Mercruiser 4.3TKS (Carbureated)

[kaclark22]

Hi all - I am hearing a "wobbling" noise on my Mercruiser 4.3TKS Alpha One Gen II sterndrive. This is on a 2016 Sea Ray 19SPX boat.

Please see attached YouTube link to hear the noise. This noise stays the same whether I'm in neutral, idle speed and is there but less noticeable when cruising at 3500 RPM.

Appreciate any thoughts/ideas on what could be causing it. Love the forum!

Thank you,
Kyle

 

[QBhoy]

Not sure I hear anything really. I’d have fresh fuel in it and see what happens.

 

[harringtondav]

Does anything else sound or feel unusual when operating? Does the noise change during turns? Can you hear noise when behind your boat running on muffs?

I can't say exactly what I heard, but if it's coming from the transom assembly it could be a bad gimal bearing. You really should pull your drive annually, each two years tops to check the gimbal bearing and drive shaft bellows. If you haven't done this, now may be a good time. No special tools. 5/8" socket on a 6" extension.

 

[Scott06]

Drive belt up front or gimbal bearing. Take drive belt off and see if it goes away. Really doesn’t sound bad

 

[kaclark22]

Drive belt up front or gimbal bearing. Take drive belt off and see if it goes away. Really doesn’t sound bad

Would it be the gimbal bearing if it still makes the noise in neutral? I usually listen for gimbal when turning and I don't notice anything. I do need to pull the drive and check things out. The boat is 4 years old now so I suppose things can start going wrong. Thank you!

I do notice more of a swooshing noise in the drive belt but I will try taking it off and see.

 

[Scott06]

Gimbal will still make noise in neutral. On an alpha, when in neutral the unjoints, input shaft, and vertical driveshaft are all turning. Only thing not turning is the prop Shaft.

While not there to hear that, based on the video I wouldn’t pull the drive off.