Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

[Pikey23]

Hello,
Please Help!! I am at my wits end with this thing. 3 weeks now and no boat, Michigan summers are short as it is. After a manifold replacement. I just replaced my u-joints (used moog joints) and aligned my engine (goes in and out so easy that I had my 3 year old do it do test it) . The gimbal bearing felt good. I am still getting a grinding noise when I turn the drive all the way to the left or right. I have the drive as far down as I can in my driveway. it is just out of the red of the trim gauge. Could I just be getting the sound because the joints are touching the bearing retainer as I do not have the drive down far enough? I used my mechanics stethoscope, it sounds like the noise may be localized in the top of the lower unit, bottom of the upper. This being a hollow cavity area I guess the noise could be coming from anywhere. What is there that would cause this noise? I pulled the lower unit and can't find any issues. I can't hear any strange sounds over the squeak of the impeller. The Shaft had no grease on the splines at all. Could this cause the noise? I also pulled the top plate off of the upper unit. The gears look fine. It happens in neutral and only when turned completely left or right. Thank you!!

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I guess that I will try to pull the entire drive today. I will take off the bearing retainer nut, pull the shafts out and see if there is any obvious flaws.

 

[brhodes]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I don't know about a grinding noise. I still get a knock when I go to full lock either way. As long as I'm not at full lock, no prob. Is this what you are describing, if It doesn't happen at any other position, I'm not sure I would worry about it. I just assumed mine was interference with the bell housing. If it is a grind, I would also suspect the gimbal. When I did mine, it felt smooth to me when I spun it with my hand, but would make a low pitch whine noise while in the water. Just some thoughts, good luck

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

brhodes thank you!! It is more of a knocking sound than a grinding sound. I guess that I will just put it back together and take it out. The family will be excited to have the boat back on the water.

 

[dg512055]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

Check for side to side play in the u-joint assemblies. If the caps are too far apart (only a few thousanths") the yokes can jump back and forth between the caps, causing a knocking noise. I squeezed mine together with a large C-clamp and the noise stopped.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

What if somebody told you that u-joint noise is normal running on a hose? Would you believe them them?

It's normal!

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

What if somebody told you that u-joint noise is normal running on a hose? Would you believe them them?

It's normal!

I guess it would matter who is telling me that it is normal! If it is Don S. or bondo I would most likely believe them. So is it normal? Why would a hose or lake water make a difference in the u joint noise? Other then the height of the trim while running.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I know Don S was on around 7:30pm. He's done with answering "searchable" questions.

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I know Don S was on around 7:30pm. He's done with answering "searchable" questions.

Wow, I do not know what I did to upset you. But, I have to say you are the first negative person I have run into on the forum. If I found an answer by searching the forum I would have never started this thread.

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I pulled the drive again today. I used a c-clamp and cranked down on the new u-joints. That noise is now gone. I am hearing a noise in the top of the unit and notice that the top cover gets pretty warm when running at 1100 rpm on the muffs. Is it normal for the top to get hot? The oil looks good and The gears looked fine when I changed the u-joints.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I am hearing a noise in the top of the unit and notice that the top cover gets pretty warm when running at 1100 rpm on the muffs.

Hot as you can't hold your hand on it, or just warm? It's normal for it to run warm on the muffs since there is some friction in the gears and bearings, plus exhaust is running though the upper (and lower) unit.

I'm not sure on your noise, I think a bit is to be expected since the unit is running. My drive has always bit of noise if you get up close to it, sounds like gears and bearings running. Not very noticeable over the engine and exhaust, but if I listen for it, I can pick it out.

I'd double check your gear lube level,,, just in case...

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I can hold my hand on it, so I would call it really warm. If I run it for a minute or 2 at 1100-1200 rpm it gets really warm. Then when I idle it, it will cool down to almost no heat at all. I just changed the lube 2 days ago and rechecked it today

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

After replacing the u-joints, I dug a little deeper and found that there were some fine metal shavings in my outdrive oil. Considering that I just changed it I figured I better have a pro look at the drive. I took the drive to a guy and had it completely rebuilt (all new bearings in the upper and lower, new gears in the upper), when we tore it down we found that the gears in the upper unit were pitted and wearing pretty badly. The top bearing was worn pretty bad. The guy let me work with him putting it back together so now I actually know what is in there and how it works. I reinstalled the drive and still had the noise. So I changed out the gimbal bearing. The noise is now gone. It does not get hot when running on the muffs anymore either. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[SEARAY CHRIS]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I just joined the site today but i had the same exact problem and it was a gimball bearing installed incorectly from the previous owner !!! it is fixed !!! no more knocking!!!!

 

[Pikey23]

Re: Alpha 1 noise continues after U-joint replacement.

I just joined the site today but i had the same exact problem and it was a gimball bearing installed incorectly from the previous owner !!! it is fixed !!! no more knocking!!!!

my bearing was also installed incorrectly by the previous owner. It was slightly cocked. It seems that there was a littler metal that had galled and got behind it. I was able to clean it up and install the new one.