Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

No, that vibration is not normal, & there is a cause......
Not to confuse you, but a 302 can have more than one firing order .....
Is yours set up for 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8?
If it is shuddering without the drive on, then I don't think it is coming from a mechanical imbalance.......
You should never run the engine without a water supply to the drive even if you have a closed system....
The impeller needs water to survive......
I would put the drive back on & take it for a test ride to see what the engine does under load........​

 

[turbosetch]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

I have had it in the water and the effect is the same.

You are correct the firing order is what you stated.

The only impeller on this system is in the sterndrive so that was not connected when I ran the motor for 1-2 mins. The onboard water pump is the one that circulates the coolant for me which was present.

Anyway yes I agree something mechanical. I looked at the belt and pulleys to see if there was any wobbling or out of round situations that could be spotted and nothing notable.

The only other possibility I can think of is the balancer on the front of the engine. It looks fine its not shifted and the timing marks line up with TDC which are idicated on the balancer pulley.

I checked with Mercparts and the balancer is not available any more. Anyone have a balancer for a 1973 888 Ford 302 setup!! LOL

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

Can you get to WOT running in the water in gear?
8Note you still need to provide cooling water to the rubber boots that connect the exhaust elbows to the y pipe.......
They won't cook right away, but they will.......​

 

[Don S]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

Had a customer with the same problem. Engine ran great, except for a vibration. Spent lots of time on the phone with him because he didn't want to bring it in so we could look at it.
This went on for about a month, with all the above stuff mentioned. His was a Volvo and he removed the upper gear box, still had a vibration.
But now he knew it was the engine. and ask about the vibration dampner, flywheel, and on and on. Timing, firing order, everything, finally he brought it in and I started it on muffs. Note at the top of my reply I said it's a good running engine and sounds great.
Well, I started it and immediatly could hear a dead miss. Sounded like an old John Deere tractor.
Did a compression test and there were 2 (not just one) but 2 cylinders with 0 compression. After much talking and asking questions he admitted he adjusted the valves and that before that it ran fine. So I pulled the valve covers and readjusted the valves and guess what. The compression came back up and the the engine sounded great......... Even to me.
From then on, I put little stock when a customer says "It sounds great, but......."

 

[180shabah]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

Guess that means compression test time...

 

[turbosetch]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

Boat will get to 3700-3800 rpm WOT with a full load on board.

The engine is old and has never been rebuilt from what I know so compression could be an issue I suppose.

Are the valves adjustable on a Ford 302??

I have never had the valve covers off but would be willing to check that out for sure if its a possible adjustment.

Clock shows 2200 hours on the engine.

Guess its back to work on it some more. lol

Good advice from everyone here by the way its been helpful.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

The valves are not adjustible Like a Chevy.....
The length of the push rods is the adustment....
That is alot of hours.....
I would definately do a compression test....
You misread what I said....
I do not think it is a mechanical imbalance, I agree with Don S....
I think you have a cylinder that ain't doing anything.....
You WOT is a little low......
Post those compression #'s.........​

 

[Don S]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

It's not that you need a compression test, or valve adjustment or anything like that.
What I was refering to was the fact that what may be a great running and great sounding engine to you, could sound like crap to someone that does it for a living.

Still around 2000rpm there is a steady vibration that shakes everything. Listening to the exhaust the engines sounds like its running perfect..no missing sounds very stead at any rpm.

Boat will get to 3700-3800 rpm WOT with a full load on board.

These quotes are a perfect example, you have a perfect sounding engine, but is about 1000 rpm low in rpm, (and no that is not something fixed with a prop change)
You have a problem and need to find it. Use whatever tests are necessary to find and fix the problem.

 

[turbosetch]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

Don,

Perhaps you should check what the WOT target rpm is for a 1973 888 system with a 2bbl holley. I have the orginal manual and I recal 4000 or perhaps 4100 RPM is the max on this model. When the boat is not loaded down with 5 adults and 3 kids it will hit 4000 rpm.

I have been working on engines for a long time and once did it for a living. I am simply not familar with these old engine designs.

I understand what your saying completly. I'm going to pull the manifolds and do a compression check this weekend if I can borrow the tester from some one. I am not looking forward to finding out I might have to pull the motor and do a rebuild.

I think if it needs a motor I'm going to replace it with a diesel!! Gas prices and the way this engine drinks fuel it might make sense.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

Actually, the WOT is 3800-4200......
2200 is alot of hours....
Do the test, it might turn out to be something easy to remedy....
​

 

[turbosetch]

Re: Vibration In Neutral And Clicks When Turning..Any help??

RPM yes your right I just checked the book for kicks. So I'm pretty darn close to lower end.

Will do the tests and report back. Thanks for everyones help.