[hudsonriver]

I would like some help please. I placed a deposit on a new Lowe fish/ski 17.3' boat with a merc 115 salt water edition 4 stroke outboard motor. I went to look at the boat the other day to see how the boat is coming along. The owner took the boat out for test run days before i showed up. He was impressed with the performance and quiteness of motor. He also said that he heard a ratcheting noise from engine when they were running full speed and then sudden drop to neutral, but not when decreased speed gradually there was no noise. He spoke to manufacture who said it was normal because 4 stokes are so quite compaired to 2 stokes thats why you can here that noise. I don't know if i can believe this theory. I plan on picking up the boat in a week (test drive it first)but i know i will not like hearing that noise. Please Help!

[Mod2]

Moving to General Discussion.

[JB]

The clicking is normal, Hudsonriver. It is the way the dog clutch responds to the prop being forced to turn in a way not demanded by the drive train.When you suddenly remove power with the boat moving, the flow of the water spins the prop. The dog clutch allows the drive gears to over-run. That is the clicking.If you don't "coast" the boat it will not happen and you wont have to hear it. It is not a fault in the engine, it is the fault of brutal operation.

[hudsonriver]

Thank you. When you say 'coast', are you referring to a sudden high speed drop to neutral? Right? Normal operation, I should de-cellerate gradually before going into neutral from high speeds.I am relieved now because I don't have to live with or worry about that noise.I will definitely operate it properly.I greatly appreciate your help!