Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

[95yj]

Have a '97 5.7L with an Alpha I behind it pushing a 22' Bayline Express Cruiser. Engine is new. Outdrive sat on back portch for 4 months wrapped in plastic while out of boat. Was supposedly rebuilt 30 hours prior to that. Outdrive hole in transom was also covered with plastic. When running straight, everything sounds normal. When wheel is turned half way or more in either direction, a "growling" noise comes from behind when mild throttle is applied. Sound goes away as wheel is straightened.

Is this most likely u-joints, gimble bearing or possibly other things?

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

Sound like u-joints are going bad.. may as well do the gimbal bearing too..

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

In general:
Noise when turning, ujoints.
Up and down, gimbal bearing.

In reallity, pull the drive and check them both, plus check for water in the bellows and drive.

 

[95yj]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

Thanks for the info Don, and Dakota. It's gonna take a couple weeks to get parts down to here.

Do I need to pull the boat out of the water or will I be OK running it for a few hours each weekend, especially if I take it easy on the torque when turning?

 

[95yj]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

Well, finally pulled the boat out of the water since I have a cracked cheapo plastic PS pulley. Yanked the outdrive off and u-joints look good; no slop and turn really nice and easy with no binding.

U-Joint bellows are good with no tears or holes and inside is nice and dry.

Gimbal bearing felt good until I sprayed it down with carb cleaner to get all the grease out of it. I can move the inner race in and out just a touch. This has to be the source of the growling when turning. Now I just have to wait for shipping since no one down here sells any outdrive parts.

 

[hoof harted]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

yep, bearing shot. too bad. my brain used to growl also. coors chewed me up like yer bearing.

 

[qystan]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

Yanked the outdrive off and u-joints look good; no slop and turn really nice and easy with no binding.
QUOTE]

Not so fast. The U-joints will appear smooth and free if its worn and there's plenty of space in the needle bearings. Just moving things around at 90 degrees following to the u-joints will also not tell you the u-joints are worn.

Remove and open up the u-joint to inspect - best or

Hold the spline shaft end like you would hold a racket - thumb pointing toward the u-joints, give it a twist to lock up any freeplay and give it a load. The twisting action should not show any movement which will mean worn u-joint needles/yoke.

While maintaining the twist as above, move the u-joints in a circle - both directions, twist it the other way and repeat. If there is wear on the u-joint yokes which is in the form ridges, you will be able to feel the uneveness.

A picture is best...sorry if the description is hard to figure out.

Qystan

 

[hoot]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

wanted to 2nd what qystan said about the u-joints. they will feel and operate smoothly by hand even if worn. you have to pull and remove the caps to see what's underneath. i had the same growl while turning. u-joints were bad.

 

[95yj]

Re: Alpha I Gen II growling when turning

Thanks for the concerns. That is exactly what I did though. I have a lifted Jeep on 35" tires, so I know all about U-joints. I didn't pull the caps 'cause once you start tearing into them, you might as well just replace them. I was also recommended by sterndrives that the stock U-joints with the orange boots are pretty strong and shouldn't be bad unless they got wet which they didn't.