Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

[bigmikek]

I keep meaning to post about this experience and just remembered.
Last August I got out on Lake Ontario. I knew my boat (which you can see is my avatar)
could idle at about 1.5 to 2.0 mph in forward on idle so down went the lines for trolling.

We used a large sock or drift anchor too.
This went well for about an hour and I started to notice a knock.
My buddies thought it sounded like a lifter. They told me that the oil wasn't getting up in the engine.
So I was worried I ruined something but after shutting down and checking oil levels,
it was at a good level and I stopped trolling.
After running a very short time at higher speed, the knock went away and I have not duplicated the cause since.
They tell me I probably didn't harm my engine, perhaps not. Does not seem to be damaged.

We had to drift with the wind after that across bays.
So, what can I do to get trolling again. I don't want to mount a smaller motor off a kicker board. I don't have one anyway.
Has anyone had this happen to you?
I was thinking maybe one of those trolling plates over the prop might work.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

I have that trolling plate on my 18' Crestliner with a 140HP Mercruiser. It works well to slow the boat as I can crawl along at a very slow speed, 1MPH or less. Gong that slow into wind/waves can be a challenge as the plate causes diminished steering, have to bump the throttle to correct at times. Or just go off idle, 1000RPM, to troll faster with good steering. Reverse is terrible with the plate since the prop is blocked, diminished steering....

I built a swim platform last year and put an padeye on the platform above the drive, so I could tie the plate up a bit. Trolling speed has increased to 2MPH, but steering is a lot better.

 

[bigmikek]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

Thank you for the reply. Maybe there is a way to set up somehow to pull on a line or a lever or rod and lift the plate if needed for reverse.
I don't need reverse on big water. My main thinking was to raise my rpms enough to get adequate oil through the engine and still keep a slow speed. The large drift anchor didn't do the trick. I don't ever want to hear that noise again. :grumpy:

I also had a thought, What if I used a drastic change in prop pitch? I know I would be slower getting out to the deeper water but, I could run the engine faster while pushing less water. Changing a prop is no big deal.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

How about an electric trolling motor???

I think you could even put a MinKota engine mount electric on and still be able to steer with the wheel,......

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

Thank you for the reply. Maybe there is a way to set up somehow to pull on a line or a lever or rod and lift the plate if needed for reverse.
I don't need reverse on big water. My main thinking was to raise my rpms enough to get adequate oil through the engine and still keep a slow speed. The large drift anchor didn't do the trick. I don't ever want to hear that noise again. :grumpy:

I also had a thought, What if I used a drastic change in prop pitch? I know I would be slower getting out to the deeper water but, I could run the engine faster while pushing less water. Changing a prop is no big deal.

Ayuh,.... I use 2 Huge drift socks, tied off the forward cleats, to keep 'em up beside the hull, outa the way of fightin' fish,...

With 2, 60" socks, ya oughta be able to troll Slowly, at 1000 rpms,...

Trim tabs can also be used as trollin' brakes,....
Both Smart Tabs, 'n Bennetts sell a Fisherman's model, which over extend the tabs, more than normally required,...

Those drive mounted plates have a nasty habit of bustin' the drive housin' when ya forget to trip it up, 'n just take off under heavy throttle,...

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

Lindy has a system they recommend for the two drift sock system. Basically tying them off so they are under the boat. I've never tried it but supposedly it helps with tracking and turning.

The Tamer Trolling System...in the wind and in control Tips

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

Those drive mounted plates have a nasty habit of bustin' the drive housin' when ya forget to trip it up, 'n just take off under heavy throttle,...

The plate bigmikek posted is spring loaded, automatic, so it raises as the boat goes faster. I never have to monkey with it, go from trolling to WOT without doing anything. Fully automatic has it's downside while in reverse though...

I'd look into the aluminum plates as one newer model has 1/2 of the plate spring loaded. I don't like the aluminum plates for the reason Bondo mentioned, along with bending the plate if forgetting it in the down position and going WOT, but the 1/2 plate spring loaded style seems like a compromise between the two.

 

[bigmikek]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

I thank you all, I guess that the knock noise is not a problem then as long as I can get my rpm's up enough. I might buy one of these contraptions. I don't see myself forgetting it is on there. They come off easy enough. I might just use it when trolling. I use the boat more for other purposes so it doesn't have to always be on. My main concern is the knock, I never want to hear that again.
I am going to post on the Buy Trade Sell part of the forum.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

I would be concerned about the condition of your oil system. Guessing your oil pump is worn, oil passages clogged or oil filter needs changed

 

[LongLine]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

Ditto Dingbat. How's the oil pressure?

 

[bigmikek]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

I can't check it now, it's winterized in storage, but it was at 40 psi running up the river, the oil and filter is new every year and it only has 110 hours on the new engine. I don't think it has any issues, just got a bit thirsty for oil at idle in forward after an hour. I noticed the bad sound pretty quickly and stopped idling and trolling. I just think it was mildly abused. Of course I will keep an eye out and an ear open when we get her out in a couple months. My reason for posting this thread was to find a way to troll without having this problem.
An electric trolling motor would require a battery and the kicker board and the waves I get into, I just don't see that working for me.

I do like Brian 26's Lindy double sock idea. The link looked interesting. That could work well I think for my boat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

I can't check it now, it's winterized in storage, but it was at 40 psi running up the river, the oil and filter is new every year and it only has 110 hours on the new engine. I don't think it has any issues, just got a bit thirsty for oil at idle in forward after an hour. I noticed the bad sound pretty quickly and stopped idling and trolling. I just think it was mildly abused. Of course I will keep an eye out and an ear open when we get her out in a couple months. My reason for posting this thread was to find a way to troll without having this problem.
An electric trolling motor would require a battery and the kicker board and the waves I get into, I just don't see that working for me.

I do like Brian 26's Lindy double sock idea. The link looked interesting. That could work well I think for my boat.

Ayuh,.... That's basically what I said above,...
"I use 2 Huge drift socks, tied off the forward cleats, to keep 'em up beside the hull, outa the way of fightin' fish,...

With 2, 60" socks, ya oughta be able to troll Slowly, at 1000 rpms,"...

Tied off to the forward cleats, ya don't need all the extra lines shown in that link,...
Just tie off the front of the socks to the forward cleats, 'n the tail lines to the aft cleats,...
The socks will run under/ beside the hull, dependin' on the wind, waves, 'n direction of travel,...

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

......to gleam an educated recommendation to correct your knocking condition, if you can recall, please advise engine temperature, oil pressure, approximate sea water temperature and engine speed when the knocking is noticed. Also, what grade/weight oil are you using.

I'm thinking an oil weight change may correct the problem once the specifics are revealed.

 

[Walt T]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

Sometimes using the 15W 40 oil will cause that. When the engine idles it coolsand so does the oil. The 15W 40 is thicker than most automotive oil and does not flow as well at cooler temps. Might try 10-30 synthetic see if that stops the noise.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

Sometimes using the 15W 40 oil will cause that. When the engine idles it coolsand so does the oil. The 15W 40 is thicker than most automotive oil and does not flow as well at cooler temps. Might try 10-30 synthetic see if that stops the noise.

That's my line of thinking, Walt. Though I would lean to a single weight oil like SAE 30 as the OP seems to boat in the warmer months only.

 

[bigmikek]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

That's my line of thinking, Walt. Though I would lean to a single weight oil like SAE 30 as the OP seems to boat in the warmer months only.

This is what's in it now. Thank you!
Castrol Edge with Syntec 10-40W Full Synthetic Motor Oil.

Just trying to recall, this happened a half year ago. Water temp of engine was normal and lake was probably 60 -70 degrees at surface. Oil pressure was considerably lower than 40 during trolling and speed was 1.5 to 2 mph. RPM's were whatever the engine idles at in forward and seemed to be normal.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

View attachment 224648

This is what's in it now. Thank you!
Castrol Edge with Syntec 10-40W Full Synthetic Motor Oil.

Just trying to recall, this happened a half year ago. Water temp of engine was normal and lake was probably 60 -70 degrees at surface. Oil pressure was considerably lower than 40 during trolling and speed was 1.5 to 2 mph. RPM's were whatever the engine idles at in forward and seemed to be normal.

Ayuh,.... A general rule of thumb for oil pressure is 10 psi per 1000 rpms,....

 

[thumpar]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

My 2.5l didn't like to run at idle for extended periods of time. I ended up getting a Minkota that I could just attach to the swim platform with the screw type clamps when needed. I didn't have to modify the boat. When I was a kid my grandpa had a 17 or 18' boat with volvo 3.0. It would run all day at 1200RPM trolling but that was in the ocean.

 

[Walt T]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

4 and 2 cycle gasoline engines really don't like idling for long periods of time. They aren't built for that. They're built to run wild and free and thumb their noses at watercops.

 

[gm280]

Re: Trolling at low speed caused an engine lifter noise

There is no reason for any engine to knock at idle. It doesn't matter if it idles for 1 minute or five hours. Oil pressure will circulate the oil through the engine unless there is some crud buildup restricting the flow. Lifters are mere hydraulic pumps to pump up and take the play out of the clearances between the cam and push rods. So if you have a lifter noise and not a rod or main bearing knock, it is time to replace them. You could even try an engine flush and then fresh new oil and of course filter. It really depends on the age and hours (or mileage in a car) on the engine. As far as the trolling goes, there are some great suggestions on here for that situation...