Stopped in ocean

[my3girls]

Hi, I was out in ocean fishing with some friends, everything was fine until I started heading in, I was around 2800-3000 on tach, all of a sudden just stopped like I lost a prop then started running hot and will not go into gear. It starts right up but no forward or reverse and no water coming up from outdrive.
1997 sea pro 210 w/a with 4.3 mercruiser alpha 1 gen 2.

[Juan]

Does the shift lever go into gear as it should? I'm guessing but since it's not pumping water and running hot, it sounds like it may be a prop shaft. You can check the lower unit oil drain plug for metal shavings but you'll probably have to pull the lower unit gear case and check the shaft to be sure.

[my3girls]

Thanks for getting back to me !! I will be checking that first thing in the morning, I wanted to get the thread going !!👍

[my3girls]

Hi, ok I put shifter in forward and prop will not spin backwards but turns forward with the gears moving (I can hear them) as it should. I start engine and shaft coming out of engine is spinning, maybe u-joints ?

[Juan]

I think you may have it. Sounds like the bottom end may be okay after all. A U joint was actually my first thought but I would think a U joint would make a lot of noise if it had come off. Maybe not?? Very possibly the U joint since the drive shaft is turning, and the prop shaft isn't.

[my3girls]

U-joint is good, but when I turn the U-joint shaft it spins a little bit to free, and the prop shaft does not turn, I'm thinking the shaft in the upper section of outdrive, maybe a keyway got sheared off or something and if something broke like you said I would hear some kind of rattling around in there, but I dont hear anything at all.

[Juan]

Just googled up a diagram and I don't think there's a key way in there. Looks like the inner U joint shaft has splines that fit into a gear (#8) that meshes with another gear. At this point my guess would be it's either the splines on the u joint shaft or one of the two gears. Past my level of expertise.

[my3girls]

Thanks for the diagram !! I'm hoping a nut got backed off and the gears are not meshing together, but it can't be that easy !!! I'm gonna tear it apart tomorrow, I'll keep you posted on what I find !! Thanks for help !!

[my3girls]

Hello, not sure I put link to pictures on here correctly !! Gears are destroyed !! Mercruiser definition of gear ratio is a little confusing.do you know if a alpha 1 gen 2 upper, with a gear ratio of 1.81:1 fit a upper that has 1.62:1, both units are a merc 4.3 V-6 . I want to know if I can replace my upper 1.62:1 with a 1.81:1 ?

Thanks

[Juan]

Best I can tell is the 1.62 is for an inline 6 cylinder and the 1.81 is for a V-6 so if you've found both gear ratios on a V-6, I'd guess they are interchangeable (but that's just a guess) Check out this link.. it might help: It looks like the ratio in a 97 4.3 should have been the 1.81. Is it possible your gears have been changed to the inline 6 1.62 and that's the reason they failed? www.sterndrive.info/alpha-one/gears_bearings_shims.html

[my3girls]

I have a v6, (according to serial #) gonna look at that link now, thanks

[my3girls]

It's all getting confusing to me !! Haha. If I put that upper with 1.81:1 in to replace mine, I'm thinking the only thing that might change would be the prop rotation speed ?

[my3girls]

0L110855 is # on my outdrive. Perf pro tech comes up with 1998 gen 2 or newer.
The merc link from perf pro tech says it's a 1997

[Juan]

According to your serial number, that site says it's a 98 or newer.

(serial numbers 0L000040 and up) years 1998 and up.
1.81

[my3girls]

Thanks !! Its kind of strange I seem to be getting a different year and gear ratio with my serial # !! Can I replace my whole outdrive that has a 1.62:1 with a 1.61:1 gear ratio ?

[Juan]

Jul 19, 2018 9:56:53 GMT -6 my3girls said:

Thanks !! Its kind of strange I seem to be getting a different year and gear ratio with my serial # !! Can I replace my whole outdrive that has a 1.62:1 with a 1.61:1 gear ratio ?

If you meant 1.81 then you should be able to do that without issue.

[my3girls]

Ok, thanks !! It says 1.61 on the drive I'm looking at, I can't make out serial # but it is stamped 1.61 on side of drive. Let you know how I make out. Thanks again !!!
I still can't figure out how to add pictures here !!

[Juan]

Just click "reply" then the "add image to post" box in upper left corner.

1.61 ratio came on the V-8. Not sure about that one. I'm guessing that the u joint drive spines might be different but you can probably use your old one.

[Juan]

Jul 20, 2018 4:18:40 GMT -6 Juan said:

Just click "reply" then the "add image to post" box in upper left corner.

1.61 ratio came on the V-8. Not sure about that one. I'm guessing that the u joint drive spines might be different but you can probably use your old one.

I got that backwards... Unless the splines match (which I doubt) The splines on the final U-joint shaft will need to match the new out drive so you'll need the final U-joint shaft that came on the new out drive.

[my3girls]