OK, need help with my impeller replacement Alpha 1

[Road King Cole]

Ok, I decided to take it apart on my bench this afternoon. Per the manual: I took off the trim tab, removed the hex bolt inside there, removed the 2 lock nuts on the bottom, loosened the 2 lock nuts on the side as far as they could go, removed the 3 lock nuts on the top. The gear housing should now pull away... nope it does not. In a bone head move, I took my rubber mallet and gave the housing a whack and broke off a piece:



So besides that, I cannot get that lower housing off. It is not coming off. I can get the rear side to move a very little, but it seems stuck at the front (trim tab end).

Help!!!!

Thanks

rkc

Is there something else that needs to be done?

[moneyhole]

I've got a very similiar problem. I called several local boat shops here in and around the Richmond, Va area looking to see if they weld or know of a welder and sure enough, they all gave me the name of the same welder that is experienced in welding boat aluminum. I know on an Alpha l and pre Aplha, there are 5 5/8 hex nuts and the one allen bolt holding the trim anode holding the lower unit on. If you have all that off and still can't get it, there are numerous guys on here that I have found to be very knowledgable.... Destroyer, Skools, Spareparts, TheFerminator just to name a few. Contact them...they can point you in the right direction

[spareparts]

look under where the trim tab was bolted, there is a 3/8 bolt hidden under the tab, remove it and it should drop off. Make sure you have hte drive in fwd gear so you can keep the shift linkage in phase.

[spareparts]

any decent welding shop should be able to fix the broken plate with out any issues

[Road King Cole]

Thanks, yes I got that allen bolt under the anode and the 5 lock nuts. I'll try it some more and hopefully won't break anything else...

I was hoping the broken piece could be fixed with jb weld or something..or be able to run without fixing...

[yodaddy]

Originally Posted by Road King Cole

Thanks, yes I got that allen bolt under the anode and the 5 lock nuts. I'll try it some more and hopefully won't break anything else...

I was hoping the broken piece could be fixed with jb weld or something..or be able to run without fixing...

RKC - Check out alumiweld at http://www.alumiweld.com/

[moneyhole]

RKCole

There's also another DIY alum. weld that can be done with a propane set up and Mapp gas called HTS 2000. Google HTS 2000 and it will come up. There's also several guys selling it in smaller quanties on EBay. Stay away from JB Weld. That what I'm dealing this now.....some knuclehead slather the entire outdrive with the stuff and he was a great body man. You could not tell it until I got the sandinig discs out after I found I had a bad lower unit, etc, etc, etc. Got bamboosled right good. Going to be pricey to fix.
I'd recommend, if you are keeping the boat, to have it welded. Just remember to diconnect all battery cables and make sure there are no o rings or seals in the heat effected area.
Best of luck, my friend. That one is child's play after looking at my junk!!

[Road King Cole]

Thanks.

I still can't separate the lower unit from the upper. I just tried raising both upper lock nuts on the side which pushes the lower unit down. So now I got about 1/8 inch gap in the front, but the rear is not budging.

[macojoe]

Not sure how to get it off if you have all the bolts out?? But has for the broken part I have done the same thing not once but twice!!
What I did was bolt on a Htdrofoil, not only did that cover the damage it made the getting out of the hole great!!
Get a Alum one instead of the plastic as it is stiffer then the plastic since it is broken there

[Road King Cole]

I can't tell you how many times I have looked for another hidden nut\bolt...

That hydrofoil looks like a good "fix"....if I can only get the damn thing apart.

It was pumping water, but its been at least two years without being replaced...

rkc