Alpha One Drive

jnaughton · 11-20-2006, 02:36 PM

For the 2nd time in 2 years the gears have dropped on my 1986 Alpha 1 Drive, first time was not enough gear lube, this time there was plenty of gear lube (32oz according to mercruiser), is there anything else that could cause the gear drop to happen?

Dave R · 11-20-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnaughton

For the 2nd time in 2 years the gears have dropped on my 1986 Alpha 1 Drive, first time was not enough gear lube, this time there was plenty of gear lube (32oz according to mercruiser), is there anything else that could cause the gear drop to happen?

Define "drop" please.

What engine do you have? I think Merc put Alphas behind 454s for a few years in the 80s. Not such a great idea, it turns out.

jnaughton · 11-26-2006, 10:29 PM

They rod with the gears has moved down about 2 inch's, metal shavings, inside the lower unit, it is a 1986 260 mercruiser, alpha 1......

MJM · 11-27-2006, 08:36 AM

Anyone got a diagram, or a link to a site where I can see a visual of these things? I'm getting worried this is something I should be checking and I'm not....

Dave R · 11-27-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnaughton

They rod with the gears has moved down about 2 inch's, metal shavings, inside the lower unit, it is a 1986 260 mercruiser, alpha 1......

Yikes, that sounds awful. I dunno how much it cost to have fixed, but you may want to price one of these instead: http://www.sterndrive.cc/ They are VERY reasonably priced.

Dave R · 11-27-2006, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

Anyone got a diagram, or a link to a site where I can see a visual of these things? I'm getting worried this is something I should be checking and I'm not....

www.dougrussell.com has excellent parts diagrams online.

dlindberg · 02-07-2007, 12:56 AM

Alphas are not meant for high HP.
If this is the case you will need to be very careful with it. Easy takes offs, straight as possible and don't let it come out of the water.

LIforrelaxin · 02-08-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave R

Yikes, that sounds awful. I dunno how much it cost to have fixed, but you may want to price one of these instead: http://www.sterndrive.cc/ They are VERY reasonably priced.

Dave (or anyone really),

Have you or anyone you know used one of these aftermarket drives? It would be interesting to here about someones experience with them........

Woodsy · 02-08-2007, 11:15 AM

A friend of mine put two of them on the back of his old Baja and they worked quite well. He went from two RH rotation Alpha SS drives to a LH/RH rotation setup with the Sterndrive Engineering units. He had no problems with the drives at all...

PM me. I will be working the NHRBA booth at the Boston Boat Show and if the Sterndrive Engineering guys are there I can get you some info...

Woodsy

Dave R · 02-08-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Dave (or anyone really),

Have you or anyone you know used on of these aftermarket drives? It would be interesting to here about someones experience with them........

I don't know anyone that's used one. I just know they exist and wanted to be sure jnaughton knew of the option.

I think I'd be tempted to try one if I needed more than $1000 worth of parts and labor on an old drive. $1200 for a complete drive assembly is really cheap. 3 year warranty on the big parts is enough of an incentive to me.

LIforrelaxin · 02-08-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsy

A friend of mine put two of them on the back of his old Baja and they worked quite well. He went from two RH rotation Alpha SS drives to a LH/RH rotation setup with the Sterndrive Engineering units. He had no problems with the drives at all...

PM me. I will be working the NHRBA booth at the Boston Boat Show and if the Sterndrive Engineering guys are there I can get you some info...

Woodsy

Woodsy, Thanks for the offer to pick up information... At the momment though I don't have a Merc. or for that matter now that I think about it do I know any one that does.... I was just looking to see what kind of feed back on these drives there was... and if you friend is a Forum memeber ask him to post ...... because who knows what I will own in the future.........

Also, I looked quickly at there website and it is pretty informative...........

11-20-2006, 02:36 PM	#1
jnaughton Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Massachuesettes Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Alpha One Drive For the 2nd time in 2 years the gears have dropped on my 1986 Alpha 1 Drive, first time was not enough gear lube, this time there was plenty of gear lube (32oz according to mercruiser), is there anything else that could cause the gear drop to happen?

11-26-2006, 10:29 PM	#3
jnaughton Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Massachuesettes Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	They rod with the gears has moved down about 2 inch's, metal shavings, inside the lower unit, it is a 1986 260 mercruiser, alpha 1...... __________________ John J. Naughton IV

02-08-2007, 11:15 AM	#9
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,965 Thanks: 80 Thanked 979 Times in 440 Posts	A friend of mine put two of them on the back of his old Baja and they worked quite well. He went from two RH rotation Alpha SS drives to a LH/RH rotation setup with the Sterndrive Engineering units. He had no problems with the drives at all... PM me. I will be working the NHRBA booth at the Boston Boat Show and if the Sterndrive Engineering guys are there I can get you some info... Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

11-27-2006, 08:36 AM	#4
MJM Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 23 Times in 11 Posts	Anyone got a diagram, or a link to a site where I can see a visual of these things? I'm getting worried this is something I should be checking and I'm not....

02-07-2007, 12:56 AM	#7
dlindberg Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Alphas are not meant for high HP. If this is the case you will need to be very careful with it. Easy takes offs, straight as possible and don't let it come out of the water.