stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

[asthesun]

i bought an 88 four winns 16' boat with a 3.0 and a R - MR - Alpha One stern drive. first day out i hit a rock and the bearing in the top portion of this unit was destroyed, the bearing that sits in the cap. part number 94998A4, which is the bearing and the cap, since the cap was damaged too. the bearing parts tried to get caught between the two gears that are under that cap and i need to clean out the area before i put the new bearing and cap in. i need to either free-rotate the whole mess so i can get the metal shards between the gears or if that isnt possible, i need to take the whole thing apart i guess. anything i should know? i really just want to free rotate it and blow it out with a compressor. dont really want to take it apart... help! also, idk how to do any of this since im a noob

 

[Brewman61]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

You also posted this to another forum which is where I replied.

 

[rickryder]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

ditto....

 

[achris]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

How did hitting a rock destroy the upper gearcase? Most likely cause of top bearing failure is lack of oil....

The whole unit will need to be stripped and cleaned out. Then once ALL the new parts are available, you will need to set up the backlashs and preloads with the correct shimming tools. Not a job for a beginner...

Best and cheapest option would be a new SEI drive, complete.... The ratio you need is 1.98:1....

 

[asthesun]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

arrr and it was suggested i move it here

 

[asthesun]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

yeah, i thought it was odd there wasnt much oil. is it supposed to be slap full or just with a bit? either way i know there wasnt enough

 

[asthesun]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

How did hitting a rock destroy the upper gearcase? Most likely cause of top bearing failure is lack of oil....

The whole unit will need to be stripped and cleaned out. Then once ALL the new parts are available, you will need to set up the backlashs and preloads with the correct shimming tools. Not a job for a beginner...

Best and cheapest option would be a new SEI drive, complete.... The ratio you need is 1.98:1....

know a good place to get a new unit?

 

[ziggy]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

know a good place to get a new unit?

Best and cheapest option would be a new SEI drive, complete.... The ratio you need is 1.98:1....

there ya go. available right here on boats i believe.


that's what i think i'd be doing too. looking for a whole drive. metal fragments of the destroyed brg. would be the enemy in all parts of the existing drive. oem tool cost would be the obstical for repair of what ya got.

sei=sterndrive engineering drives. they are after market drives. copys of mercruiser stern drives. http://www.sterndrive.cc/

 

[asthesun]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

there ya go. available right here on boats i believe.


that's what i think i'd be doing too. looking for a whole drive. metal fragments of the destroyed brg. would be the enemy in all parts of the existing drive. oem tool cost would be the obstical for repair of what ya got.

sei=sterndrive engineering drives. they are after market drives. copys of mercruiser stern drives. http://www.sterndrive.cc/

cool. i surely didnt know what SEI was. he sais i nees 1.98:1 but i dont see it here http://www.sterndrive.cc/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=MercruiserAlphaUpperSterndrive
where can i fond for sure the one i need?

 

[ziggy]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

http://www.sterndrive.cc/mm5/mercha...plete&Category_Code=MercruiserAlphaSterndrive

 

[asthesun]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

http://www.sterndrive.cc/mm5/mercha...plete&Category_Code=MercruiserAlphaSterndrive

thats fine but the lower unit is new, according to the previous owner and visual inspection. brings me to my next question, whats the difference between the 1:94 and the 1:94 old unit?

 

[ziggy]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

whats the difference between the 1:94 and the 1:94 old unit?

? gear ratio is gear ratio. they're the same.

the gear ratio change occurs in the upper. lowers are all the same best i understand...

 

[achris]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

A few years back the ratios available from Merc were...
1.50:1
1.65:1
1.84:1
1.98:1
The tooth count in the upper gearcase is the main determining factor in the overall ratio.

About 1996 Merc changed the tooth count in the lower gearcase to 'reduce gear noise', and the new ratios are as follows...
1.47:1 (replaces 1.50:1)
1.62:1 (replaces 1.65:1)
1.81:1 (replaces 1.84:1)
1.94:1 (replaces 1.98:1).

The change in overall ratio is not significant enough to need a prop change, so order either a 1.98 or 1.94... As far as that engine is concerned, they are the same.....

 

[asthesun]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

A few years back the ratios available from Merc were...
1.50:1
1.65:1
1.84:1
1.98:1
The tooth count in the upper gearcase is the main determining factor in the overall ratio.

About 1996 Merc changed the tooth count in the lower gearcase to 'reduce gear noise', and the new ratios are as follows...
1.47:1 (replaces 1.50:1)
1.62:1 (replaces 1.65:1)
1.81:1 (replaces 1.84:1)
1.94:1 (replaces 1.98:1).

The change in overall ratio is not significant enough to need a prop change, so order either a 1.98 or 1.94... As far as that engine is concerned, they are the same.....

thx ur awesome. just wondering, anything i should replace by default when doing this swap? i see when im viewing this unit that it recommends a seal kit.

 

[achris]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

thx ur awesome. just wondering, anything i should replace by default when doing this swap? i see when im viewing this unit that it recommends a seal kit.

Depending on the age and condition I would also be looking at the bellows (all 3) the gimbal bearing, and the shift cable. If the upper shift shaft bushing is the old style, then change that too.... Usually the transom seal doesn't need replacing. (b1tch of a job if it does). One common problem on those units is the steering arm gets worn and you end up with a stack of slop. If that's the case you may need a gimbal ring kit ($$$)....

 

[asthesun]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

Depending on the age and condition I would also be looking at the bellows (all 3) the gimbal bearing, and the shift cable. If the upper shift shaft bushing is the old style, then change that too.... Usually the transom seal doesn't need replacing. (b1tch of a job if it does). One common problem on those units is the steering arm gets worn and you end up with a stack of slop. If that's the case you may need a gimbal ring kit ($$$)....

guy i bought it from said the gimbal bearing and bellows was new. he explained it has the modern version of the bellows (which doesn't look like a bellows)

 

[achris]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

guy i bought it from said the gimbal bearing and bellows was new. he explained it has the modern version of the bellows (which doesn't look like a bellows)

He may be referring to the exhaust 'bellows'. If it's just a tube, then it's the old V8 style and should NOT be used on that engine....

 

[rickryder]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

I posted this on your other thread http://www.4shared.com/document/Ak79...anual_6_R_.htm

It's the link for the service manual for your drive....great book to have

 

[rickryder]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

One common problem on those units is the steering arm gets worn and you end up with a stack of slop. If that's the case you may need a gimbal ring kit ($$$)....

Can you elaborate on this sloppiness.... where will the wear be seen? side to side swing of the unit?
I can grab my unit (lets keep it clean guys ) and swing it left to right about 2-3" is that normal?

 

[achris]

Re: stern drive repair. help i'm a noob

Can you elaborate on this sloppiness.... where will the wear be seen? side to side swing of the unit?
I can grab my unit (lets keep it clean guys ) and swing it left to right about 2-3" is that normal?

That's exactly the slop I'm referring to. It indicates a worn steering lever. The only way to visually inspect it is to remove the drive, engine and transom plates. What you need to do is have a friend move the drive side to side while you are on the inside of the boat watching the steering lever... The 'normal' movement (on a unit with no wear in the steering lever) is about 1/2" before the steering arm starts to move the steering cable... If you have significantly more, then it may be time for a gimbal ring kit... That has a new gimbal ring, steering arm and what's called a 'square/square' upper swivel shaft....