Alpha One clicking noise when turning.

[MajBach]

Hi everyone. Nice to finally have access to this site again (a year ago or so I kept getting "page not displayed" or something whenever trying to access this site from home. Seems to work now - go figure).

I have a 2004 Maxum with a Merc 5.0L Alpha 2nd Gen with about 400 hrs on it. The boat was getting long overdue for some regular engine maintenance and I finally have the time and means to get this done. I'm no mechanic but I am a do-it-myself'er when I can. I've been doing a lot of research on proper maintenance and am hoping to do a bellows replacement before the season arrives. Everything is original except the impeller which I changed when I bought the boat at 170 hrs.
I have the leg off now and replaced the impeller again. Next will be the bellows and examining the gimbal. Here are a few questions I hope you can answer:

- assuming no visible signs wear or corrosion, should the gimbal be replaced just as a matter of preventative maintenance?
- the shifter cable also appears to be something that is done with the leg off. Again, is this a do-it-now rather than wait-for-it-to break service?
- finally the question related to my subject: Two seasons ago I noticed a soft rapidly repeating clicking/thunking noise whenever I turned the wheel full stop either way. First noticed it at idle and it getst marginally louder under more load but instantly disappears the moment you steer towards center. Last season it seemed to get a little worse insofar as I didn't need to go full stop on the wheel, but, the sound was never enough to make me worry I wouldn't get home.
The U-joint on the drive spline is bone dry (should it be?) but appears to have no play (this is what I expected the noise to be), so I am not convinced this is the problem. Any ideas what else it could be?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Bt Doctur]

That usually indicates a bad U joint and replacement is not that hard or expensive. Expensive is when the U joint self destructs causing a lot more damage.
Try to get greasable U joints
Shift cable is 12 years old, I would replace it.

 

[achris]

...I have a 2004 Maxum with a Merc 5.0L Alpha 2nd Gen with about 400 hrs on it. The boat was getting long overdue for some regular engine maintenance and I finally have the time and means to get this done. I'm no mechanic but I am a do-it-myself'er when I can. I've been doing a lot of research on proper maintenance and am hoping to do a bellows replacement before the season arrives. Everything is original except the impeller which I changed when I bought the boat at 170 hrs.
I have the leg off now and replaced the impeller again. Next will be the bellows and examining the gimbal. Here are a few questions I hope you can answer:

- assuming no visible signs wear or corrosion, should the gimbal be replaced just as a matter of preventative maintenance?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! If the bearing turns smoothly, then leave it alone.

- the shifter cable also appears to be something that is done with the leg off. Again, is this a do-it-now rather than wait-for-it-to break service?

Same for the shift cable. If it's working fine and is smooth and easy to move, leave it. This idea of replacing things 'because I can' is stupid, expensive, unnecessary and has the potential to introduce more problems than it solves. Impellers, oil and filters and regular maintenance items (spark plugs, dissy caps etc), yes... But unless it's listed in the Merc maintenance schedule, if it's working properly and has no signs it needs to be replaced, leave it alone!

- finally the question related to my subject: Two seasons ago I noticed a soft rapidly repeating clicking/thunking noise whenever I turned the wheel full stop either way. First noticed it at idle and it getst marginally louder under more load but instantly disappears the moment you steer towards center. Last season it seemed to get a little worse insofar as I didn't need to go full stop on the wheel, but, the sound was never enough to make me worry I wouldn't get home.
The U-joint on the drive spline is bone dry (should it be?) but appears to have no play (this is what I expected the noise to be), so I am not convinced this is the problem. Any ideas what else it could be?

That is probably a uni, with a small chance it could be the gimbal bearing. With the drive off it's very simple and quick to check both.

My previous engine/drive package, now in a friends' boat, is 23 years old and has well over 2000hours on. Still running the original Gimbal bearing, unis and shift cable. BTW, unis are the sealed type, and I would ALWAYS recommend those to anyone replacing. I also prefer the sealed gimbal bearing. I am yet to replaced a sealed uni or gimbal bearing. Done heaps of the greaseable types, and always replaced them with sealed.

Chris......