Ticking/tapping sound from 280 drive ( upper housing)

[Wolf pack]

I recently changed out my u joint bellow and noticed oil in the old bellow. I had my Mechanic change the seals in the upper housing. I installed the upper housing with the new u joint bellow. After the drive was put back together I hooked a hose up to the drive. While the engine was running and water going though the system I noticed a ticking/tapping sound near the upper housing of the Drive. I put the drive in gear and ran at 2000 rpms back down to idle and still the
sound was there. Oil level in drive is correct with 30 weight Chevron oil. I have a 280 drive as well. Any thoughts, I have not put a load on it yet.

 

[Don S]

Re: Ticking/tapping sound from 280 drive ( upper housing)

If it wasn't there before, I would be asking the mechanic that resealed it.

 

[Wolf pack]

Re: Ticking/tapping sound from 280 drive ( upper housing)

Thanks Don, I will tell my mechanic about it. Ticking sounds from a drive sounds strange. I would expect sounds from a drive to be more like growling & whining sounds.

Could you answer one more question for me; When the motor is in neutral & idling, are the u joint and upper housing gears & bearings
rotating? But once put into gear, the cone clutch engages the lower portion of the drive and turning everything?

 

[Don S]

Re: Ticking/tapping sound from 280 drive ( upper housing)

Could you answer one more question for me; When the motor is in neutral & idling, are the u joint and upper housing gears & bearings
rotating? But once put into gear, the cone clutch engages the lower portion of the drive and turning everything?

Yes, all the gears in the upper and the ujoints are turning any time the engine is.

 

[Nickypoo]

Re: Ticking/tapping sound from 280 drive ( upper housing)

I can't visualize anything in the upper making a ticking noise. Perhaps one of the caps on the u-joints is loose and the cross piece is sliding up and down as it spins. Did the noise go away when you put it in gear and revved it up? You can check if there is any play in the u-joints yourself fairly easily.

 

[Wolf pack]

Re: Ticking/tapping sound from 280 drive ( upper housing)

No, the noise did not go away after the engine was revved. I told my mechanic about it and he was stumped. But I will have him listen to it. I took my raw h20 pump off to have him put in a new impeller ( pump is a Sherwood ) in it, as its been 3 years! Once I have it installed I will have him there when I fire it up. So he can hear the drive and make sure I have good water flow out the exhaust.
Thanks Mates!