Alpha one upper housing question

[cfelton]

I took my v out yesterday and ran it about 12 miles and stopped for a few minutes to check it over. It ran perfect, but noticed the top of the outdrive housing was pretty warm. when I got it home I removed the top cover with the outer bearing race in it and everything looked ok. The bearing, race and gears looked fine. It didnt make any noise and was still full of clean oil.My question is should it get warm or is it normal?

[frayed_knot]

Yep, thats normal. If you are real worried about it, you could install a drive shower.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Pretty much normal, all the exhaust passing through there warms em right up.

[cfelton]

Thanks, I was concerned cause my buddys stripped the gears. Thanks

[rb437]

I noticed the same on mine, hot enough to make it hard to touch for very long. No problems though

[spareparts]

if the upper gear set is set up correct, you will get some heat off the top, use mercruiser high performance gear lube(it works better than the sierra or lubrimatic, its made by Bel Ray), it will drop the temp, add a drive shower if your running high horsepower.

[cfelton]

Yep spare, I used the mercruiser hi-per gear oil and I could hold my hand on it. It was pretty warm but cooled down quick idling in to the boat ramp. I think its ok. Id never checked it after a good run.

[spareparts]

sounds like its fine, check the lube level next time your at it. Is your drive a gen 1 type. I have installed drive resevoirs on older drives like what comes on the newer ones. the price for those kits from Mercury is high(cheaper than a upper gearcase). It wouldn't take much to make a remote resevoir for your drive. I blame the remote resevoirs for a drop in outdrive rebuilds I do since they were introduced in 91

[cfelton]

It was full of oil. I took off the top cover and everything looked ok. I believe its alright. Ill keep a close check on it, dont wanta tear up them gears, they look expensive. Thanks yall! Oh its a Alpha one, Iguess its original to the 77 model V.

[spareparts]

Alpha,s didn't come out till 84, they were preceded by the MR1(basically the same) from 82-84 in higher hp applications, and the MC1 82-84 behind lower hp, 82 and earlier on every thing. If you have an alpha, its been swapped(common swap) , look at the end of the prop shaft and see if it has an A stamped on it(not allways but sometimes)

[cfelton]

Thanks Spare for the info. Im pretty sure its been changed out, the guy I got it from said he ran the drive into the rocks in the chesapeake bay and tore it up and had it replaced. Ill look for the stamped letter on it. The number on the housing is A348897,and a alpha water pump kit no 46-96148A fit it perfectly.

[LESTERUS]

SPARE:

I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN OUTDRIVES BUT AN EXPERT ON BEARINGS, IF IT'S TOO HOT TO THE TOUCH IT'S NOT NORMAL, PROBABLY SHIMMING IS NOT DONE PROPERLY.

LESTERUS

[Skools Out]

i know where about 6 or 8 new in the boxes of them are for sell here locally for $275

[THEFERMANATOR]

SPARE:

I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN OUTDRIVES BUT AN EXPERT ON BEARINGS, IF IT'S TOO HOT TO THE TOUCH IT'S NOT NORMAL, PROBABLY SHIMMING IS NOT DONE PROPERLY.

LESTERUS
It's not neccesarily the bearings making the heat, MOST of the heat comes from the exhaust passing through them.

[LESTERUS]

SKOOLS:

WHAT ARE THEY SELLING FOR $275.00? UPPER HOUSING OR THE COMPLETE OUTDRIVE? EVEN UPPER HOUSING IT SOUNDS VERY CHEAP.

LESTERUS

[LESTERUS]

ABOUT THE EXHAUST, IT ALSO GOES THRU THE MANIFOLDS, EVEN HOTTER AND IF YOU TOUCH THEM THEY WILL BE WARM BUT NOT SO HOT THAT YOU COULD'NT TOUCH THEM. WHATEVER IS TOO HOT TO TOUCH IT'S NOT PROPERLY WORKING.

[THEFERMANATOR]

The manifolds and risers have water flowing through cooling jackets in them to cool them, the outdrive does not. And my 315HP 2004 MERCRUISER runs way to hot in the manifolds to lay your hands on them, low emissions at it's finest.