clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

[Steev-oh]

Last fall when preparing my boat for winter I heard a clicking sound I thought was the starter not fully disengaging. In the spring I pulled the starter and had it rebuilt, when I put it back in the noise was still there. The noise is only at idle it goes away when I increase idle.
I took the boat out on the water to try and find the problem, I ended up finding the source of the noise to be in the starboard side exhaust way down near the starter, from looking through the manual it appears to be coming from some kind of diverter or something like that.

Just wonder if this is something that needs to be dealt with imediatly or can it wait?
The noise comes and goes it is not constant?

 

[jtmarten]

Re: clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

Sounds like an exhaust shutter that needs to be replaced. They'll ckick at idle when bad.

 

[Steev-oh]

Re: clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

is it hard to get at, at first look it is hard to reach and see so I am guessing it is hard to get at.

Immediate change or can it wait till the fall?

 

[Steev-oh]

Re: clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

Sorry i didn't mention what the boat was, 97 fourwinns 180h 4.3gl/sx.
The manual doesn't really speak about this

 

[stonyloam]

Re: clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

is it hard to get at, at first look it is hard to reach and see so I am guessing it is hard to get at.

Immediate change or can it wait till the fall?

Maybe maybe not. Depends on how your boat is set up. Here is where it is: #7 http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...sc=EXHAUST+SYSTEM+(USE+WITH+2+PIECE+MANIFOLD) You have to remove the exhaust tube to get to it, pretty easy from there on. Probably a couple hour job to do them. Hint: If you do decide to replace them stuff a rag in the pipe below, so when you drop a grommet it will not go all the way down the pipe (ask me how I know).

They are rubber coated steel, so sounds like your rubber coating is gone. If the shutters brake off they will lodge somewhere in the exhaust system, and could cause a blockage. Your call. Good luck.

 

[Steev-oh]

Re: clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

I guess I will pull all the starboard side off right from the manifold that might give me some extra room, its pretty tight, I changed the starter and it was one of those lean in and hope you can play twister with your arm jobs.

what is the purpose of this thing? it doesn't look like much from the pic.
can you leave it out or do you need it? is it just there to add some back pressure?

Thanks for responding, Steve

 

[jtmarten]

Re: clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

You need it, unless you don't ever plan on using reverse or stopping the boat without a long deceleration. Keeps the water out of the exhaust system, which keeps it out of your cylinders.

 

[Steev-oh]

Re: clickinig noise on starboard side of engine

from what my manual says 1997 volvo penta gl/sx does not show a flapper, i also went to a local marine repair shop to order the part and the guy there said volvo stopped using them. Maybe I will just take it appart from the riser and work my way down the the exhaust pipe.

I am at a loss from looking at the exhaust pipe diagram there is nothing there that could cause this noise. Starting to think it could be something maybe in the engine (coupler or something like that) but doesn't make sense that the consentration of noise was in the elbow of the exhaust as it went under the rear of the engine.

The clicking noise almost sounds like when the starter ticks off the flywheel but not as frequent and it only slightly speeds up then goes completely away on further accelaration.
it will click click nothing the click click click nothing for a few seconds the click click nothing and so on increase the RPM by about 200-300 and it is completely gone.