Could I be getting hosed?

SALTYDAWG · Nov-11-2005, 05:12 PM

Just curious if anyone here has had a mercruiser alpha 1 outdrive resealed lately & how much it cost? I just had my outdrive serviced and the top seal was leaking a bit so I told the guy to go ahead and reseal the whole drive just so all the seals were the same age. He's charging me over 800 bucks, That seems a little steep to me

Kurt · Nov-11-2005, 05:15 PM

Holy shit. How many hours for the job? I had my M1 completely swapped out with new upper gears, changed out the housing because of pinhole leak and swapped out the drive shaft for 5 hundred. Gears I already had though.

SALTYDAWG · Nov-11-2005, 05:33 PM

Yeah, I think he's trying to pad the bill, This guy works at a local marine shop and is doing my drive on the side, Sounds to me like he's charging me his shops rate, In which case I would have just taken it there. The guy changed out my impeller on the same drive about 6 mos ago for 150 bucks which I thought was a deal. Oh well, Boats, What can ya do Cant live without them

Swazi · Nov-11-2005, 05:36 PM

Real sorry to hear about that Bill.

These guys are charging $90 @hr. So if it takes him just a day plus parts that sounds about right.
Don't have a Merc. but how hard could it be to change the seals? The last time I payed someone to work on my boat left me with a real bad taste in my mouth.
Never again if I can help it.

SALTYDAWG · Nov-11-2005, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swazi

Real sorry to hear about that Bill.

These guys are charging $90 @hr. So if it takes him just a day plus parts that sounds about right.
Don't have a Merc. but how hard could it be to change the seals? The last time I payed someone to work on my boat left me with a real bad taste in my mouth.
Never again if I can help it.

Yeah, Thats what I get for being a lazy fucker

Kurt · Nov-11-2005, 08:58 PM

PM me who you are using ..damn

SALTYDAWG · Nov-13-2005, 11:38 AM

Update, After getting all my old parts and seeing all the work this guy did, It seems I actually got alot for my 800 bucks
He totally resealed the entire drive, Replaced impeller, Replaced sensors for trim guage and aligned the motor (that Cummins didnt do when they changed the motor) Shit just threading the wires for my trim guage took 3 hrs while I watched
So I guess I was being a whiner, The guy actually is pretty fair and does good work, If anyone needs a moble mechanic I'll hook ya up

getagaff · Nov-15-2005, 12:09 PM

SALTYDAWG, He charged you the going rate. The merc manual calls for eight hours labor to seal the upper and lower unit. Just shy of a houndred bucks for the two seal kits and I'd say you got exactly what you paid for. I would check to see if the shop did a pressure AS WELL AS a VACUME check before reinstalling the drive. A lot of shops skip this step but it is very important especially to the large seal in the upper at the u-joint shaft, which was probably you problem in the first place. Just my $.02

fishaholic 1 · Nov-15-2005, 12:17 PM

BOAT B.breck O.out A. another T. thousand

SALTYDAWG · Nov-15-2005, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getagaff

SALTYDAWG, He charged you the going rate. The merc manual calls for eight hours labor to seal the upper and lower unit. Just shy of a houndred bucks for the two seal kits and I'd say you got exactly what you paid for. I would check to see if the shop did a pressure AS WELL AS a VACUME check before reinstalling the drive. A lot of shops skip this step but it is very important especially to the large seal in the upper at the u-joint shaft, which was probably you problem in the first place. Just my $.02

Yeah, He did do the pressure/vacuum tests He also replaced the bellows and sending units, After it was all said and done I think I got a very good deal, The parts alone came to over $400, R&R the drive and replace/rethread sending units & wires took 2-3 hrs and if the manual calls for 8hrs to reseal, I made out real good I'm very satisfied

Jacksthomas44 · Nov-15-2005, 02:22 PM

you got that right...that is why I prefer to go on friends boats and cover the gas bill complete since they are covering the boat payment, repairs, etc.

Swazi · Nov-15-2005, 05:46 PM

Sounds like your ready to put some hours on her Bill. It's nice when things work out without that "I got fucked over again" feeling.

There has been some talk about a New Years Tuna run!