Vibration from rear of boat during sharp turns.

[BajaMan]

I have a 1986 Baja Force 250 with the 454 magnum & Alpha 1 outdrive. When on the lake last week I was feeling a lot of vibration when I made a hard left or right. The same vibration when I trimmed the prop up. When I took off the lower & upper units to inspect them the bellows was full of water & the u-joints were covered in gear oil. Also when I drained the lower unit there was some water in the bottom of it. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the upper unit gears & the lower unit shifted fine in the lake. In addition there was no noise from the outdrive while running. No water drained from the boat after 6 days in the lake but as I said above the bellows were full of water (it gushed out when I pulled the upper unit from the gasket). The u-joints move freely and are tight with no play in them. Do you think they are OK & only need regreased? Would a bad gimble bearing create the vibration that I felt during sharp turns? Where is the water in the bellows coming from? We did have a hard rain here. Thanks for your help!<br /> BajaMan

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Vibration from rear of boat during sharp turns.

Ok, Bajaman, here is the deal....the noise/vibration is from the gimbal bearing/ ujoints.....with the drive off the boat, you reach in and turn that gimbal bearing with your fingers...it should be smooth as glass, NO roughness or catches.....anything but smooth as glass, change it or it will make noise.....Recheck the u joints again, too....make sure you put some rotating force on the shaft [same direction as the motor turns] when you wiggle the joints, otherwise you will miss the rough spots.....<br /> Ya know, that gear lube aint gonna stay in that upper drive, the seal was wrecked by rust on the shaft, you are gonna have to attend to that....<br /> there are 2 ways water gets in bellows and does this damage....a hole in them that lets the water in, or the boat fills up with water and it runs in through the vent hole....the former is doubtful, or all that gear lube woulda run out thru the very same hole...so that leaves the latter...it may well have been in there a LONG time.....

 

[TONY H]

Re: Vibration from rear of boat during sharp turns.

Just as a second opinoun, I agree with ODDD1.<br />My first thought is gimbel bearing

 

[BajaMan]

Re: Vibration from rear of boat during sharp turns.

Thanks go out to ODDD1 & Tony H! I truly appreciate the advice. I spend a fortune on buying this rebuilt Alpha 1 outdrive 7 years ago & I don't want to blow it up. I will follow your instructions & have those repairs done. Thanks again!