alpa lu / stock lu

[tomoad]

can someone post some pictures of a alpa lu and a stock lu and so me the difference, i keep reading that the alpa is alot stronger but i have yet to see one. and i am curious. does the alpa have a one piece prop shaft.

[tomoad]

i meant ''alpha'' not alpa, working gyard and my head is else where. by way it'n a alpa on of them sheep looking 4 legged, long necked things on tv, anyway sorry for the mispelling.

[O/B Dude]

Heres the basics.... Merc used to use a pin preload lower unit. It was decent but had weaker internals than modern units. Also had a 2 piece propshaft that was steel on the inside of the case where the lube was, and was stainless on the outside of the case where the water was. The problem was that they tended to snap at the point where they are joined and its bye bye prop. You could install an older CLE 1 pc shaft but you'd still have the weeker internals. They really arent bad units with a 1 pc shaft installed but they do tend to strip the ring and pinion with hi perf use.

Merc made some changes and came up with the alpha unit. No pin preload in the driveshaft, stronger internals, one piece propshaft. I have run alphas with high hp 2.4's and 2.5's and never had a failure. They are not as strong as a Sportmaster or CLE, but will work fine in most applications. With a Bobs cone they handle great. I like them better than CLE's. Some of the modern L/U's up to about 95 (I think) can have a 2 pc shaft. If you are shopping for a used unit, get one that has no pin preload and put a magnet on the propshaft to make sure its not S/S (2 pc). The pin preload type has a plunger pin at the top of the driveshaft, and has a narrower anti-cavitation plate than the alpha's do. Alphas came on newer v-6 fishing motors.

Hope this helps.