Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

[Gerald9]

I have a '96 40 hp Force outboard.

The motor has started making a 'ticking' noise. The speed of the ticking changes with the RPM of the engine but the noise is always there once it starts making the noise. I don't feel any unusual vibration and the engine does not get hot or loose power.

I had to run the engine about 10 miles to get back to the boat launch with it making this noise.

I ran the engine the next day in the river. The engine ran normal for the first 10 to 15 minutes [4 or 5 miles] and then the 'ticking' noise started again.

I drained the lower unit oil. The oil was a grayish color [it is usually a darker color] and there was some metal shaving on the lower drain plug magnet. This was a lot more metal that I have ever seen.

Any suggestions as to what is causing the noise?

 

[carholme]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Gerald;

I would get the lower unit removed and check the engine driveshaft for lateral and vertical play, indicating a shaft bearing or possibly a loose pinion nut.

If there is a problem with the driveshaft or not, the guts are going to have to be pulled from the housing to further investigate the clutch, gears, bearings, etc., seeing as you have a greater amount of metal shavings than normal.

Do you have the s/n and model number for your engine or do you already have the service manual and parts listing?

Gerry

 

[Gerald9]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Gerry

S/N is 0E173965

Model # ----not sure, is this it.....40 ELPT.

I do not have a service manual.

I really don't know what the cost would be to replace all the moving parts in the lower unit. I did that to another engine many many years ago.

This engine has been used a lot in South Lousiana bayous where the engine hits logs and stumps......so it is quite possible there is damage in all the parts of the lower unit.

I am just wondering if this "ticking" noise could be coming from the valves, piston, stator, etc.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Here are somethings to try??Since it ticks faster when U rev it up.Try starting it in the drive on the hose,after dark.Look for spark on the plugs.It's possible spark could be jumping from the plugs/leads to the block making a ticking sound.Make sure all connections on the motor are tight.
Get a set of mechanics stethascopes.Start it and try finding the area the tick is comming from.
Being as I can't see it and hear it myself,I'm guessing at best.
It's possible the ticking is comming from the lower.Take it off and hook a hose to the pickup and start it.See if it still ticks.J

 

[carholme]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Gerald;

Here is the parts listing for your s/n and gives you an idea of the prices:

http://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury-outboard/1696.cfm

The service manual you require is 90-831250R1

Regardless where the ticking is coming from, the increased level of shavings on the mag plug tells you that you have to get inside there and see what is going on. If it is something like a loose pinion or drive gear, you just don't know when it is going to fail.

If you must run the engine, before doing so, drain the oil from the LU into a clean container and pass a magnet through it to see how much metal you pick up. How much is on the magnet will alow you to determine if you want to run the engine again. Flush the LU with varsol. let it drain well, re-fill it with oil and then run it, Check the mag plug when finished.

Gerry

 

[Gerald9]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Jerry......thank for the "spark" suggestion. I will try that, but not tonight.

Gerry.....thanks for the information. The parts cost on the link you posted do look cheaper than what I was expecting. It may be next week sometime before I can take the lower unit apart to inspect.

With the lower unit off..... and no cooling water, I guess I should only run the engine for less than one minute to see if it still makes the "ticking" noise?????

Question.....wouldn't the engine noise be so loud, that I could not hear the "ticking" noise?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Jerrys suggestioin is a good one but if jumping to the block you would lose power.
But it could be a loose plug wire jumping at the plug.You could also use a long screwdriver against your ear and carefully touch various areas of the motor.A hose held to the ear also would work as a stethescope.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Here are somethings to try??Since it ticks faster when U rev it up.Try starting it in the drive on the hose,after dark.Look for spark on the plugs.It's possible spark could be jumping from the plugs/leads to the block making a ticking sound.Make sure all connections on the motor are tight.
Get a set of mechanics stethascopes.Start it and try finding the area the tick is comming from.
Being as I can't see it and hear it myself,I'm guessing at best.
It's possible the ticking is comming from the lower.Take it off and hook a hose to the pickup and start it.See if it still ticks.J

I just read this and thought, "Stethoscope and stray spark. OWWWWWW!!!!"

Although I think they usually have plastic "leads" Can you imagine a spark to the ears!

Never thought about that before.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

The stetascope is for after the spark test.
Hook a hose to the water tube.I use an old piece of hose that has the end cut off.It should slide on far enough to make sure that lots of water get to the motor.J

 

[RRitt]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

I had a 85HP Force that made ticking noise at higher RPMs. It was also hard to start. The ticking sounded just like the sound a spark plug makes when you are checking for spark. I could never figure out where it was coming from or what was causing it. The marina couldn't either, but that's not a big surprise. It was the same marina that set my idle to the wrong speed and mis-adjusted the shift lever. They said it conked out because it was an old engine and it had hard time shifting because the clutch dog was going out. Nah- it conked out cause they set idle too low and it wouldn't go into reverse because the linkage was adjusted wrong and the shifter wasn't going all the way back.

At any rate, I got tired of the engine being hard to start and rebuilt the carbs. I also put in a new fuel diaphram, primer bulb, and fuel filter. The ticking went away and never came back. Engine also started like new. It think the ticking was caused by a partially clogged jet on one of the carberators causing the engine to run a slightly lean mix at higher rpms. It could have been a problem with filter or diaphram since I did it all at once but I'm pretty sure it was the carbs.

 

[Gerald9]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

I am going to be without my computer for 24+ hours, starting in a little while.

Hopefully it will work even better when I get it back.

I killed a Turkey this AM and may go again tomorrow. Fixing the engine will move up some in priority next week.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

I had the same thing. I started the motor up in complete darkness and found two spark plug wires bad. Sparking. So I had a complete tune up done and that fixed it.

 

[Gerald9]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

I finally got to run the engine last night........ did not see any sparking from the plug wires.

Next will be to pull the gears out of the lower unit to see if I can see what is causing the metal shavings in the gear oil. I am hoping there is something "obviously" damaged so I will "Know" this will fix my problem.

 

[Gerald9]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

Update.... on 40 hp '96 Force

I took the lower unit apart and found the gears damaged.

Looks like the cost for gears, brg, seals, o-ring, etc will be about $ 1000.

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Motor is making a "Ticking" noise.

It would probably be cheaper to get a used lower unit. I believe that in 1996 they were using Mercury lower units.