[Big McLargehuge]

How to Remove Your Mercruiser Alpha One Sterndrive

Removing your drive is not as hard as you might think. The sterndrive should be removed for service every season.
Hide these ads


Show Ads
[edit] Steps

1. Read your owners manual. Give some thought as to what you're going to do once you have the drive removed. Rather than lay it down, a good suggestion is to prepare a place for it, especially if it is to remain off the boat for the layup season. Two 2 by 4,s by about 30 inches long etc. extending about 15 inches and clamped or otherwise secured to a good heavy table works really well. The drive can be placed with the horizontal fin that is above the prop sitting on the 2 by 4's. This places the drive in a normal upright position, good for servicing or whatever.
2. Trim the drive up so you can locate and disconnect the speedometer hose at the plastic fitting.
3. Trim the drive all the way down.
4. Place the shifter into forward gear (standard rotation drives)(reverse for LH drive)
5. Turn off your battery switch or disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery.
6. Remove the propeller.
7. Remove the trim cylinder plastic end caps if equipped.
8. Remove both trim cylinders. Alpha One units use locknuts and Alpha Gen II units use clips. You can leave the hydraulic hoses attached.
9. Let the trim cylinders hang out of the way or better yet,tie them up to a transom eye, etc. to avoid stressing and damaging the hoses.
10. Have a friend assist from this point because the drive is heavy and you will need help supporting the unit once it comes loose from the bell housing.
11. Use a 5/8 socket on a long extension and remove all six lock nuts.
12. Gently lift and drop the tail of the drive a little to help break the drive free from the bell housing gasket.
13. The drive should slide back and off the boat.
14. USE CARE! The drive is heavy and will want to fall once it's loose. Have your friend assist with the weight (about 95 pounds).
15. Once the drive is removed you can inspect the gimbal bearing, u-joint bellows, shift cable, u-joints and engine alignment.
16. Installation is the opposite of removal but you need to make sure to install a new gasket, o-rings and grease.