What to do with a non-functional Alpha 1 drive?

[Ten Years Gone]

Hey Gang...

I got this '89 Alpha drive off a boneyard boat thinking I might be able to put it into service someday. Well, I tore it apart to find the upper and lower shafts are seized. I cannot rotate the gears in the upper or the prop shaft by hand. Haven't tried turning with a tool. It's a 1.5 gear ratio and I hate to throw it away, but I know from reading other posts about repairing these things that it's expensive, and requires special tools that a normal guy wouldn't own or could afford. What would you guys do if this was yours? Throw it in the dumpster, take it to a scrap yard for the aluminum value, or try yanking the guts out and replacing gears, seals, bearings etc. to make it a function drive again? :huh: Just looking for ideas.

Thanks!

 

[Bob & Sue]

If you don't need it now take it apart and learn how to repair it, when or if you need it rebuild it you'll know what's needed for parts.

 

[blaster]

You could sell it on Craig's list as is. Someone might want the housing if its clean.

 

[JimG]

The lower housing will sell for sure if the skeg is good.

 

[mwph]

If you don't need it now take it apart and learn how to repair it, when or if you need it rebuild it you'll know what's needed for parts.

This is exactly what I would do.


If you already know these things inside & out then I'd sell what I could, scrap the rest.

 

[Ten Years Gone]

Thanks everyone for the replies. The housings are in great shape with a little bit of loss on the cavitation plate, and a small amount of loss on the very edge of the skeg. I assumed this was a working drive which is why I got it, so a little bit disappointed that it is seized. Here's the angle I'm coming from...I don't NEED another drive, but I still have the old crusty corroded drive that originally came off the Sundancer that has good gears in it and spins freely, but the housings are utter garbage. Does anyone know specifically how much it costs to do an internals swap on these drives. It would be nice if I could take two cranky drives and make one smooth dependable one.

 

[SloBurn]

There are a lot of issues rebuilding a drive, if you've never done one. Spacing, shims, etc. I would leave it to the pro's to re-build. A friend did one and it literally blew up 5 hours later in the middle of Lake Sacandaga, NY at 11 PM. If I wasn't there to tow him in, he'd still be floating out there. I'd scrap it, lots of SS and Alum there.

 

[Ten Years Gone]

Wow, I looked up the price of the specialty tools to work on these drives and it came to over $400!
This fact along with SloBurns statement has made me reconsider a home rebuild. I will sell or scrap them! Thanks all for your input.

 

[moparlvr4406]

sell it to indy boat salvage
if the lower is ok and it has a good looking case it could be beer money

 

[skibum]

Hmmm.... mailbox post, garden ornament, water fountain, bird bath post, lamp... :grin:

 

[Ten Years Gone]

Hey Jim, what is your adult beverage of choice? I'm hoping to come down to see the new Dancer soon.

 

[moparlvr4406]

Hey Jim, what is your adult beverage of choice? I'm hoping to come down to see the new Dancer soon.

Bud Select (or Walker Blue :grin..we will be down saturday nite and sunday
and there on vacaton july 21st to 27th or 28th
C'mon down

 

[Ten Years Gone]

Awesome! I'll give you a shout beforehand. :thumbsup: