New SEI 106 outdrive; occasional difficulty coming out of gear.

[Cresco750]

Re: New SEI 106 outdrive; occasional difficulty coming out of gear.

Hey Cresco750,

Any more updates on the saga?

I have a crooked intermediate shaft as well on a new SE106, and I'm wondering if this is an indication of issues inside the drive. Would like to know if your old lower gearcase works ok as it did before, on the SEI upper.

Cheers,

kencat

Well, after explaining my situation yet again to the SEI tech department, and highlighting the fact that there are a number of similar cases reported on their very own Internet forum they tell me that they have never had an issue with any of their intermediate shafts being off centre! So no, I'm no further ahead, although they did offer o send another haft if I want to pay the international post.

I haven't tried mixing and matching my upper and lower drives, but I'm wondering whether there might be something not quite right in the lower box assembly? The fact that the ratcheting is different between forward and reverse makes me suspicious. Why don't I just send it back under warranty? Coz it'll cost more in shipping than its worth, so I need to sort ths out myself :-(

 

[Grub54891]

Re: New SEI 106 outdrive; occasional difficulty coming out of gear.

Just got a sei in the shop,blew out after 1 season,owner stated the it was shifting funny since it was installed.
He took it yesterday back to the shop that installed it. I'm hoping to hear what they do to resolve the issue,I myself was looking at sei drives till I did a tad of research. Now I'm not so sure. I don't need one yet,but if I do......I dunno......?
Grub

 

[kencat]

Re: New SEI 106 outdrive; occasional difficulty coming out of gear.

@cresco750,

I was experimenting with the Merc Intermediate Shaft, the SEI Int Shaft, the Merc Lower, and the SEI Lower. I will post pics on the SEI forum cause I want them to see them.

My conclusion is that there is a combination of "errors".

(1) The SEI Int Shaft will not even fit over the Merc spline. It starts a bit but then stops. I did not force it to prevent any damage. The SEI shaft fits like a glove on the SEI spline; perfect fit. SO...the Merc spline is just slightly larger even after 25 years.

(2) the Merc shaft fits on the SEI spline with a fair amount of looseness, from a machinist-type POV. It has some play (less) on it's own shaft.

(3) The SEI Lower seems to position both shafts more off-centre than the Merc lower. The play in the Merc shaft can make it look like the SEI shaft, if twisted to neutral to take up the play.

(4) There seems to be a contribution to the twist in the SEI shaft as well, when compared to the merc shaft twisted fully clockwise to take up the play. The play in the spline on the merc, I'm thinking, is probably a good thing, compared to that "perfect" fit with the SEI parts, given that the tight combination results in the engagement dog being crooked.

I've done my best with eyeball,scale and camera. Not having a CMM in the basement, I can't offer hard numerical data.

Question: is the shaft "twist I am seeing the same as what you had, or was yours worse?

I want to use the full SEI outdrive (I've paid for it) but I'm currently trying to decide which intermediate shaft to use. You didn't have success using the old Merc shaft though from what I recall, so perhaps I should just go with the SEI shaft and see what happens.

Any thoughts on which shaft would be the best choice? Perfect fit or sloppy joe ?

I'll report back here on how my sea trial goes with the new drive. If I have similar shifting issues as you, I think I will pull the boat and just put the old lower on it without monkeying with cable adjusting. At least for the rest of the season. It's shifting fine now. If all is well then folks deserve to hear that as well.

Keep posting on your progress as this is good info. If other people are having similar issues they will find this thread and join in as well hopefully.

Cheers,
Kencat

 

[kencat]

Re: New SEI 106 outdrive; occasional difficulty coming out of gear.

Just got a sei in the shop,blew out after 1 season,owner stated the it was shifting funny since it was installed.
He took it yesterday back to the shop that installed it. I'm hoping to hear what they do to resolve the issue,I myself was looking at sei drives till I did a tad of research. Now I'm not so sure. I don't need one yet,but if I do......I dunno......?
Grub

grub, to be fair to SEI, I think the owner should have attempted to adjust the shifting if it was acting funny. To continue to use it when he knew something wasn't right....doesn't seem right.

It's still under warranty so I guess he'll get a new one.

I hope mine doesn't give any issues (fingers crossed).

 

[Cresco750]

Re: New SEI 106 outdrive; occasional difficulty coming out of gear.

Hi kencat. Well I came to exactly the same conclusions as you with regards the fit of the two different intermediate shafts. I currently have the old shaft from my MC1 installed in the SEI and yes, it is a little sloppy on the splines, and no it doesn't really shift any better.
It seems we are having parallel conversations here and on the SEI forum so have a read there rather than repeat what I've posted.

I bought the SEI to replace my old drive as there was signs of corrosion on the gears and bearings, but other than that it shifted and operated perfectly. I am determined to get this SEI working since I've spent the money on it.