What kind of out drive is this??

[Hesson811]

Hello..i have a 1999 real lsc 2150.. Merccruiser 5.0.. Does any one know what kind of out drive this is? I'd like to change the gear oil myself.. Any good links on how to do that? Also, what kind of oil would I use..I noticed the reservoir is at the bottom line.. I believe I have a slight leak.. Also, any maintenance besides oil routine and or preventative?? Thank you for any insite..

 

[harringtondav]

Assuming it's 1999 - Alpha 1 Gen 2

 

[Scott Danforth]

maintenance information is in the stickies at the top of the forum.

 

[achris]

Oh boy... Someone has done a hatchet job. They have somehow managed to bolt an Alpha One Gen 2 drive to an Alpha One transom assembly. You have the worst of the worst bastardization jobs.

Chris.....

 

[Hesson811]

Oh boy... Someone has done a hatchet job. They have somehow managed to bolt an Alpha One Gen 2 drive to an Alpha One transom assembly. You have the worst of the worst bastardization jobs.

Chris.....

Oh snap.. Yea I knew nothing about boats. I did think there was something up with the fellow that sold it to me. However, I had the boat "surveyed" or inspected and that mechanic didn't catch that.. That would of or should of been a heads up. I wish I knew what exactly you said. But I'm going to start googling to figure it out.. Do you think they made major modifications on any part of the transom assembly or outdrive?? I'm assuming that's where the Slight leak is coming from.. Sometimes on a very rare occasion, it has trouble going into gear. I'm may also assume the bastardization job might be part of that.. Do you think it's possible for me to unbastardize it??

What should this Alpha 1 transom assembly have on it?? Or is there supposed to be something in between it. What exactly is the Transom assembly?? Can you use Paint and draw on my pics??

 

[achris]

An Alpha One Gen 2 drive will not just slip onto an Alpha one bell housing..

Alpha One style bell housing ran from 1983 to 1990. From 1991 to the present is the Gen2.

The Gen 2 was a serious update, and parts are not compatible. I have never tried to get a gen 2 onto an Alpha One housing, but if it's been done, yes, something serious has been done to something.

As for returning it to accept an Alpha One drive, no idea without pulling it apart and looking. As I haven't done it, I don't know what's been done to make it fit, but it'll be 'nothing good'...

Chris......

 

[GA_Boater]

Look in the Adults Only stickie on top of the Mercruiser (this) section. The 2nd post has pictures/drawings of the bits and pieces.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Hesson811]

An Alpha One Gen 2 drive will not just slip onto an Alpha one bell housing..

Alpha One style bell housing ran from 1983 to 1990. From 1991 to the present is the Gen2.

The Gen 2 was a serious update, and parts are not compatible. I have never tried to get a gen 2 onto an Alpha One housing, but if it's been done, yes, something serious has been done to something.

As for returning it to accept an Alpha One drive, no idea without pulling it apart and looking. As I haven't done it, I don't know what's been done to make it fit, but it'll be 'nothing good'...

Chris......

Chris..would I be right in saying that it's an alpha 1 upper and an alpha 1 gen 2 lower?? Is that what had happened?? At this point I'm stuck with it.. It seems to work in the water for now.. I just want to service it now.. I see a drain plug but not the cap on the upper..since its a gen 1 upper..

 

[andrewterri]

As for draining the oil from the back of the drive looking toward the front of the boat the alpha one will have a drain plug on the left (port) and the gen two will be on the right (starboard) at the bottom. It will be a Phillips flat head and the only one there. Both have a top screw for venting on the left side at the top of the drive.

 

[andrewterri]

If that's a gen one upper where is the steering pin grease cert? Didn't all gen one uppers have that? Not sure what the steel plate is there for. I am not good enough like these guys are to pick out the differences but if they say they are different than they are different.

 

[achris]

Chris. would I be right in saying that it's an alpha 1 upper and an alpha 1 gen 2 lower?? Is that what had happened?? At this point I'm stuck with it.. It seems to work in the water for now.. I just want to service it now.. I see a drain plug but not the cap on the upper..since its a gen 1 upper..

No.....

You have an Alpha One style (1983-1990)... Gimbal housing, gimbal ring, bell-housing and trim rams. (collectively known as the 'transom assembly')

You have a Gen 2 (1991 - on).. drive-shaft housing (upper) and gear housing (lower)...(collectively known as the 'drive' or 'leg')

The reason it's not an Alpha One upper and a Gen 2 lower is because those two WILL NOT bolt together, ever, regardless of modifications.

If it's working, fine. The servicing would be normal for each item. The drain plug on the gear housing is at the front, low on the 'torpedo' on the starboard side, the vent is on the starboard side of the drive-shaft housing. Only the very early Gen2s had a plug on the top. You do not. To drain the oil, just open the drain plug, open the vent plug, wait a couple of hours... To fill, fill from the drain plug (NEVER fill from the vent plug) until oil comes out of the vent plug hole. Fit the vent plug, then quickly remove the fill bottle form the drain plug hole and fit the drain plug.

What I'd be really interested in is an engine serial number, or even a photo of the engine....

Chris........

 

[Hesson811]

What I'd be really interested in is an engine serial number, or even a photo of the engine....

Chris........

Thought I had one on my phone. .Friday, I'm going to attempt to change the oil in it. . I'll post a pic...

 

[Bondo]

The Gen 2 was a serious update, and parts are not compatible. I have never tried to get a gen 2 onto an Alpha One housing, but if it's been done, yes, something serious has been done to something.

As for returning it to accept an Alpha One drive, no idea without pulling it apart and looking. As I haven't done it, I don't know what's been done to make it fit, but it'll be 'nothing good'...

Ayuh,....... A few years back, I spent some time with a local Alpha Expert,.....

After much study, we came to the conclusion that all of the shiftin' bits in the bellhousin' could/ would need to be changed for this to happen,.....
'n once changed, goin' back would be 'bout impossible,.....