shift noise

[Jcris]

I've got a 4.3 lx Mercruiser with an Alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive.
When I put it into gear , forward or reverse, it sounds as if gears are not meshing very well. It makes a kind of creaking sound as the gears mesh. It always goes into gear but this noise bugs me. I've heard similar boats that don't make much noise at all when engaging. Is there an alignment issue going on here? Please advise?
Thank you,
Jcris

 

[alldodge]

Guess I would ask what kind of creaking noise? Creaking reminds me of a door hinge, is it that kind of sound?

If its a slow gear kind of noise, you would need to shift a bit quicker. The alpha is not designed to go into gear slowly. The other boats you hear may be bravo drives, and they are real quite because of the sliding clutch, the alpha has a dog clutch

 

[Jcris]

Hey AllDodge,
It's not a door hinge sound, but I do shift it slowly. I'll try shifting it quicker. Thanks for the tip, much appreciated.
Would you say the silding clutch design is better than the dog clutch or just different?
Thanks ,
Jcris

 

[alldodge]

Would you say the sliding clutch design is better than the dog clutch or just different?

Yes very much so, can also handle more HP

 

[Pete_a]

I had a problem with mine chattering and slow to engage fully. Was reluctant to adjust as mine wasnt that bad but wish i would have done it sooner. chlymer manual made it seem bit more involved reason why i kept putting it off.

Smooth as silk now and fairly easy to adjust once you do it. Took me two tries, first time i had a measurement wrong or problems setting preload. Watch videos or pay someone. A marina may want you to get new shift cable. I didnt put a new one in mine as when i pulled cable out during drive maintenance it looked ok. My understanding is cables stretch over time and lose adjustment or they rust and bind.

After a season of clanking gears my oil was still pretty clean and no metal. I may have been lucky and kick myself for not fixing sooner

Let us know how it goes.

 

[SeaDooSam]

Mine does the same thing. Same engine and drive. It makes a sort of grinding noise when shifted slowly. When you are shifting you have to commit. Just one quick, shift movement. You will get the hang of it eventually. You should hear one pronounced "clunk" and that's it.

 

[KJM]

when I shift mine, especially in reverse when first starting out I sometimes hear a fairly loud thumping type noise and have the sensation like she is slipping or something. once she is warmed up it don't happen. pete how did you adjust it?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Dog-clutch drives need to be shifted Briskly,... in, or outa gear,....

 

[Pete_a]

when I shift mine, especially in reverse when first starting out I sometimes hear a fairly loud thumping type noise and have the sensation like she is slipping or something. once she is warmed up it don't happen. pete how did you adjust it?

Sei has a good video on alpha one. Goes something like this, you shift in fwd, set length on rod and barrel, than adjust the up and down of the adjustable post to set the reverse. You may have to tweak it a bit to get it perfect.