Lifespan of a Alpha 1 (gen 1)?

Will 55

Will 55

New Member
Nov 3, 2018
25
Boat Info
'87 230 Weekender
Engines
5.7 L Alpha 1
quadrajet 4 barrel

Tow with: Toyota Sequoia 5.7L
Wondering how long my Alpha 1 gen 1 drive will last with my 5.7L 260 Merc on my '87 230 Weekender? Last time it went out, I replaced it with a Jasper remanufactured sterndrive. I chose Jasper because it had the best warranty, 2 yrs. It's been fine for at least 14 yrs. Some of those years saw very light usage. Last impeller change was about 10 yrs ago.
 
SEI has 3 years unconditional, Jasper used to sell just engines,and not new, remanufactured
Last impeller change was about 10 yrs ago.

That just bad maintenance practice or just being cheap
 
10 years is amazing. Don’t know where you boat so if pure fresh may be good. I got into the mud shallows this summer and replaced the impeller because I *may* have got some mud into it. I never went longer than 3 years because sitting over the winter it will take a curved set. Might be time.
 
10 years is crazy I
rather do an impeller then possibly a motor job. I'm big on preventive maintenance I don't know thats just me!
 
I had a battery last ten years but then it died. Hmm.

The impeller will deform from lack of use and not be able to pump water effectively.
 
Are you asking how long the drive itself will last or the water pump impeller?

Alpha I drive: Could last forever, with a little maintenance they are indestructible. They do require some maintenance, mainly lube changes and water pump servicing. As they age some seals can need replacement, but nothing major.

Alpha I water pump impeller: Alpha I, 1-2 years at the most - how you have gotten 10yrs is a miracle. The Gen II water pump impeller is different and can easily last 3+ years. I replace mine every 3rd season and they still look fine after 3yrs.
 
We bought our 1986 250DA from the original owner who said everything was original so that outdrive had about 600 hours on it. I replaced the impeller every 2 years regardless of usage. Easy enough and cheap enough to do. Much better than replacing an engine.
 
Anyone here do their own water pump impellers? Seems like it wouldn't be too bad to DIY?
 
Many of us do our own maintenance.

Pictures are worth 1,000 words. Check out You tube. There are plenty of videos showing how to do it.

it’ll give you an idea of what’s involved and if you are capable of handling it.
 
Unless their remanufacturing included all new guts (gears and bearings), I would not expect the same life that you got out of the original. Likely why you are asking? 260hp in front of the early alpha drives is approaching their limits. Easy on the throttle and good maintenance will give you the most out of them.
 
I did my own on the Alpha 1 Gen 1. Watched a couple youtube videos. Very easy. I bought the Quicksilver, no aftermarket stuff here
 
Will 55 said:
Anyone here do their own water pump impellers? Seems like it wouldn't be too bad to DIY?
Click to expand...
Definitely a DIY friendly project. Worth spending a few more bucks on an OEM Merc impeller, they seemed to last twice as long as the Sierra ones I’ve used.

ten years is a bit long for my tastes but where I boat in fresh water (northeast US lake) with relatively short boating seasons it’s not unusual to get that many years out of an impeller.I changed out my friends alpha one gen2 impeller after ten years, looked new. I’m not saying it’s a great plan to go ten years but at least where I boat it is not atypical to last much longer than the typically mentioned 2 year interval. Note the hot idle engine temp after you change yours out, I bet it lower than before the change out.
 
I have a mercury gnat 4 HP outboard which was pickled and sat for 6 years. The impeller was new when it was pickled.

I wish I had taken a picture of how the veins of the impeller had deformed from sitting. Barely pumped enough water to not overheat.

I used to take these maintenance items for granted not appreciating the impact that time has on wear. Use is use but time has its way of decaying components into failure.
 
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