Anybody deal with SEI lower units?

[illMATTic]

i was wondering if anyone had any info on these SEI lower units i have been seeing in the back of magazines? $795 sounds pretty good for a brand new unit. they offer a 3 year no question warranty as well.

just want to know if they are good or not.


Matt

[Capt.Insane-o]

"While Sterndrive Engineering's gears are made in Asia," That's enough to deter me. Who knows where the bearings or shafts come from. Though with merc these days who knows where any of that comes from either. I've put a few of these drives on for people that bought them over the internet and they sound like sh*t. A couple failed with less than 20hours. Who knows how strong the cases are skeg wise if you try to surface one, or how the case holds up around the bearing carrier. Their three year warranty is no good to me if the skeg snaps off and I go through the side of my boat at 100 mph.

When I go through a drive or gearcase it's going to to cost more than one of these cheapo units, the gears, seals and shafts will come right from the manufacturer, all the bearings except captive ones from timken and they will be shimmed exactly to specs.
J.M.O.



Taken from the SEI forums:

New lower unit

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My application is a bass boat. It takes forever to put 5 hours on my engine. I did the swap a week ago and took the boat to a tournament. I was only able to log 20 minutes at the touurnament. Before the tournament I logged 2.5 hours at my local lake. I was wondering if the whine would go away at some point?


10 hour lube change

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10 hours of breakin and I changed the oil. I use Merc hi performance lube. The magnet had a blob of metal flakes on it and the oil was full of shiny flakes. There was no water. Is this normal? It still has a whine when running which can be heard over the thru hull exhaust.


wintersux
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#2 09-10-2007, 10:09 AM
Tech Support
Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 363



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Small flakes of metal are normal during the break in. You may notice small amounts on your next oil change as the unit gets flushed out. The drive should quiet down the more hours you put on it.

Tech Support
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Brunswick Corporation is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Sterndrive Engineering, Inc. (or SEI) is not affiliated with the Brunswick Corporation and is not authorized to sell or service Brunswick products.


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#3 11-15-2008, 12:51 PM
bkeenom
Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008
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Are small chunks normal? about the circumference of a toothpick?


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#4 11-17-2008, 08:18 AM
admin
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I wouldn't say chunks are normal. Everything should be very fine. There may be some strands, but they should be much thinner than a tooth pick.

Tech Support




I'm sorry but lowers and outdrives I personally do, do not have chunks or whine. :)

[illMATTic]

you make some good points. I dont have the funds to go with a fully rebuilt unit and I dont want to buy some used up L/U that may be bad from the start.

I dont plan to race it. It most likely wont be surfaced either.

[illMATTic]

man, if i wanted a chunks and metal in there I'ed keep mine. :leaving:

[Enticer1]

Matt, you can't get a prop-shaft and a drive-shaft from Merc for that money. That says enough for me. My lower dosen't whine and I rebuilt it.

[Baja16]

I know of a few marinas in our area that have used them, they seem to be alright on 4 and 6 cylinder motors that are in a light boat but any V8 and they dont last long... One of our customers has got one in is 18' Century with a SBC 383 stroker, his blown through many uppers:rolleyes:

[mikeylarge]

We have sold about 15 of their lower units/outdrives without a single problem yet. The issue at hand is all of our customers are family oriented boat users that drive across the bay to hang out on the weekends. The customers do not put these lower units through "the test" like screamandfly guys do. I feel these are great replacement lower units for your average boater, who cruises at 3500- 4000 rpm just putting down the channel. I am uncertain on how well these lowers would hold up in a high performance application, But is it worth the risk of having a serious structural failure to save a few hundred dollars on such a vital component when you are aired out at 70+????????

[illMATTic]

well looks like Ill have to pass on the import stuff.

thanks for the suggestions guys.

[Frank Molé]

We have sold about 15 of their lower units/outdrives without a single problem yet. The issue at hand is all of our customers are family oriented boat users that drive across the bay to hang out on the weekends. The customers do not put these lower units through "the test" like screamandfly guys do. I feel these are great replacement lower units for your average boater, who cruises at 3500- 4000 rpm just putting down the channel. I am uncertain on how well these lowers would hold up in a high performance application, But is it worth the risk of having a serious structural failure to save a few hundred dollars on such a vital component when you are aired out at 70+????????

er :confused: make that 90 + :eek:

[Capt.Insane-o]

HST4ME
Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1

Warranty Question

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Does the installation of a low water pickup and using the case in a surfacing application void the warranty?


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#2 Yesterday, 08:46 AM
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Altering the drive for low water pickup will void the warranty.

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__________________
Brunswick Corporation is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Sterndrive Engineering, Inc. (or SEI) is not affiliated with the Brunswick Corporation and is not authorized to sell or service Brunswick products.

[SEA YA]

I've been beating the crap out of my SEI upper and lower (Alpha 1 Gen 2) for the past two years and my ONLY compaint is the quality of the paint which is peeling in a couple of small spots. Otherwise flawless. It's my opinion that most of the failures you hear about with these drives are caused by incompetent installation and/or break-in. Next year we'll see how mine hold up to 400hp.

[mikeylarge]

er :confused: make that 90 + :eek:
I figured that if you cant afford a mercury factory unit, then you are probably running with the slower guys like myself :D

[WILDMAN]

I know of a couple guys that have sold them to customers. They said they've had no problems.

[SUPAJAY]

Let me test one on my boat, 3600lbs and 450+hp hahaha

[E-tec1]

all components are made hee in the USA, ive used about 5 of them and had no problems with them, both the alpha and the bravo..............

[Capt.Insane-o]

"While Sterndrive Engineering's gears are made in Asia," :)

newp.

[illMATTic]

I have been reading posts on other forums. most people have had good luck with these.

I am still thinking about this. I wont be installing a cone or running much past 70.

I am concerned about turning 7000 rpm though.

[Instigator]

I rebuild and sell OMC V-6 O/B lowers starting at $850. w/an exhcange and 90 day warranty and they offer a way better deal than that if legit.
Went to their website and read everything there and noticed they listed the OMC's gear ratio wrong which is a flag for someone acting as a tech expert.
Gary