New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

[RCSConstruction]

Volvo penata 5.7 / SX

I had a brand new bellows,drive-shaft assembly,bearing service done last winter, used the boat maybe 30 gallons worth and it sat alot afterward, now I am getting a wiked vibration and grinding noise. I pulled the drive and everything looks new, bearing spins with my fingers, everything shiny and tight, with no rust.
I greased the heck out of the bearing, I was trying to flush the bearing with new grease (I cleaned out the grease btw), drive slid right in, no problems and now the noise seems worse with not as much vibration..
Any ideas? The noise is heard loudest on the transom, I used a screwdriver to my ear and the noise is right at the gimbal area but I also don't know if it could be my coupler or something else?
Thanks

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Anybody??
Could a seemingly good (and relatively new) Gimbal bearing be bad? Is there a way to check?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Spin it with your fingers, should be silky smooth.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Remove the top cap on the outdrive and look at the upper bearing,I've seen several that were rusted and half@ss froze up from having water in the drive and can even prevent the engine from turning.

 

[Don S]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Are all the keepers for the ujoints in place? Are the ujoints still smooth?

 

[BrandonS]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Not to hijack the thread, but I have roughly the same issue. More specifically:
Alpha 1 out drive in a '87 stingray with 3.7L 165.
Groan is low when in neutral, wheel straight. Gets louder when wheel is turned. Is loud when wheel is straight and in gear, louder when turning wheel.
The boat has been underwater, flooded bellows. I replaced the gimbal bearing, but only greased the u-joints (bad idea, should have replaced). Removed fluid from drive (looked like warm melted chocolate), replaced fluid with new quicksilver drive fluid.
Thanks,
Brandon

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Remove the top cap on the outdrive and look at the upper bearing,I've seen several that were rusted and half@ss froze up from having water in the drive and can even prevent the engine from turning.

The drive sounds silent, it's definitely coming right at the transom/Gimbal area.

Are all the keepers for the ujoints in place? Are the ujoints still smooth?

They are like new, to be honest I didn't look for the keepers... When I had it out, I rotated the shaft, checked to see if the u-joints had play but all seemed well. May have to pull the drive again today...


The bearing spins smooth, it's tight, but smooth..

 

[BrandonS]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

I pulled the top cap on my outdrive and saw that the bearing and race were rusted (now pitted). And that is causing the noise in the oudrive, not sure if any more bearings are bad, but it would be my guess that the only one out of the gear lube would be the worst one. I may just let it go and replace it later when I have time, and money.

I also removed the accessory belt to disable the power steering pump, and the very loud groan went away. This one I will live with until much later.

Brandon

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Ok..
So I pulled the drive again..
U-joints all have their clips, all shiny no rust, I moved them around and tweaked on them a bit to see if there was play, nothing.. all tight, sealed bearings btw..
End of drive shaft had grease. Gimbal bearing spins when I stuff three fingers in, it's tight turning it, should it spin real, real easy.. it hard to tell because it's so slippery with grease.
Before i pulled the drive i did some trimming and steering..
Trim doesn't do much unless trimmed all the way up then the noise gets a tad louder.
Steering back and forth doesn't change the sound except in one small spot when I turn it to the right. If I hold it there the noise comes back but as/when I get to that position it goes away for a second or two..
Gimbal?
What does a bad coupler sound like?
I am wondering if my busted starter did anything? i recovered the pieces and the boat doesn't make noise without the drive..
Thanks all

P.S.
Best way to describe the sound is, a whirling, grinding sound with a clack every 1/2 second.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Not getting any love.... what happened around here.. I need some know it all's...

So I took the Gimbal out, seems to spin fine with one exception.
If I put pressure on the inside of the bearing (trying to simulate if the drive isn't aligned) there are a few spots I get a small, tiny grind feeling..
Did I find my problem?

P.S.
Never seen a gimbal in my hand, does the center just spin or does it spin and pivot inside the main bearing housing/race?

 

[meesh]

Re: New Gimbal, New drive shaft assembly, still grinding noise!!

Gimbal bearing should be smooth as silk. You definately found at least one problem.