Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

[Captain Gecko]

Hi all,

New to boating, still learning the ropes. This forum has been fantastic for advice and knowledge.

I've had my boat winterized and shrink-wrapped by a local marina. Outdrive is in the upright position. No way to get into boat, batteries are removed. I've pulled my prop, which needs replacing, it's worn out and missing the flare ring. Now I've read about storing the outdrive in the down position and my Mercruiser manual states the same. Since I can't use the controls to lower it, I did remove the bolt which fastens the two hydraulic arms to the outdrive. When I did so, the outdrive lowered easily. However, pink antifreeze began to leak out of it when I lowered it, so I quickly returned it to its upright position. I'm thinking the marina must have added the antifreeze.

So...

1) Should I still remove the outdrive completely and store it? As you can see, for now I've placed a plastic bag over the prop hub area to prevent rain and water from getting in.

2) If I do remove it, how do I cover the gimbal housing area, which will be exposed?

3) There seems to be a fair bit of corrosion on the outdrive? You can see it in the pics. I've washed the outdrive but this looks like corrosion of the aluminum housing? Or perhaps it's wear and tear, dings and scratches. Not sure. I've read about this for Bravo outdrives but obviously it's happening here? Should I paint all these spots? I'll be replacing the trim tab along with the prop.

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

C.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

1) Should I still remove the outdrive completely and store it? As you can see, for now I've placed a plastic bag over the prop hub area to prevent rain and water from getting in.

i'd think remove it. ya got pm to do with the drive removed. lub u joints, lub coupler, alignment check, check for water or lub in the bellows. the bag is good. but imho, inside is better. i store mine in the basement.

2) If I do remove it, how do I cover the gimbal housing area, which will be exposed?

i made a cover out of plexiglass. ya could use anything. plywood, etc. or another member here made a small dog house to cover his whole drive. i don't think the anti freeze coming out is of consequence. imho, it's the anti freeze that was trapped in a full up out drive. when ya lowered it, it drained any fluids left in the drive. when the drive is down. imho, everything from the down side of the riser drains out. anti freeze included.

3) There seems to be a fair bit of corrosion on the outdrive? You can see it in the pics. I've washed the outdrive but this looks like corrosion of the aluminum housing? Or perhaps it's wear and tear, dings and scratches. Not sure. I've read about this for Bravo outdrives but obviously it's happening here? Should I paint all these spots? I'll be replacing the trim tab along with the prop.

i'm not up on this, but looks like corrosion to me. i'd think sand, prime and paint the rough spots. ya might try some lime away toilet bowl cleaner on it. if it's hard water deposits from the drive getting hot and evaportating the water off while on plane. lime away will remove it. if it's corrosion i'd guess the lime away won't touch it. back to painting it.

that's my home made bell housing cover. left over plexiglas i had on hand. a pill bottle with the top cut off, epoxied to the plexiglass to accommodate the shift slide. shift slide must be in rev. for the pill bottle to accommodate it. short pieces of hose to accommodate the merc. nyloc nuts and hold the cover on. someone also makes a manufactured cover similar to what i made. what i made i got the idea from seeing the manufactured one.

 

[Captain Gecko]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

Thanks ziggy, that's an awesome looking cover! Sweet.

Not sure about the corrosion or deposits, that's a good point. Will try some CLR/lime removal and see if that gets it. Will touch up/paint either way. Will black Tremclad work? Or mercury paint?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

should shift it to fwd to remove, so be careful of the shift shaft.
I'd just unpin the trim cylinder rods from the drive and let it down, collect the a/f.
or, the bag will be fine too.
heavy plastic bags that water softener pellets come in work well.

 

[Captain Gecko]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

should shift it to fwd to remove, so be careful of the shift shaft.
I'd just unpin the trim cylinder rods from the drive and let it down, collect the a/f.
or, the bag will be fine too.
heavy plastic bags that water softener pellets come in work well.

Thank you. I read about shifting it forward. Unfortunately, the boat is wrapped and I don't know if it was left in forward or not. Can I remove with it in neutral?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

Thanks ziggy, that's an awesome looking cover! Sweet.

Not sure about the corrosion or deposits, that's a good point. Will try some CLR/lime removal and see if that gets it. Will touch up/paint either way. Will black Tremclad work? Or mercury paint?

If you are going to sand, use aluminum oxide wet/dry sandpaper. Primer with zinc cromate paint.Drive needs to be stored in full down position. Does your boat have a Mercathode system on it?

 

[Captain Gecko]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

If you are going to sand, use aluminum oxide wet/dry sandpaper. Primer with zinc cromate paint.Drive needs to be stored in full down position. Does your boat have a Mercathode system on it?

Thanks for the tips. How do I check for the cathode system? It has the sacrificial trim tab, not sure about anything else?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

I don't know if it was left in forward or not

imho, easiest way to tell is
when in:
fwd, prop locks ccw and ratchets cw
neu, prop spins freely both directions w/o sound or feel
rev, prop locks cw and ratchets ccw.

or ya can look at the coupler for the upper shift shaft and the shift shaft in the bell housing. this coupler will be facing fwd when in fwd.

this is a mc-1 drive in neutral. note coupler spun to port some. if it were in rev. it would be turned even further to port. in fwd. it faces fwd.
ya lay on your back and look up at the ft. side of the drive to see this coupler.

Can I remove with it in neutral?

yes, but ya have to remove the lower first. this will allow the shift shaft in the upper to become looser vertically in the upper and allowing you to separate it from the shift shaft in the bell housing. then ya can remove the upper when the coupler is seperated. ya gotta be able to slide the upper aft. the coupler slides together or apart. when it's turned they won't slide apart.... unless ya force it. which ya don't want to do..

 

[Captain Gecko]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

imho, easiest way to tell is
when in:
fwd, prop locks ccw and ratchets cw
neu, prop spins freely both directions w/o sound or feel
rev, prop locks cw and ratchets ccw.

or ya can look at the coupler for the upper shift shaft and the shift shaft in the bell housing. this coupler will be facing fwd when in fwd.

this is a mc-1 drive in neutral. note coupler spun to port some. if it were in rev. it would be turned even further to port. in fwd. it faces fwd.
ya lay on your back and look up at the ft. side of the drive to see this coupler.

yes, but ya have to remove the lower first. this will allow the shift shaft in the upper to become looser vertically in the upper and allowing you to separate it from the shift shaft in the bell housing. then ya can remove the upper when the coupler is seperated. ya gotta be able to slide the upper aft. the coupler slides together or apart. when it's turned they won't slide apart.... unless ya force it. which ya don't want to do..

Lol, I feel slightly stupid now.

Yes, the prop shaft spins left and right freely, thus neutral. Thanks for the neutral-based dismantling tips.

 

[Seven8385]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

Put a door in they cost 20 dollars and then you can tell if you are in forward if the batteries are connected and if they have enough mosture bags in there. You can do what you need to and even clean in the spring tihout worrying if you are removing the shrink to early.

 

[Captain Gecko]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

Put a door in they cost 20 dollars and then you can tell if you are in forward if the batteries are connected and if they have enough mosture bags in there. You can do what you need to and even clean in the spring tihout worrying if you are removing the shrink to early.

Good points. I was mulling over cutting an opening and then resealing once done using Tuck tape (building tape).

 

[Captain Gecko]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

Re: removing the stern drive -

Do I need to drain oil of out it prior to removing? Or do I simply support it, undo the 6 bolts and pull off?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

Do I need to drain oil of out it prior to removing?

no

Or do I simply support it, undo the 6 bolts and pull off?

support it, put in fwd, remove trim rams at aft end, remove 6 nuts and pull straight aft. or in lieu of putting in fwd. remove lower, be sure shift shaft in upper has dropped down far enough to be disengaged with the shift shaft in the bell housing.

 

[menglor]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive - winter storage and removal?

frankly I am the last person you should ask about removal or not. its my first year with a boat, and I have already ruined one on a shole.

I know from the seller the boat hasnt been in the water for 2 summers , so I figured I would be safe to leave it, and not worry.

however, after posting a picture of my gimble housing, everyone said I should work on it over the winter.

so off I went to my dads, and pulled the unit, I pulled out about a litter of water that was trapped inside where the gimble bearing is.

There shouldnt be water there, so I was going to need to fix it at some point anyway.

and I know its been there 2 years, because when I cracked the seal, the water was the most vial smell I have smelt since a long time.


so, if only to remove the trapped water, Pull it.