Normal Outdrive Noise - Reverse - 05' Alpha 1

[scottjima]

I'm trying to figure out what noise(s) is/are normal from the outdrive while running on muffs in reverse. It is an 05' Alpha1 w/ about 39 hours on it. The oil was changed w/ Mercruiser "green" and nothing abnormal was in the old oil.<br /><br />Running in forward gear, there is minimal "noise" while engaging the gear. While engaging Reverse, I can hear metallic clanking noises while engaging the reverse gear, but they don't stop once it is in reverse. The prop turns, but the noise is still there.<br /><br />The boat is currently at the dealer, but they indicated some of this might be normal? I seem to recall it has worsened over last years boating season.<br /><br />I spoke w/ Mercury tech support and they suggested a few things, (u-joint, gimble, drive alignment) but were leaning towards a shift cable adjustment issue since it happens only in reverse and not in forward.<br /><br />Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Normal Outdrive Noise - Reverse - 05' Alpha 1

but were leaning towards a shift cable adjustment issue since it happens only in reverse and not in forward.

Ayuh,......... That's Where I'd be Looking.............

 

[Don S]

Re: Normal Outdrive Noise - Reverse - 05' Alpha 1

If it's been ratcheting in and out of gear for that long because of being out of adjustment, then the reverse gear and clutch dog are probably rounded over and no amount of adjustment will fix it. That kind of noise should have been looked into immediatly with a new boat.

 

[scottjima]

Re: Normal Outdrive Noise - Reverse - 05' Alpha 1

I didn't really ever run the engine on the muffs until the later half of the year. The noise is hard to hear in water... The dealer is supposed to look at it and let me know... I assume the clutch dog and reverse gear can be replaced w/out rebuilding the whole drive? Any ETA on how long this type of repair would take? They have had my boat for three weeks this Friday, mostly waiting for a few parts. I'd like to get it back some time....

 

[uaw9fan]

Re: Normal Outdrive Noise - Reverse - 05' Alpha 1

Do you run a stainless prop or an aluminum prop?<br /><br />Every time I run an alpha with a stainless prop out of the water,the gears make some noise when in gear.I believe it is because the prop is a lot heavier and has alot of mass.When the clutch dog engages,the prop gets smacked into spinning and then shortly goes faster than the shaft until the shaft catches up again,and it gets smacked again.this is not the case in the water because the water puts up resistance. <br /><br />You probably still need an adjustment,but I wouldn't expect the sounds to be the same out of the water as in it. <br /><br />My .02

 

[Don S]

Re: Normal Outdrive Noise - Reverse - 05' Alpha 1

Any ETA on how long this type of repair would take?

Without knowing exactly what is wrong with it, it's impossible to say how long to fix it. And that is with any problem..... either drive or engine. And you can't fix it without the parts. IF you want an ETA, ask the ones doing the work. They would know better than anyone else.

 

[scottjima]

Re: Normal Outdrive Noise - Reverse - 05' Alpha 1

Yes, it is a stainless prop, and it is allot heavier than the aluminum prop I took off. I installed it towards the end of last year. I bet that has something to do with it. I hope the dealer can just adjust the shift linkage to help with this. Seems like I should be able to run a stainless prop on an Alpha 1..... The weird thing is that it only happens in reverse.