Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

[roinas]

I recently removed my out drive upper & lower unit. I have a local marine shop replace the seals in the upper unit. I got the unit back on without any problems. When the unit was removed and replaced it was in forward. I also verified the shifter was lined up like it was supposed to be.

To my issue... I started the boat up yesterday and every thing sounded fine. I put the drive in forward and the drive engaged like it was supposed to. I revved up the engine a bit with the drive engaged. When I decreased the engine RPM's I heard a clicking or ratcheting sound coming from the out drive. It only happened for a second. It appeared to stop when the prop slowed down to match the engine RPM's. It did the same thing in reverse. I don't remember the drive doing this before, but I don't remember revving the engine with the drive engaged before while on the trailer.

Is this normal or did something not get back together right?

Thank you in advance.

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

I recently removed my out drive upper & lower unit. I have a local marine shop replace the seals in the upper unit. I got the unit back on without any problems. When the unit was removed and replaced it was in forward. I also verified the shifter was lined up like it was supposed to be.

To my issue... I started the boat up yesterday and every thing sounded fine. I put the drive in forward and the drive engaged like it was supposed to. I revved up the engine a bit with the drive engaged. When I decreased the engine RPM's I heard a clicking or ratcheting sound coming from the out drive. It only happened for a second. It appeared to stop when the prop slowed down to match the engine RPM's. It did the same thing in reverse. I don't remember the drive doing this before, but I don't remember revving the engine with the drive engaged before while on the trailer.

Is this normal or did something not get back together right?

Thank you in advance.

Yes. It's the propeller overrunning the clutch dogs and them ratcheting.

Chris.....

 

[roinas]

Re: Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

Also forgot to mention this is in a 1996 Searay 210 with a 350 Merc/Chevy FI engine.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

Need to adjust the cables a little bit. Sometimes just the act of removing and re-installing the drive changes things a little. Especially if it was on the verge of doing that before you took it off.

 

[roinas]

Re: Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

I am still having the same issue after attempting to adjust the shifter cable. If the drive is in forward I can spin the prop forward but not in reverse. If the drive is in reverse I can spin the prop in reverse, but not forward. I am fairily new to boats and I am learning how the out drive works and the differences between auto mechanics and boat mechanics. This just doesn't seem right to me. I found a video that shows the same condition I am having. Before I drive 150 miles to the river and put my boat in the water, I want to make sure this is right.

Here is the video link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJew9HJiPok

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

That is the way it is supposed to work. Think about it. OK the clutch dogs drive the propshaft (and prop) clockwise and the force from the resistance from the water acts in a counterclockwise direction, so therefore in order for it to work the prop must lock if you try to turn it backwords, or counterclockwise, and with the propshaft not being turned by the engine and no water for resistance the prop will spin freely in the clockwise direction.

 

[roinas]

Re: Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

@stonyloam Thank you for getting back to me. The operation makes total sense. Just hearing the clicking / ratcheting sound is a lot of metal on metal sound that I am not used to and obviously can hear when the boat is running on the water. Now I can put the boat in the water and have a better piece of mine that all is well.

Thank you

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha one Gen II clicking sound

Remember when you shift you should do it "briskly", there should be one "clunk". Make sure your idle rpm is about 650, and should engage gear before the throttle starts to advance. Have fun!