Is this normal for my lower drive?????

[smithrock]

'85 Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 1
With the muffs on and running at idle I have water coming from the exhaust at the prop and it is turning slowly. Also at idle I have NO noise from the lower gear housing BUT if I get on the throttle while in neutral, I have a loud noise which sounds like the gears possibly grinding like it wants to engage. Is this normal? Is the noise because there is no resistance on the prop?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

sounds like the shift cables/ rods need adjusting.
water coming out of prop, thats where is suposed to come out

 

[180shabah]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

Water from the prop and slow turning are normal.
Gears grinding - NOT normal

Also - define "get on the throttle" engines do not like being reved to the moon in neutral.

 

[smithrock]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

sounds like the shift cables/ rods need adjusting.
water coming out of prop, thats where is suposed to come out

I just put in a new shift cable and adjusted it. I usually just get exhaust coming from the prop with a little water. The water exits from gimbal housing on the sides. Maybe I need to tighten down the water pump a little more. I'm more worried about the grinding noise when I throttle up

 

[dubs283]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

did you adjust the cable when the boat was in the water?

might want to check your flappers, if one or both have fallen out they could be blocking the water exit holes on either side of the transom plate

 

[meesh]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

If this is a new noise since you put in the cable, chances are you do not have it adjusted correctly.

 

[smithrock]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

If this is a new noise since you put in the cable, chances are you do not have it adjusted correctly.

It's not a new noise. I'm reving the engine to about 1600-2000rpm for just a few sec. If my gears were grinding wouldn't they also do it at idle?

As far as the water coming from the prop, it's also coming out from the intermedate shift shaft, I guess thats normal because thaqt is a wet cavity?

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

I hafta ask...On the hose..
are you running her trimmed UP??

 

[smithrock]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

I hafta ask...On the hose..
are you running her trimmed UP??

Yes, why?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

how far trimmed up?

 

[smithrock]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

how far trimmed up?

Pretty much all the way, does it make a difference?

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

If you run it trimmed up, you stress all the components!

 

[smithrock]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

If you run it trimmed up, you stress all the components!

So then if I lower it I shouldn't hear ANY noise? Does it make a difference if there's a load on it, like when it's in the water?

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

No, it doesnt make a difference if its in the water or not. You have U-joints that are not suppose to be ran at such an angle. The drive only trims that high up to aid with trailering.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

That depends..
Long Beach water or clean water???

JUST KIDDING..I am from San Pedro originally!!!

When you lower you shouldnt hear any noise, unless there is some damage done..And you know that you should NEVER rev her up on the hose in any position, right?

It shouldnt make any grinding or other noises in the water either under load.

 

[skargo]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

Always keep the drive down when on muffs!

 

[snoski]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

Trimmed up and running, you are putting the u-joints in a terrible bind....Don't do that.....You may have already caused damage; but let's hope not. Put the drive down and restart and listen again....

 

[smithrock]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

Trimmed up and running, you are putting the u-joints in a terrible bind....Don't do that.....You may have already caused damage; but let's hope not. Put the drive down and restart and listen again....

I'll try it again today, lowered. When I'm reving it I was in neutral. Why is that a problem in neutral? I can see it being a problem in gear.

OK, just did it, it sounded good! No noise coming from the gears!

Is it normal though for water to run out from the shift shaft? It is coming up from the lower and existing from the intermediate shift shaft

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

Pretty much all the way, does it make a difference?

Yikes...don't do that anymore! You should run it all the way down or just slightly trimmed up. Never Never Never run it in the all the way up position.

 

[smithrock]

Re: Is this normal for my lower drive?????

Yikes...don't do that anymore! You should run it all the way down or just slightly trimmed up. Never Never Never run it in the all the way up position.

Bruce, i did it and it sounded ok. see my above post about the shift shaft