Alpha 1 gen 2 clunk after gear engagement and noise under heavy load

[rowlex]

I have a 2000 bayliner Capri 2150 with the 5 liter v8 and alpha 1 gen 2(carborated). I adjusted shift cable as the manual recommends but I still have a clunk noise.

I use the boat for running around in the bay and lakes. When on the lake usually have 5-8 people on board and we wakeboard from the boat also. So there's a good bit of putting the drive in gear and hammering down the throttle. Also have a 4 blade prop for hole shot.

What has been happening: wakeboarder in the water engage drive and WOT. Drive engages then a second or two afterwards there is a thud/clunk. Another issue is I cannot trim the drive up under way much without a good deal of rumbling coming from motor/drive area. As long as I don't trim up no noise. We have checked running the boat on muffs and turning drive all the way left or right no noise.

The second problem, if I have the boat loaded and not many in the bow when I WOT to plane I hear a pre detonation/ping noise. If I accel slowly and have the bow weight proper no ping and I can WOT all day long with no detonation noise.

Any thoughts?
TIA

 

[harleyman1975]

The detonation is one of three things too steep of a prop, poor quality fuel or timing is too far advanced. not sure about the Growl or clunk your describing.

 

[alldodge]

Your not going to near much on muffs because there is no load on the prop/drive. Recommend pulling the drive and check U-joints, input shaft and check play on prop shaft and input yoke.

BTW the alpha drive most always has a slight clunk going into gear, not coming out of.

 

[CraigBarnard]

Mine was doing something similar.
Pulled the drive off and the U-joint caps had come off.

Improper installation by previous owner.

 

[rowlex]

Thanks guys. I always fuel up at Shell or Chevron, 91 octane. I checked base timing(but not under way) and it was in spec. (Around 10*) I don't remember exactly.

Yes the thud is after the drive is engaged (no noise coming out of gear) but this usually only happens when pulling a wakeboarder out of the water. So engage gear and WOT in one fast movement then after we have started moving a clunk like the dog clutch is finishing the full engagement.

Depending on how hard I keep on the throttle pulling a boarder I also get the detonation noise.

I was hoping to avoid pulling the drive but seems like I may not be able to.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Pulling the drive is 10 minutes. Don't let that worry you - you do need a replacement gasket. If you think the gears aren't fully engaging then you need to check that cables and linkages are in spec. Watch Chris's video, it makes it easy. Check that freeplay is in spec!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_tgevX2aI

 

[alldodge]

Timing should be set at 10 BTDC after putting the motor in base timing mode. If your setting timing on a TB-V by connecting a timing light to number one without setting motor in base timing, your timing is off.

Base timing is set by find the PUR/WHT lead near the front of the motor and ground it before starting. Motor must be at operating temp.

 

[rowlex]

Thanks guys, I have the timing light and an alligator clip ready I did not ground it when I checked last time .

I adjusted the shift cables per Chris video last year and it still clunked maybe a bit less often. I spent more time wakeboarding then pulling last year. It seemed to only happen when I go into gear and WOT in one Swift movenent

 

[rowlex]

Alldodge: looks like I have a thunderbolt v ignition. I found a purple/white wire it is near the front of the engine and has a cap on it. In the pic below it is hovering over the oil cap. I also noticed a blade style black wire that is not connected to anything. Is that the correct pur/white wire and should the black one be connected?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...psknbmvrzn.jpg

 

[alldodge]

I don't think so, but to be sure take a pic of the distributer an also if there are any modules mounted to it or the exhaust elbows

 

[rowlex]

Does this help for pic of distributor?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n158/rowlex/IMG_20160421_153100_zpslze0tepy.jpg

 

[Fun Times]

I found a purple/white wire it is near the front of the engine and has a cap on it. In the pic below it is hovering over the oil cap. I also noticed a blade style black wire that is not connected to anything. Is that the correct pur/white wire and should the black one be connected?

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n...psknbmvrzn.jpg

The Purple/white wire is to set engine timing by connecting a ground wire to it temporarily.

The black wire is just an extra ground wire for other accessories and/or a different design carburetor choke housing. You should/may have an eyelet electrical wire terminal connector for ground going to your choke housing held on by a screw....Some where the male spade electrical wire terminal connector like seen in your photo.

Your drive needs to come off for inspection. You may have water near the U-joints, gimbal bearing and in the shifting cable area of the bell housing. You should also change the drive gear oil in order to get a visual to see if there is any excessive metal gear shavings in the gear oil.

With a heavy load of people in the boat, going from neutral gear to immediate full throttle in forward gear is really hard on the internals of the stern drive and is causing excessive wear and tear. If at all possible, it would be much better to try putting the drive into forward gear, tighten the skiers line dragging him a little then put the throttle down to full at a moderate rate...If the boats set up correctly, that method should get the skier up and save your drive from excessive damage.

 

[alldodge]

Your right you do have a TB-V, got that off your pic posted, the engine serial number was there 0L687104