New Progress and New Questions

[Gator1996]

I have a 1989 Mercruiser 3.0, the motor has been storage for 18 months or so waiting for the restore on the boat to be done. I have asked a couple of questions regarding the motor and outdrive and finally have been able to work through some issues and get the motor in the boat, outdrive on and attempt to run the thing.

I let it idle for about 5 minutes or so on the hose today, all seemed to be OK. After a minute or so I heard a bumping noise. Coming from the coupler area. No burnt rubber smell and nothing crazy loud or anything. I am hoping that you guys might help me with a couple of ideas.

Background:
All bellows are new
Shift cable is new
Gimbal bearing is new
Water pump housing assembly and impeller are new-water is flowing
Did engine alignment, tool moved with one hand both in and out
Struggled a bit installing the drive, just the last inch or so, finally got it in.

I took some video, the video part kind of sucks but the audio portion will get the point across. Ideas???
[video]http://s1139.photobucket.com/user/gatorfan1996/media/enginerunning_zps1d88fbd6.mp4.html[/video]
and another
[video]http://s1139.photobucket.com/user/gatorfan1996/media/enignerunning2_zps5929147e.mp4.html[/video]

 

[alldodge]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

Just maybe, spit balling here so to speak. Was the drive hard to remove, and how old is the coupler? The coupler may have a slight angle to it and a bit worn. The alignment tool went it but may not have gone in all the way. The tool may have been about an inch short and it may not have been noticed. So when the drive was reinstalled that last inch was going into a bind, sort-of.

 

[Don S]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

Pull the drive. Hook your hose directly to the thermostat housing where the drive pump hose connects, start it up and see if you still have the noise.

 

[Gator1996]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

Thanks guys. I'll get on it ASAP and let you know what I find.

 

[Gator1996]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

Alldodge,
The drive was off when I got the motor so not sure how hard it was to remove also not sure the age of the coupler. I am sure that the tool was all the way in the coupler. I think my issue was the new o rings hanging up at the end. Not sure of course but it seems to be a relatively common problem. Thanks for the input I'll keep you posted.

 

[Gator1996]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

Hello again.
I tookDon's advice, pulled the drive, connected the hose and cranked her up. I have so say I was surprised that the noise did continue. Thought for sure it was something in the drive. So I guess I have narrowed it down. Would the coupler still make noise when bad if the drive is off? I have definitely isolated it to that area. But can't tell for sure if it is the coupler or not.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[Don S]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

See if the coupler is loose on the flywheel.

 

[Gator1996]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

I reached back behind the motor, the coupler doesn't move at all. So I'm gonna say its not loose. I started it back up to try to isolate it and it ran for ten minutes or so without a peep. Not one clank. So the noise just became intermittent. So as if I hadn't asked enough of you guys,Don especially, any new ideas now that the noise is not constant.

 

[Don S]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

Pull the exhaust elbow off and see if the exhaust shutter has all the rubber worn off and it's clanking back and forth.

Did this last time you ran it, did you have the rpm higher of make the engine run smoother?

 

[mguidry629]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

I can't listen to or watch the video since they block videos on my work computer, but my first thought was exhaust shutters. Mine make some noise at idle that can be a little concerning, but I thought this was normal for the shutters to make a little racket.

 

[Gator1996]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

The time before that I did but last time (no noise) idle was much smoother.

 

[Gator1996]

Re: New Progress and New Questions

So slap me if Im stupid, is it possible that the starter gear isn't disengaging all the way? The starter has been pretty questionable since I first tried to start it. It is pretty picky about when it wants to turn the motor over.