck till then cause I do not want to screw this up

Also with the gasket pack there is the 3 large o-rings (1-2" diameter), I also did not see this in dissemblance and have not seen these in the how to. Please help! Thanks

 

[achris]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Hi,

The kits are assembled to cater for multiple applications. There will be a few parts in there that you can't use...

Just a word on the 'o' ring that goes ion the top of the drive shaft... Don't put it on. The later driveshafts didn't have an 'o' ring groove on them. Merc did release a service bulletin about it, back sometime in the early 90s. The reason is that as the shaft slides into the splines in the upper, the 'o' ring catches on the seal and holds it open, thus allowing water into the spline area... and goodbye to the upper driveshaft.... Just make sure the seal in the upper is good. They're cheap and I replace them on every service anyway...

Chris........

 

[copelandcf]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Hi,

The kits are assembled to cater for multiple applications. There will be a few parts in there that you can't use...

Just a word on the 'o' ring that goes ion the top of the drive shaft... Don't put it on. The later driveshafts didn't have an 'o' ring groove on them. Merc did release a service bulletin about it, back sometime in the early 90s. The reason is that as the shaft slides into the splines in the upper, the 'o' ring catches on the seal and holds it open, thus allowing water into the spline area... and goodbye to the upper driveshaft.... Just make sure the seal in the upper is good. They're cheap and I replace them on every service anyway...

Chris........

What is the upper seal? Part number??? Where exactly does this go? Thanks for the help!

 

[copelandcf]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Found out the orange one is the "quad seal", or oil seal. Blue ones are for oil vent and drain as suspected. The others must be for other kits.

As I was putting in the the lower, I saw by the splines in the upper drive a seal that looked like it had a spring around it, is that the upper seal? Must be, it was not in good shape, maybe I messed it up trying to put in the lower drive. Do you have to pull the upper drive to install that, or do you just slip it in up there?

Another problem I've come across is the copper tube's base in the upper looked a little melted from my burnout, I'll probably have to replace that, any advice, once again do I have to pull the upper, so far I just took off the lower and didnt plan on pulling the upper as I do not have a stand.

Good news is water pump is done, now just the other copper tube base and upper seal to go. Hopefully....

 

[achris]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

...

Another problem I've come across is the copper tube's base in the upper looked a little melted from my burnout, I'll probably have to replace that, any advice, once again do I have to pull the upper, so far I just took off the lower and didnt plan on pulling the upper as I do not have a stand.....

O-oh!!! Do a search on 'Water pocket cover'. If it's melted, then it needs replacing... Not a pretty job... and yes, you'll have to remove the upper to work on it all.... Do you have the service manual?

Chris...........

 

[copelandcf]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

I dont have a manual, but someone gave me a link to one online.

http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

This doesnt sound fun

Is that the upper seal I described?

Thanks for your help. Cavan

 

[achris]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

The 'water pocket cover' is the bit of plastic that the copper tube goes into... If it's melted, then exhaust gas can get back into the cooling water and.... no more cooling... The seal I'm referring to is where the gear housing driveshaft goes into the bottom of the upper driveshaft.

Download the manual, have a read, and be very scared.....

Chris............

 

[copelandcf]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

The water pocket cover is a little melted, but it almost looks like it could be fine. The copper tube does wiggle a little bit, but I'm thinking of maybe just sealing the tube to the base with some high temp silicone as a quick fix.

That is the seal I was thinking was the upper seal, mine was messed up pretty bad. Is there a way to install that seal with the upper still on the boat? I'll check the manual and see what I can find there too. I'd like to keep the upper on so I dont have to align the stern and motor, which I do not have the tools to do.

Thanks, Cavan

 

[achris]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

When the water pocket cover is melted, it's not the seal on the copper tube that's the problem. It's the fact that the cover is no longer flat and sealing on its gasket. That's what will allow the exhaust gases into the cooling water....

The seal I was referring to is the driveshaft seal, not the tube seal. Why are you so reticent to remove the upper from the bell housing? It's not a difficult job.... and it's easier to assemble the 2 halves and THEN install the complete unit on the boat.... and you don't need to re-align the engine if it was ok before hand.... It's just a remove and replace exercise...

Chris........

 

[copelandcf]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Oh I was under the impression if you removed the upper you have to realign with engine, need the alignment tool and all that. Well I guess I'll try and get that upper off. I'll try and find a way to rig up a stand somehow


I understand about the base of the waterpocket, I'll just get it done right the first time.

Thanks again!

 

[achris]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

It takes 6 minutes....

Have the following tools ready..
9/16" spanner, 5/8" socket with long extensions, large screwdriver... tin for putting nuts into.

1. move shift lever to forward gear (VERY important)
2. use 9/16" spanner and remove nuts from aft end of trim rams.. put nuts in tin.
3. use screw driver and GENTLY lever rams off anchor pin. Put rubber bushings in the tin.
4. use 5/8" socket and remove 6 nuts holding leg to bellhousing. Put nuts and washers in the tin.
5. slide leg back towards you...
6. have beer and pat self on the back

Chris.......

 

[copelandcf]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Piece of cake! Anything I need besides a bell housing gasket? Do you use perfect seal or just some 2-4-c or nothing for your gaskets?

 

[achris]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

NOTHING... NOTHING... Please DON'T put anything on the gasket..... if you do, the next time you have to pull the drive you'll kick yourself for a week.... Perfect seal will act like glue and grease will just help the gasket slide out of the correct position... Just dry is nice....

Chris.......

 

[copelandcf]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Shoot, I put grease on my waterpump gaskets. I'll try it dry from here on out. Is that upper seal in a kit or by itself? I'm heading to the parts store later tonight. If there is a kit for the upper I might as well get it, since the engine has sat 8 years in a garage and everything rubber seems to need replacing. Luckily the gimbal and shift bellows look ok. Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

 

[achris]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Part number for the full seal kit is 26-32511A1.. The seal (#10 in the drawing below) on its own is 26-96503, it's actually installed from the bottom up... The water pocket cover is #2. The screws (#5) are stainless in ali... Good luck, you're going to need it....

Chris..........

 

[petergordon]

Re: HELP! Alpha gen 1 water pump o-rings?? Confused...

Just make sure the seal in the upper is good. They're cheap and I replace them on every service anyway...

Chris........

Chris, can you suggest how to replace the lower oil seal (the one with the metal spring, I think) from the bottom side (upper still onthe boat).

Peter