1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

LarsMN89

Cadet
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
13
My 1989 85hp Force developed an odd intermittent vibration type noise - or at least that's the best description I can think of - except louder than you would expect from vibration. It's only when in gear at low speed in fwd and occasionally in rev. No noise when in neutral. The faster the speed the less the noise. At mid-throttle and higher I cannot hear any noise - of course the engine noise could be masking it. There is no apparent loss of power when the noise occurs. This started suddenly last weekend. I trolled for 20 minutes then shut down for maybe another 20 mins. Then started up and moved at high speed for 5 minutes, then shut down for 20 minutes. Then when I started up again the noise started. I believe it's lower unit related because there's no noise in neutral. The lower unit has bee serviced in the past year and lube is good. I have not yet drained any to see if there's metal particles. What's got me baffled is the intermittent nature of the noise. It comes and goes for a few seconds at a time. I've got a video of the engine making the noise but I'm not sure if I can post it here (it's 250MB). I can strip off the audio portion and post here later.
 

LarsMN89

Cadet
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
13
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

Prop is ok. I tried to attach both an mp3 of the noise (790KB) and a wav file (8.7MB) but the system would not allow either file to upload (?).
 

Karla45

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 12, 2009
Messages
281
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

put it on you tube and then post a link to it.
 

foodfisher

Captain
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
3,756
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

Appears something is just loose. Around here, lowriders w/boomboxes vibrate all kinds of things loose. Once at a stop light, I watched a trunk lid shutter as I closed my window.
 

jason32038

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
555
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

If it doesnt do it in neutral then it doesnt sound engine/flywheel related. You could have a loose prop nut or a damaged prop. Inspect.
 

bentle

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2011
Messages
492
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

Check and see if your starter is still engaged to the flywheel while running. Might be a good idea also to check the bolts that hold your motor to the transom.
 

celtic gelf

Seaman
Joined
Aug 21, 2011
Messages
68
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

Hey on my 150 force I noticed a noise as well and my son could hear it when I got close to picking him up after a wipe out wakeboarding...Well I did find that my anode which in mounted in the top of the gear house was loose and would rattle....I did tighten it to spec's and dummy me I took my shift pin out while the lower unit was on the boat with rod attached....hoping when I slide it back in it lined back up since nothing really moved after i did take it out..I'm hoping that it was the noise we heard...sucks I'm waiting on my replies to my shift pin issue.
 

LarsMN89

Cadet
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
13
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

And the winner is.........Celtic Gelf. The anode was loose - the screws completely backed out! Interesting that I have never touched the anode or it's screws in the 10 years I've owned the boat. But the lower unit was checked out by a shop earlier this year for a suspected leak (was actually bad gear lube that was foaming). I suspect they removed it looking for the leak and didn't get the screws tightened.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The best description of the noise should have been scraping, not vibration - I just couldn't think of the right word (old age creeping in).
 

mrdibs1

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2010
Messages
79
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

What's an anode? I think I have the same problem. Been searching for something loose all summer! Found plenty, but still have a weird noise just like you describe - comes and goes.
 

LarsMN89

Cadet
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
13
Re: 1989 85hp Force Vibration Noise

Remove the prop. Then remove the thrust washer under that. Next is the anode. Mine was held on with 2 screws. It was loose and occasionally rubbed on the thrust washer.
 
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