SEI Sterndrives

[Bjmart]

Restoring a 1980 Wellcraft Nova 250 XL with twin Mercruiser 260 drives. The boat has been covered and sitting in dry storage for about 15 years. I am second owner and the engines and drives are original. The drives need to be rebuilt so I'm considering the Sterndrive Engineering SEI 106 with the 1:50 ratio as a replacement.
Looking thru the older posts there seems to be a lot of criticism of these drives, broken gears, impeller problems, shift issues, etc. And a number of posts claimed they were unreliable and it would be better investment to go with a new rebuilt Mercruiser drive.
Considering the costs factor and that I will be replacing both is there a feeling now that the SEI drives are better or worse than they used to be? In other words I don't see any newer posts that continue to warn about these drives. So has the quality gotten better over the years? I hesitate to spend $8k on a new set of drives when I can do it for less than $4k with all the parts and pieces included.

Thoughts?

 

[nola mike]

I have seen very little negative about these drives from those that have purchased them. That said, why do you need 2 new drives?

 

[Bjmart]

I have seen very little negative about these drives from those that have purchased them. That said, why do you need 2 new drives?

Twin engines, pretty sure both need to be rebuilt since they have been sitting for at least 15 years. Rust on starboard u-joints and am unable to remove the prop, port drive looks better but both definitely need new water pumps, bellows, gimbal bearing, etc. Will be doing a pressure test on both this weekend.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I have seen very little negative about these drives from those that have purchased them. That said, why do you need 2 new drives?

I agree. In contrast, most of what I've seen here is pretty positive toward SEI drives.

 

[nola mike]

Twin engines, pretty sure both need to be rebuilt since they have been sitting for at least 15 years. Rust on starboard u-joints and am unable to remove the prop, port drive looks better but both definitely need new water pumps, bellows, gimbal bearing, etc. Will be doing a pressure test on both this weekend.

Well, gimbal bearing and bellows are unrelated to the drives. If the u joints have a bit of rust from sitting they're probably fine, but otherwise it's $20 and an hour or 2 or side. Water pump kit $40 and an hour or 2 per side. 3 seals are easily accessible with the drive split. Prop might take some work but doable...
Unless you run em without oil or do something stupid the drives are pretty reliable. Certainly even paying someone to do the work would be in the $500 range for both drives

 

[Bjmart]

Well, gimbal bearing and bellows are unrelated to the drives. If the u joints have a bit of rust from sitting they're probably fine, but otherwise it's $20 and an hour or 2 or side. Water pump kit $40 and an hour or 2 per side. 3 seals are easily accessible with the drive split. Prop might take some work but doable...
Unless you run em without oil or do something stupid the drives are pretty reliable. Certainly even paying someone to do the work would be in the $500 range for both drives

Thanks for the response, and understood the bellows and bearings are normal maintenance not related to the drives. So thinking if I can get the lower units off to replace the water pumps, change the seals and get a positive pressure test the drives might be fine, no rebuild needed?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Twin engines, pretty sure both need to be rebuilt since they have been sitting for at least 15 years. Rust on starboard u-joints and am unable to remove the prop, port drive looks better but both definitely need new water pumps, bellows, gimbal bearing, etc. Will be doing a pressure test on both this weekend.

the need for routine maintenance items does not mean the drives need to be rebuilt.

new gimbal and bellows kits, alignment and gimbal installation tool, new water pump kits, new U-joints, new input shaft seals, cut the old prop off and new anodes and paint and you are in it for about a grand

even if you replace the two drives, you still need the gimbal bearing and bellows kit and tools, that is about $350.

 

[nola mike]

Thanks for the response, and understood the bellows and bearings are normal maintenance not related to the drives. So thinking if I can get the lower units off to replace the water pumps, change the seals and get a positive pressure test the drives might be fine, no rebuild needed?

For sure. The only seals I*might* replace as normal maintenance would be the lower drive shaft seal and water pump base. And only if either looked sketchy.

 

[Bjmart]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the responses. So unless there is grinding or play in the upper and lower drive gears and bearings there is no need for a rebuild. So new seals, water pump and driveshaft and a pressure test to be sure for the drives. Bellows, gimbal bearings, etc. for transom. Maybe I can save some time and money!!