Stringer Gear Whine

[Gary E]

I have just finished going though my new to me 1980 800 stringer drive upper gearcase replacing both the vertical driveshafts. The gears look perfect and I was as meticulous as I know how to be setting the rolling torque preload on the bearings and shimming the gear housings for proper gear lash. Of course I don't have the special tools but used a dial indicator on the ball gear to get what I considered to be the correct .008 to .014 clearance between the gears. I'm getting a whine from the gears running on the muffs. It's not loud but it's definitely there. I have never had an outdrive of any kind before and the question is whether or not some whine from these 800 stringer drives is normal or are they quiet if set up right? Any information and advise will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gary

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

Ball gears make noise. They good?

Water pump makes noise. Large impeller. You pulled the drive shaft the ball gear and shaft that comes out the transom?

Goes into gear ok? What you idle at on the water in gear? 650-700 is what it should be.

 

[Gary E]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

The ball gears are new and yes I pulled the intermediate driveshaft when I put installed the ball gear on it. All looked fine and the idle is at 650. Thanks for the reply. Gary

 

[jp89bayliner]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

Usually a wine from a gear set means in correct shimming, gear patern. There are also shims in the upper were the ball gear shaft has a bearing on the end that needs to be correct as well.

If your not sure it is correct get another opion from rebuilder etc just to make sure. The parts for these drives are not cheap as you are probley aware. trust me you do not want to buy a set of gears for the upper case.
When mine goes back togather I am going old school dial caliper and yellow paint to make sure my pattern is correct. Good luck.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

Thats right yellow paint! Ha real old school.

 

[fendersfender]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

a whine usually indicates a gear lash that is too tight....new gears sometimes will whine.....i had an upper gearcase rebuilt a couple of years ago and it had a whine.....needless to say it ate the gears.....do it right the first time!!....parts are not cheap.

 

[Gary E]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

I appreciate your replies gentlemen. I was hoping you would say that a little whine is normal but the drive comes back off. Thanks a bunch. Gary

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

Woa not so hasty. A little humming is what mine does. And all the stringers i heard hum a little.

You have a good stream of water on the ball gears when running? You have a water deflector over the ball gears?

Mercs are all enclosed when it's running on the muffs there has to be a little humming on a stringer.

 

[Gary E]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

Thanks for the encouragement Chief. Yes, it has water on the ball gears and the guard is in place. I'll give it another run on muffs and try to isolate the noise. It really doesn't sound that bad to me but I didn't know how much to expect. Maybe I can get up enough nerve to take it for a splash test and see how it sounds under load. Thanks again for the help. Gary .

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Stringer Gear Whine

That freekin water pump, such a bad design made me nuts also. Makes noise.

Take it for a spin on the water easy, does it. Stay close to shore not to close.