Adhesive - Sealant for MerC Alpha Outdrive Gasket

J

j-d

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Alpha One Gen Two. I have the current version of the gasket kit. Part Number 27-94996Q/Sierra 18-2619-1, Upper Gearcase to Bell Housing. Gasket itself has red sealant molded to both sides, but I think I should glue the water passage O-Ring and the large foam O-Ring gasket that faces the Gimbal Bearing.
I'm thinking some kind of quick-setting "contact cement" type adhesive. Is that right?
 
I use Merc 2-4-C grease to hold it in place while I bolt up the drive. It makes for easy clean up the next year. I also do this on the seals on Bravo drives.
Rob
 
Grease makes sense. You're right, all it needs is held in place for assembly. You're talking that big foam ring as well? I'd rather not have that area to clean up next time for sure. Do you put that ring onto the Upper Gear Case or down into the Bell Housing? One way or the other has to be better to keep it from wrinkling or tearing.
 
Push the big 'square' O-ring into the bell housing first.

I'm the paranoid type so I smear silicone/RTV on the water inlet O-ring. Give it a day to set up.
 
My Alphas are gen 1, but I just use grease to hold the water inlet O ring in place. Never used anything on the gasket that goes between the drive and the housing, or on the big O ring that faces the Gimbal Bearing.
Never had a problem.
 
I used to use silicone only on the water passage O ring. I put the O ring in the bell housing with no cement. Then once when I put the drive on I kinked the bell housing O ring and shortly after I put the boat back in the slip I had water in the bellows and leaking into the boat. Since then I use silicone to hold in place. It only takes a minute to scrape the old silicone off next time I have the drive off.
 
I use a little bellows adhesive to hold the water passage o-ring in place. The big foam gasket, I just put it in the bell housing first - once the shaft is it everything lines up, never at the gasket not stay in place.
 
The manual suggests bellows adhesive(contact cement) for the foam ring that is installed into the housing first, and water inlet O ring
 
For this job, then, some automotive Contact Cement it is. Not lumber yard contact cement like for counter tops. If I ever do Bellows I'll look for genuine marine Bellows Adhesive. Likely to be another couple weeks before I get to this.

Thanks, Shipmates!
 
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