87 4.3 Merc outdrive pinging

Evinrude Boater

Evinrude Boater

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Started up my boat for the first time since winterizing and it has a pinging sound from the outdrive. Initially I thought it was the exhaust flaps before the system filled with water but it continues and speeds up with the rpm. It pings in neutral and in forward and reverse. I pulled the outdrive and the u-joints seem good. They're well greased with no resistance. The gimbal bearing feels good as far as I can tell. I don't have any experience with a bad one. Apart from opening the gear case I don't know where to turn next to diagnose this. I'm going to see if I can post a link to a video.
 
Evinrude Boater

Evinrude Boater

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I was thinking of separating the outdrive to see if I can isolate the noise by rotating each section individually. Can I take the top end apart without specialized tools if I hear the sound in there or is that best left to a shop?
 
Rick Stephens

Rick Stephens

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Start by pulling the outdrive and running the motor with a cutoff hose stuck in the water passage of the bell housing. Is the noise gone without the outdrive attached?

Next, pull the top off the outdrive. It has 4 x 3/8 12 point capscrews. The top then just lifts off the housing, you can gently pry with a screwdriver around the edge to get it to lift. Inspect the top gear set from there. If you broke a tooth that is where you would probably see it.

Rick
 
Evinrude Boater

Evinrude Boater

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Ran the engine with the outdrive removed and didn't hear the pinging. Turned the outdrive shaft by hand and all I hear is the water pump squeaking. Took the top cap off, drained off the oil and I see no damage to the gears or top bearing.
 
Evinrude Boater

Evinrude Boater

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Bondo said:
Ayuh,.... They All require clips, yer's are inside the yoke,....
Click to expand...
I guess I'll see them once I get the grease cleaned off. Can the condition of the U-joints be assessed by rotating them by handor do the crosses need to be removed to actually see the needles?
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Ayuh,..... To be honest, I've seen worn out, ribbed up cross joints, that "Felt" perfect,.....

Any chance at all, that a coupler nut came loose, 'n is bouncin' 'round in the flywheel cover,..??
I know ya ran it without the drive, 'n the noise was gone, just throwin' this out there,....
 
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Evinrude Boater

Evinrude Boater

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Bondo said:
Ayuh,..... To be honest, I've seen worn out, ribbed up cross joints, that "Felt" perfect,.....

Any chance at all, that a coupler nut came loose, 'n is bouncin' 'round in the flywheel cover,..??
I know ya ran it without the drive, 'n the noise was gone, just throwin' this out there,....
Click to expand...
Well, I suppose anything is possible. Is there any way to check without pulling the engine?
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Is there any way to check without pulling the engine?
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... If you can get to it, you could pull the flywheel cover, cover off,....

There's 4 or 5 or 6, 1/4" bolts holdin' it to the lower front face, pullin' the starter might also help,.....
 
Rick Stephens

Rick Stephens

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Like Bondo said, I have replaced u-joints and fixed seriously noisy problem when by hand they felt perfect.

Next on the outdrive, if all others are negative, is split the halves, pull the water pump and then check the lash and feel of the lower gear sets. The input shaft for the lower is a fairly loose fit. You can feel the gears fairly well from there though.
 
Evinrude Boater

Evinrude Boater

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My lower drive shaft has an O-ring groove but that O-ring pushes through the seal in the upper half when putting them together. Is there a need for that O-ring as I see some versions don't use it. I think that O-ring rips the seal apart when separating the two halves to do the water pump.
 
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