funny noise

[stevev22]

I have a mer-cruiser new to me. Run good but when it goes in forward or reverse there is a girding noise first. Any ideas?

 

[theblob]

Re: funny noise

Hey welcome to iboats.that sounds normal,try putting in gear a tad faster and it shouldnt make noise.alway try to add serial numbers on engine and outdrive.you will get better results.does noise sound more like a clicking noise?

 

[theblob]

Re: funny noise

Always make sure engine is at idle before putting in gear like for instense you have in forward dont pull into reverse untill engine idles down,because you can rip the gears.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: funny noise

I have a mer-cruiser new to me. Run good but when it goes in forward or reverse there is a girding noise first. Any ideas?

If this is an alpha one drive, and the shift cable is adjusted correctly, it should go into drive/reverse with a single "clunk" sound. You do not want it to "grind" as this will wear out the clutch. As previously mentioned, engage gear firmly.

 

[achris]

Re: funny noise

Hi Steve,

Basically what the other posters have said. The engagement of forward and reverse is through a dog clutch. Dog clutches are either in or out. If you 'ease' it into gear, yes, with will grind. That grinding noise is the edges of the clutches (not the gears :faceplam:, the gears are always engaged) just hitting on each other. You need to move past that point briskly....

Chris....

I found a nice video a while back on how shifting works... Hope this helps... Don't worry about it being an OMC Cobra, the Merc Alpha style drive works EXACTLY the same...

Lower unit training video, cut-away display OMC Cobra

 

[stevev22]

Re: funny noise

Thank you everyone for the good information and yes if I shift it faster I only get the one cluck. I'm use to that from my outboard years ago. I also have found out the idle speed is to high, will work on that. The Mer-cruiser is a 3.0 with a alpha 1 outdrive.