1972 Johnson 20 hp

[tuomimd]

Alright guys heres the problem.

The motor starts and runs great.
At low rpm it sounds smooth.

When I try to get to higher rpms, in forward, it sounds like the motor is grinding or whining really hard. Almost a crinkling sound. This only happens in forward and only at a specific point in accleration.

Thanks in advance.

[F_R]

A crinkling sound, huh? Beats me what a crinkling is. Has the lower unit been off? If it has, and the drive shaft isn't going up into the crankshaft splines correctly, it will have a gear whine. Otherwise, I dunno.

[tuomimd]

The sound could be a gear whine.
Would this only happen when the engine reached higher rpm's?
Would this explain why it only happens in forward?

Would I have to just simply drop the lower unit and reinsert the driveshaft?

Thanks again

[F_R]

That was only a guess. If the shaft doesn't freely slide into the crankshaft when you reinstall the lower unit after removing it, it puts pressure on the pinion gear and causes a whine. Reasons it may not slide in are rust, wrong o-ring in the shaft groove, too big a gob of grease on the splines. If you haven't had the lower unit off, that probably is not what you are hearing.

[samo_ott]

Have you changed the LU oil recently? Was there any signs of metal in it? Does it vibrate when it 'crinkles'?

[tuomimd]

I recently checked the lower unit, no signs of metal.

I did have it dropped, however, to replace the water pump impeller and a few seals. Is it possible I have not reassembled it tightly or properly?

Thanks

[jbjennings]

Tell us EVERYTHING you did to the motor. Did you remove the flywheel? Move the coils? Coils rubbing magnets? Did you mess with the recoil starter assembly?? If not, must be the lower unit. Did your driveshaft slip out of the lower unit at any time??
The more we know, the more we can help.
GOod luck,
JBJ

[tuomimd]

Actually, when I was trying to drop the lower unit, the driveshaft came out of the lower unit instead of the powerhead. It was rusted really tight in the power head. I had to soak it in oil for a a day or so to loosen it? The driveshaft pulled right out of the pinion gear.

Would this help to explain it?

[tashasdaddy]

possibly.

[tuomimd]

any other ideas?