2006 Yamaha 60hp grinding noise then stop suddenly

[Jboubel]

Never a problem with this motor. Now it’s got a grinding noise it takes off then stops suddenly like hitting a underwater tree. After a few seconds it will start then does the same thing. Lower end maybe? It is a 4stroke. When this happens the motor won’t crank then after awhile it will crank. The noise is there even at idle.

 

[Texasmark]

Pull the plug on the bottom of your lower unit gear housing with the engine in a vertical position and pay attention to what comes out. If your drain plug has a magnet, a thin coating of fine metallic shavings can be expected if you have a lot of use and haven't serviced the lower unit oil for awhile. A blob of metal particles on the drain plug magnet also indicates major damage.

Otherwise only oil should come out and it should be clear, tinted from additives, but clear. Any milky look or yellowing, or any water bubbles present means you have major damage to your gear train.

 

[rejesterd]

Hello.

I would drop the lower unit, just to make sure the no-crank issue doesn't happen after you do that. If it does, maybe the grinding you're hearing is the starter motor trying to engage the flywheel when it shouldn't be. Very unlikely, but the point is, you don't want to keep running this thing until you pinpoint where the noise is coming from.

But assuming you find no issues with the lower unit removed, I would say the gear case needs to be drained, opened up and inspected. That's the most likely place for grinding noise to happen.