1990 454 motor coupler ?

[ericcarr2000]

Ok guys I have a quick question I have regarding my engine coupler on my 1990 250 sundancer with a 454.bravo 1 in her. Im pretty sure my engine coupler in gonna need replacing because when She is running, I can hear what seems to be some small grinding every once in a while coming from the rear of the engine down by the coupler. My question is this, is it possible to change it without removing the engine? Maybe if I disconnect the motor and just slide it all the way forward as far as I can.....
Give me your thoughts on this one.

 

[Bt Doctur]

more likely the gimbal bearing going dry or wet with water.
No ,you need to pull the drive first, then lift the motor straight up

 

[ericcarr2000]

So do you recommend on replacing the gimbal bearing first? What are the tell tale signs that the gimbal bearing is bad versus the coupler?

 

[thumpar]

Pull the drive and feel the rotate the gimbal bearing with your fingers. It should be silky smooth. Check the U-joints also. The sound you hear could be transmitting through the driveshaft making is seem like it is the back of the engine. Make sure there is no water in the bellows.

 

[ericcarr2000]

Heres a quick video I just took.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8yEEkosiYY&feature=youtu.be

 

[thumpar]

Pull the drive. Put a running hose in the water inlet on the bellhousing and start the engine. That will isolate the problem to the drive or engine. Couplers will usually go quick. With the drive off you and check out the condition of the coupler by looking through the gimbal bearing and the splines on the driveshaft. The Bravo is pretty heavy so make sure you have someone helping you or some type of lifting device. They are easy to take off. 6 nuts that go to the bellhousing. The trim ram pin. The speedo pickup tube. Once you get those off it will come off. Make sure the shift cable comes out of the claw "thinging".

 

[Bondo]

So do you recommend on replacing the gimbal bearing first? What are the tell tale signs that the gimbal bearing is bad versus the coupler?

Ayuh,.... Couplers Don't grind, ever,.... Gimbal bearin's Do, when dry or water wet,....

 

[ericcarr2000]

Ayuh,.... Couplers Don't grind, ever,.... Gimbal bearin's Do, when dry or water wet,....

Bondo, did you listen to the video I put up there?

 

[Bondo]

Bondo, did you listen to the video I put up there?

Ayuh,..... Twice,..... Couplers don't make any noise,.....

If the splines are completely stripped, it may grind, but the drive ain't turnin' by then,.....

 

[ericcarr2000]

We'll looks like I'm pulling the drive tomorrow and making the gimbal bearing my winter project...

 

[ericcarr2000]

When I pull the drive, will I have a mess with the bravo fluid running all over the place? I know there's that reservoir on the back of the boat that's for the drive fluid. This is the first time pulling a bravo unit.... I guess you can say I'm a bravo virgin..

 

[thumpar]

It will leak from the lube monitor but it leaks slowly.

 

[ericcarr2000]

I was thinking, could this noise be just the flappers, do they make a grinding noise at all?

 

[ericcarr2000]

No Title

As far as the buzzer goes, if the level is here could this be the reason my buzzer is going off?

 

[thumpar]

The flappers with not make a grinding noise. They can make a chattery noise if the rubber is gone off of them but nothing close to grinding. Yes the low lube would cause the alarm.

 

[ericcarr2000]

We'll looks like I'll have to just wait it out until spring because she's all winterized.