Drive Creaking noise Alpha One Gen 2 ?

Bignev2

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Dec 11, 2021
Messages
31
Hi,

Noticed the outdrive started creaking bad when i trimmed it down and up on the trailer .. it increases turning left and right and trimming up. Greased all the zerks and trim oil is fine.

Any ideas what's causing it to creak like this all of a sudden drive is always stored down on the trailer and always ran full down when started on the muffs.

Does it just turning left and right without trimming up and down but gets particularly bad when
its trimmed higher.

Done a video below :
Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D_CItwhZ8uYAlaiYAyVIR2tAnE3_Dl6I/view?usp=share_link

Thanks
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,432
Hi,

Noticed the outdrive started creaking bad when i trimmed it down and up on the trailer .. it increases turning left and right and trimming up. Greased all the zerks and trim oil is fine.

Any ideas what's causing it to creak like this all of a sudden drive is always stored down on the trailer and always ran full down when started on the muffs.

Does it just turning left and right without trimming up and down but gets particularly bad when
its trimmed higher.

Done a video below :
Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D_CItwhZ8uYAlaiYAyVIR2tAnE3_Dl6I/view?usp=share_link

Thanks
Since it does it side to side up and down, would pull drive check u joints. Then move bellhousing by hand and see if it is binding up.
suspect you will see water in bellows that rusted ujoints but thats a educated guess
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,954
Ayuh,..... Considerin' Merc has been deletin' grease fittin's since the mid-late-'80s, there's no doubt a dry pin somewhere,....
As noted above, pull the drive, 'n manually move the bellhousin' to tryin' find which one,....
Then lube 'em all with spray oil,....
 

04fxdwgi25

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2022
Messages
537
^^^ #1

Yup, dry pivot points. Personally, I would pull apart and relube dry ones and replace galled ones.
 

Stinnett21

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
499
For starters grease your hinge pins on each side. From the vid I can see yours is old enough to still have the zerks. That may help the trim creak but wouldn't help the steering creak however.
 

tank1949

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 4, 2013
Messages
1,892
Hi,

Noticed the outdrive started creaking bad when i trimmed it down and up on the trailer .. it increases turning left and right and trimming up. Greased all the zerks and trim oil is fine.

Any ideas what's causing it to creak like this all of a sudden drive is always stored down on the trailer and always ran full down when started on the muffs.

Does it just turning left and right without trimming up and down but gets particularly bad when
its trimmed higher.

Done a video below :
Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D_CItwhZ8uYAlaiYAyVIR2tAnE3_Dl6I/view?usp=share_link

Thanks
Gimbal ring bushings worn???? Noise only coming from outside????? Spray a little WD 40 on each and try to work in oil. If noise is reduced, then replace bushings. At least you will know if noise is coming from them.
 

Bignev2

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Dec 11, 2021
Messages
31
Gimbal ring bushings worn???? Noise only coming from outside????? Spray a little WD 40 on each and try to work in oil. If noise is reduced, then replace bushings. At least you will know if noise is coming from them.
Yeah suspect this going to take the drive off and inspect everything
 

Bignev2

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Dec 11, 2021
Messages
31
I wouldn't remove drive until I tested with wd or put into water to see if it quietens down. Just my 2 cents
I didn't have wd40 on me but i had penetrene which i sprayed around a the bellhousing etc no difference.
 

tank1949

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 4, 2013
Messages
1,892
I didn't have wd40 on me but i had penetrene which i sprayed around a the bellhousing etc no difference.
you have to work at getting lube on the upper bushing. I have no idea why MC didn't add a grease fitting there.
 

04fxdwgi25

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2022
Messages
537
you have to work at getting lube on the upper bushing. I have no idea why MC didn't add a grease fitting there.
I can only guess their thinking was it is a "dry area" and grease would last a while. But we all know that if the steering pin starts rusting and gets a little loose and the seal goes south, then water does get in there. By that time a rebuild is in order.

Just did my B3 transom assy rebuild last week with the upgraded S/S pin, and such, and greased the daylights out of everything during reassembly. New grease shouldn't be needed if the seal stays intact.

Earlier gimbal assy's did have the grease fittings.
 
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