Rhythmic clacking from drive

[Gailwins]

Below are two post I placed on another forum, but I was wondering what you guys thought.

Any idea as to what this could be?

The drive is a 1988 Alpha one/gen one connected to a 2006 Mercruiser 4.3L engine.

GW


So, the boat was running great for the last 5 hours, three days worth of fishing.

Today I ran the boat for three hours and when I slowed down at my friend?s marina I heard a banging noise.

I took the boat out of gear and it went away. I put the boat in gear and there was a rhythmic metal on metal I assume came from the drive.

Anyone know what I might be looking at? Have you been through this?

TowBoatUS was exceptional as usual, and put me right in my slip.

GW

No joy tonight. The drive is making noise in drive and reverse.

My friend is putting his boat in the water in the afternoon and we will pull my boat afterwards.

It does not make noise in neutral, but there is a definite rhythmic clack when the drive is in forward or reverse.

We will see. At least the weather looks like garbage until Sunday.

GW

 

[incrediblened]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Below are two post I placed on another forum, but
It does not make noise in neutral, but there is a definite rhythmic clack when the drive is in forward or reverse.
GW

If the noise is definately coming from the outdrive then it sounds like you've got problems with your lower unit. Pull the drain plug and see if you've got metal shavings/chunks in your oil.

Your upper unit gears spin while your engine is running. The gimbal bearing & upper drive shaft u-joints also spin while your engine is running. (if there is no noise while the engine is running then these are not your problem).
The gears in your lower unit & prop spin only when the prop is engaged in either forward or reverse.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

The gears in your lower unit & prop spin only when the prop is engaged in either forward or reverse.

This is not entirely true.......the gears in the lower unit are also spinning but the dog clutch is not engaged unles in gear........

BTW welcome Gailwins.........I directed you from the other site.

 

[incrediblened]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

This is not entirely true.......the gears in the lower unit are also spinning but the dog clutch is not engaged unles in gear........

Yeah, you're right. Drive shaft doesn't spin, but impeller shaft does. My bad.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Lets eliminate an easy one first - is the torque tab still tight, may have come loose and dropped a little, then the prop hits it while spinning.

If not, then you can go back to the big money stuff.

 

[Gailwins]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Torque tab is not the problem. I pulled the boat today and my mechanic will be here tomorrow.

The funny thing is that the rhythm of the noise did not change when I increased the throttle.

We will see. All guesses and sugesstions are welcome.

GW

 

[Gailwins]

Blown Drive Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Blown Drive Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

OK, so the drive is blown...do you go for a aftermarket drive, a remanufactured drive or a used drive?

Where would you get it from?

All welcome.

GW

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Get one right here at Iboats with the three year warranty....

 

[Gailwins]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

I am going with a local guy with a good reputation for the rebuilt drive.

I pulled the drive this morning and will be at his shop in an hour or two.

Will the install be as easy as the removal?

New gasket, align the splines and tighten the drive?

GW

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Install should be fairly easy. Grease the U-joints,Gimbal and check alignment..

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Just wondering what local guy you went with............I'm in Babylon.

Make sure the drive and throttle position are both in fwd. before you install

 

[incrediblened]

Re: Blown Drive Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Re: Blown Drive Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

OK, so the drive is blown...do you go for a aftermarket drive, a remanufactured drive or a used drive?

Where would you get it from?

All welcome.

GW

Is the upper blown or the lower? You've got good chances that half of your outdrive is still good.

I buy all my lowers & uppers on eBay. I spent $150 on a 1:98 upper a couple years ago. No warranty, of course... but a lot of time the auction will say something like, "engine blown, parting out". There's lots of them on there so the price is driven down. Craigslist may be an option here too... but you don't have the advantage of a nation-wide market while shopping craigslist. AND if it breaks, get another one. Still probably cheaper than buying new.

I haven't seen how much they cost on iBoats... but you'll get a nice one that you can depend on.

I've got a lower that I'd sell to you that I guarantee is in good shape. Pulled from a 1982 Cobalt that got vandalized. But I don't know if alpha & 260 type lowers are compatible (it does have the square top fin).

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

I bet you are working in the rain.............I would be too.

Marty was the fastest fix............

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Rhythmic clacking from drive

Just wondering how you made out?