New Member Here with first question

[liftnaleg]

Guys I have bought a 1991 Dynasty Elan 171 boat with 135 hp Merc and merc OD with Alpha One XD trim....My question is when I turn to the right or left there is a grinding noise in the foot or back half of the motor....The resivour in the back with the stainless lines does have some water in it and I think the water in the tank is due to the boat did sink some in the back and it was under water the resivior ...I have had it out running and it runs great cranks great and pulls great just when I turn left or right it grinds...I did have a hydra fin for plaining on it but just took it off to see if that helps...Two people in the boat said it might be the prop for some reason...

What is the best way to change this fluid?
The fluid with water in it seems to only work the trim up and down I have traced them to the cylinders on the foot that just raises and lowers the boat..

Any help would be great I did search but nothing came up with my exact problem...

 

[QC]

Re: New Member Here with first question

Is it a rythmic clunking/clicking noise more than a grind? Worse the harder the turn? Could be U-joints, they could be going or it may be OK. I had an Alpha that did that even when new, but I guess I'd have to hear it.

Changing 100% of that fluid is a messy but somewhat easy job. You need to pump it out of the reservoir, refill with clean fluid, cycle up and down and repeat endlessly until there is no more evidence of water. You can also use the trim pump and spew it out of the trim ram lines. Should get a manual to do it that way.

Welcome aboard and good luck!! You're in the right place for help if it gets deeper.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: New Member Here with first question

Howdy,

If that thing is making undesirable noises when turned left or right, you REALLY need to pull the drive and inspect the drive bellows, yoke, U-joints and gimbal bearing.

Do it NEXT. if the U-joints break, it will get fairly expensive to fix.

Since it appears that the boat has not had any maintenance it would probably be a good idea to replace ALL the fluids, engine, drive, trim, etc.


Regards,


Rick

 

[tysonnathan]

Re: New Member Here with first question

sounds like a gimbal bearing issue... if there was water in your trim resevoir and your gimbal bearing is bad, this could be a sign that the boat took on water at some point.... like the plug was left in for a long time while it sat outside to fill with rainwater... the water might have come up hi enough to get water in the resevoir through the little breather hole and go into the outdrive hole in the transom and damage the gimbal bearing....

this is a scenario that i am ever-so familiar with, because it happened to the boat i purchased... im in the process of fixing it....

 

[liftnaleg]

Re: New Member Here with first question

Pulling the drive? Is there any directions on this on here I searched and dint really see anything under Merc....If youare familiar with tools is this something a shad tree could do? Also where would you suggest getting the parts from....What is the likely hood of pulling cleaning everything up repacking and it being ok to get us through the summer...

Thanks so much for the help guys, you rock, great form...

 

[QC]

Re: New Member Here with first question

You'll need to get a manual, but it is doable if you are mechanically inclined . . .

Don't take my comments as meaning things are fine. It's just very possible that after a good inspection and maintenance, you will indeed be OK for the season. Water in the bellows is waaaaaay bad, and could very well have damaged the u-joints and the gimbal bearing. Some are noisier than others though. Without any history, and with the water comments, I agree on pulling the drive. It may never have been off and technically it should be evey year . . .

Parts are available right here

 

[tysonnathan]

Re: New Member Here with first question

to remove drive: put throttle/shifter in foward, disconnect the trim cylinders by pulling the pin that is above the prop, tye the cylinders up out of the way, remove the 6 nust on the horizontal bolts seen while looking at the back of the boat, with the nuts off wiggle the drive around til it comes off...

really easy... refer to manual for more specifics.