Not my gimbal bearing making noise

[Lakerider]

I have a 1997 Larson the engine is 4.3 GL PLKD my question is when I turn left or right I hear a roar. I have had the u-joints and Gimbal bearing checked. Neither one are bad. I have now noticed that when u turn the steering wheel I can see the steering cylinders moving up and down and in and out from the transom. I know it moves side to side I get that is how it turns. But the other movement seems all wrong. Is there a schematic available that would show how it is bolted in and what should move and what shouldn't.The boat is a Larson 186 SEI if that has anything to do with mounting of the steering system.

 

[Don S]

Re: Not my gimbal bearing making noise

Replace the ujoints. Many times you can't feel the problem, but when you take them apart you will see the grooves in the cross piece of the ujoint.

 

[Lakerider]

Re: Not my gimbal bearing making noise

Thanks Don,
I will install new u-joints tomorrow and sometime this weekend I will post the results for other people having the same problem to learn from.

 

[Lakerider]

Re: Not my gimbal bearing making noise

I replace the u-joints. Helped the vibration and any noise going mostly straight Still wondering about steering cylinders moving forward and down. When turned past halfway one way or the other. Instead of just moving left and right. Seems like it is rubbing on exhaust or something when turning hard. I can't figure out if the movement is normal. Seems too loose any diagrams of steering that show how it mounts Would be great So I could tell what to look for

 

[Lakerider]

Re: Not my gimbal bearing making noise

Ok so here is the latest. The hose connector for the hydraulic steering system were hitting the exhaust elbow when turning so it would make a knocking noise. I could see rub marks on the metal part of the hydraulic lines. After further searching for a reason I saw the rubber exhaust coupler between the heat riser and the 90 degree elbow wasn't all the way upon the heat riser. So after loosening the clamps and pushing it all together like it goes the hoses no longer hit. I bought the boat after the previous owner had had it about 2 months after the owner before him had replaced the engine ( I have receipts from new engine install). Seems the exhaust wasn't installed correctly. Thus explaining the the noise I had heard from the time I bought it and just thought was normal since it was my first sterndrive boat of my own. Now that I think of it . The noise is probably why the guy I bought it from was selling it. Joke is on him. The new u-joints needed to be installed. Because the old ones did have a little wear to them not evident before taking them out. But the main noise I was hearing was just a couple of metal pieces that were too close together when turning. All smooth as silk now. I hope my adventure helps someone. To realize there can be a lot of things going on at once and make it seem like a really bad issue. When added all together. I thought my whole problem was my gimbal bearing and turns out to be nothing of the sort.