pitted outdrive

[netting one]

Pulled the boat sunday and looked at my outdrive and its time to fix it or replace it. Im going to replace the gimble bearing and u joints so im going tackle the outdrive too. Its a 95 bravo II and all pitted so i need to replace it, what do i do? Can i get just a case? i need the top and bottom. The bottom skag is 1/2 gone so im thinking new? the gimble ring isnt as bad nor the housing on the boat so im going try cleaning it up on the boat. I dont want to get into total re alignment. thanks

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: pitted outdrive

Howdy,

I dont want to get into total re alignment

you'll have to explain what you do not want to do.

What's a total "re alignment "

Can i get just a case? i need the top and bottom.

If your drive is so "pitted" that you need to replace the upper and lower housings, that means you need either a new, re-manufactured, or good used drive.

You could simply buy new upper and lower housings, but then you'd need to do a complete rebuild.

You wouldn't want to put old bearings and seals back into the drive (the gears might be ok though)

A major portion of the cost is the labor of the actual disassembly and reassembly.

It's the same whether you use all the old parts or new parts. You would still have to set all the bearing pre-loads, use different shims, new seals etc.....


Either way, you're talking about a complete rebuild. Your best bet could be to find a good used drive and/or take your current one to a rebuild facility and get their estimate.

I would suggest having a look on ebay, craigslist, the boattrader , etc too...

I saw upper Bravo housings on ebay (new) from $500-1000. But you'd be installing all your internal parts (incl new seals, bearings, and possibly gears if needed) that would raise the price.....

Depending on what boat it's going on, you might just look into finding any good used Bravo I, II or III

 

[wire2]

Re: pitted outdrive

When a leg has a lot of spots of corrosion, it looks worse than it is, due to the "flowering" of aluminum oxide.

Before you call it quits on that one, try an angle grinder with a 100 or 120 grit disk on a bad area. Remember to move it across as you make contact. Use a small drill bit or Dremel to clean out individual pockets. If you find it's worth saving, do the whole leg, then immediately prime it with 2 part epoxy paint. Mix enough for 2 full coats; shoot 1, let it tack up, then spray another. You'll have 6 hours to use up the mixed paint before it gels.
The drill dimples may need a drop of epoxy paste after, then a light sanding with 220.
Then can topcoat with a hi quality enamel or base/clearcoat.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: pitted outdrive

pics speak a thousand words How bad pitted? What about a skeg guard? Can it be cleaned and epoxied? do you pull it every year?

 

[dakine]

Re: pitted outdrive

As far as the cosmetics are concerned....

Either sand or bead blast to bare metal.

Etch and passivate with this....
http://www.amazon.com/West-System-Al.../dp/B002XV9IM0

Fill and fair with epoxy putty

Prime with two part epoxy primer like this...
http://pc.dupont.com/dpc/en/US/html/...son/491-35.pdf

Then paint with a catalyzed urethane paint like Dupont Chroma One.

Best if you do the surface prep than get it painted by a body shop with the proper equipment for spraying very toxic paint.

Do it right or do it over! (In my best BondO voice)

 

[netting one]

Re: pitted outdrive

I started sanding a little on the drive and after some of the prices on a new drive looks like ill be cleaning this one up! Thanks for the help now i need to disasemble and have it blasted. Im working on some pictures also

 

[300sflyer]

Re: pitted outdrive

Have a look here. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=373240

 

[netting one]

Re: pitted outdrive

OK guys, here are some pictures if this helps...

 

[proshadetree]

Re: pitted outdrive

Not to bad clean it up and repaint.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: pitted outdrive

After you clean everything and get it repainted, you need to re-examine your zincs. Are you using the correct ones? Do you have enough to prevent the corrosion? Are the ground wires between the sections of the drive, the gimbal housing, and the transom mount connected to each other and to the engine block? This corrosion shouldn't be happening. By the way, there's a good how-to article on BoaterEd.com on how to repaint a drive. Remember, do NOT use a steel wire brush to clean the drive; you'll only set up small galvanic hot spots if you do. Hy

 

[netting one]

Re: pitted outdrive

I replace all the zinc's last year and installed a new mercathode system. I also added 2 small 1/2 rounds on my trim tab plates and a 2 1/2 x 4 on the transom with the wires going to all batterys,outdrive, and bell housing. what did you mean did i use the right ones?

 

[Don S]

Re: pitted outdrive

It's possible you are "Over zinced" and your outdrive is now protecting the anodes.
Go to the link below and do the in the water tests to deterimine if you have too many, or not enough anodes (along with the Mercathode).
In corrosion prevention, too many anodes is also a problem.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/11/11a7r5x.pdf