Alpha one gen II growling noise when turning

[tank1949]

Thanks for the tip. I’ll watch the coupler in the water. I can definitely see the coupler and I may be able to see the shaft. With the overall condition of the boat I’m confident in the structure.

outside look are deceiving. Trust me! I have rebuilt 2 transoms. Good luck.

 

[Searay205]

That boat is CLEAN!!!! Run till failure. who cares if it makes a growling noise. probably gear lash in outdrive. I had a rear differential growl for 120K miles before I sold it.

 

[tank1949]

That boat is CLEAN!!!! Run till failure. who cares if it makes a growling noise. probably gear lash in outdrive. I had a rear differential growl for 120K miles before I sold it.

Unfortunately, being stranded 50 + miles offshore is a bit different than differential freezing up on a highway. An ounce of prevention is always worth more than a pound of cure. Owner's choice....

 

[TripleEh]

Unfortunately, being stranded 50 + miles offshore is a bit different than differential freezing up on a highway. An ounce of prevention is always worth more than a pound of cure. Owner's choice....

Even if I knew this would last another 5 years I would fix this…..drives me nuts knowing that it’s not perfect!

 

[nola mike]

Below is a link to a coupler test with an aluminum bar. The tolerance is +\- 0.012” on the bar so it’s not the tightest fit in the coupler. In any case it seems to wobble quite a bit. Does this look normal to you guys? Would the flex in the rubber make up for this set or would this cause vibration and noise? Next step is to check the alignment at four different engine rotations.

Unless you have a tight fit in the coupler and the bar is perfectly true, this test doesn't mean much imo. Checking the runout using an alignment tool or maybe a driveshaft would be better, although I can see a couple of issues that way as well. Best method is probably get alignment right, rotate engine 180 and see if you're still aligned.

 

[TripleEh]

Unless you have a tight fit in the coupler and the bar is perfectly true, this test doesn't mean much imo. Checking the runout using an alignment tool or maybe a driveshaft would be better, although I can see a couple of issues that way as well. Best method is probably get alignment right, rotate engine 180 and see if you're still aligned.

I’m learning this. . Last night I dialed in alignment with grease on the alignment tool and confirmed with an old yoke. I learned that even if the tool slides in smoothly it doesn’t mean it’s aligned. Grease and the yoke don’t lie.

 

[Drcoffee]

With the boat out of the water, engine running, in neutral, can you hear or feel the vibration with someone turning the steering wheel? Ruled out power steering pump and rack I assume?

 

[TripleEh]

With the boat out of the water, engine running, in neutral, can you hear or feel the vibration with someone turning the steering wheel? Ruled out power steering pump and rack I assume?

I can’t hear it from the wheel but the boat mechanic said he could hear something standing at the rear of the boat. I will listen tonight with someone at the wheel and maybe take another video. I can’t imagine how the ps system could make this noise but I can watch the rack when doing my water test as well. I guess I would see or hear something vibrate or oscillate. At idle in gear, wheel all the way to one side, it’s fairly quiet (no growling). When I put the slightest power to it , the growl starts.

 

[Drcoffee]

With it out of the water on muffs you can place your hand on the upper and lower units. If something is banging around in there, it should be pretty evident. The steering is mounted to the transom or structure by the drive. That vibration can travel and resonate.

 

[flashback]

Grasping at straws but you have already hit on most everything I can think of. Give a very through inspection of the gimbal ring and be sure it is not cracked. If it were partially broken it may flex when turned under power.

 

[Drcoffee]

You have to think if left to right movement causes noise, then so should up and down If its a drive shaft. The drive shaft is flexing in all 4 directions. You have replaced darn near everything in the upper drive. What else lives there? Or nearby? bad steering linkage, rack, rusted joints, binding on something. Flex plate on motor cracked.

 

[Scott06]

Even if I knew this would last another 5 years I would fix this…..drives me nuts knowing that it’s not perfect!

Getting to be a long thread apologies in advance if this has been has been covered...

Did you run it without the drive to see if noise is still there? I'm assuming it won't be but easy to rule out...

I think you were left with checking the input driveshaft bearing or upper until bearings? might be worth looking at gear pattern and gear condition before disassembly, not sure if using marking compound like on a differential would tell you if pattern and shimming if off?

 

[Searay205]

Your outdrive style is a dime a dozen. It would be super sweet if someone would let you borrow one of theirs for a short run to eliminate the outdrive as the problem. I would get on your local Facebook marketplace. may even be a person selling a used one that will rent it to you for reasonable price.....

 

[TripleEh]

Your outdrive style is a dime a dozen. It would be super sweet if someone would let you borrow one of theirs for a short run to eliminate the outdrive as the problem. I would get on your local Facebook marketplace. may even be a person selling a used one that will rent it to you for reasonable price.....

I’ve thought the same thing! Rent it for a day.

 

[TripleEh]

Did some checking tonight on muffs. First video is the coupler at idle. The coupler doesn’t appear to wobble but you can hear an intermittent knocking sound. After feeling around I think it’s the exhaust flaps but open to ideas

Second video is the coupler at high idle. Knocking is not as pronounced which supports the exhaust flapper theory. Still looks fairly straight

Next video is the sound of the drive in gear at full lock. The exhaust is loud. Bevel gears sound quiet but there still seems to be an intermittent knock.

Last video shows drive shaft end play. This seems like a lot. Thoughts?

Lastly, I discovered a lot of up/down play in the drive between the front trim cylinder shaft and the transom. (The one nearest the front of the boat). Is this normal? Does it matter? No video of this but I can get one later.
Thanks all!

 

[Scott06]

all of it sounds normal, just some exhaust shutter noise

the prop shaft play is normal, i have some play in my drive and trim cylinder bout a half or full inch. In the water it is gonna be pushed forward under load so not sure if thats new or not on mine

was the whine captured in the videos?

 

[TripleEh]

all of it sounds normal, just some exhaust shutter noise

the prop shaft play is normal, i have some play in my drive and trim cylinder bout a half or full inch. In the water it is gonna be pushed forward under load so not sure if thats new or not on mine

was the whine captured in the videos?

No, I can’t hear any whining. Perhaps a better word for that sound in the water is a “whirring” sound but it’s not very loud.

 

[Scott06]

No, I can’t hear any whining. Perhaps a better word for that sound in the water is a “whirring” sound but it’s not very loud.

My gen 2 makes a sound similar , just different than my older gen one. You maybe chasing ghosts… i don’t boat far from anywhere , but if you go offshore pop the cap off the drive maybe pull the inout shaft check out the bearings. If you have serviced the drive and there is no water in there bet they look fine …

 

[tank1949]

Did some checking tonight on muffs. First video is the coupler at idle. The coupler doesn’t appear to wobble but you can hear an intermittent knocking sound. After feeling around I think it’s the exhaust flaps but open to ideas

Second video is the coupler at high idle. Knocking is not as pronounced which supports the exhaust flapper theory. Still looks fairly straight

Next video is the sound of the drive in gear at full lock. The exhaust is loud. Bevel gears sound quiet but there still seems to be an intermittent knock.

Last video shows drive shaft end play. This seems like a lot. Thoughts?

Lastly, I discovered a lot of up/down play in the drive between the front trim cylinder shaft and the transom. (The one nearest the front of the boat). Is this normal? Does it matter? No video of this but I can get one later.
Thanks all!

U talking about top and bottom hinge pins? If so, a lot of up and down play will cause issues.

 

[TripleEh]

U talking about top and bottom hinge pins? If so, a lot of up and down play will cause issues.

No. Hinge pins are good and the top and bottom final ring pins are good. This play is where the trim cylinder pivot shaft goes through the transom