Re-sealing MC1 Mercruiser Drive

[demian5]

Ok, if you had your choice, would you reseal your upper and lower yourself? Or have a shop do it? What am I looking at for cost on the west coast if I use a shop (wild ass guesses are ok). I had my upper shaft seat replaced after I ripped it doing an impeller a couple years ago. Was $250 and I brought them the drive (and they got it done in a week at the beginning of summer).

Thanks guys - I have fluid running out of the prop area. I thought it was the prop seals, but not sure. It didn't all leak out either.

[awc105]

Re-sealing the upper is not too bad DIY, I bought all the seals for probably less than $100 including the water pump kit. The lower is where things get tricky, mostly because the removal of the propshaft bearing carrier is a 50/50 shot whether it will unthread (using special tools, spanner socket, etc...) or if you have to take it out in chunks because of corrosion...Luckily mine was ok, pressure tested it at 10psi for 24 hours with no leaks. But, based on the leaks you've observed in the lower, it might be more economical to buy a known-good used MC1 lower, than to have a shop do the work. Where I live they are readily available on marketplace. Also, the alpha one gen one lower will fit on a MC1 upper, so that would expand your options as well. The alpha one gen two will NOT fit.

Here's a full video of the disassembly of an alpha one gen one lower to judge difficulty(for all intents and purposes it's almost identical to the MC1, minus the retainer nut under the water pump for the vertical shaft)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxvL_KgO7ho

My $0.02 anyway

-Andrew

[demian5]

Thanks for the honest reply