Help please!!!

[BrianCathcart]

Hello,

I have a 1985 Celebrity - 350 with a mercruiser outdrive. Yesterday, I started it in my driveway, I heard a very loud, high pitched noise ( not a squeal ) hard to describe. Also, when turning hard right, I get a grinding noise.

I thought, after many hours of research, this problem could be caused by the gimbal bearing. I went out, bought the tools, the bearing, and other needed supplies, and spent a few hours today, replacing the gimbal bearing.

Started the engine again after repair, problem still exists. FAIL.

Any ideas?


Thanks
Brian

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Help please!!!

Coupler?

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Help please!!!

When you had the outdrive off to change your gimbal bearing did you inspect your ujoints?

For the squealing sound, remove your outdrive, start your engine and see if the noise is still there. If so, remove your belts and spin your alternator, water pump and power steering pump.(if applicable) If all ao those check out, inspect your coupler. Look for signs of wear and tear,black nasty smelling rubber and spline damage...

 

[Don S]

Re: Help please!!!

I thought, after many hours of research, this problem could be caused by the gimbal bearing. I went out, bought the tools, the bearing, and other needed supplies, and spent a few hours today, replacing the gimbal bearing.

With future problems, don't just research and fix what others problems are, TROUBLESHOOT your problem and fix what YOUR problem is.
When you pulled the drive off, before, was there water in the bellows? Did you replace the bellows if there was? Did you check the ujoints? Did you check the gear lube for water and/or metal on the drain plug magnet?

Before you pull the drive, start the engine and carefully look and see if the shaft to the outdrive is turning?

 

[BrianCathcart]

Re: Help please!!!

With future problems, don't just research and fix what others problems are, TROUBLESHOOT your problem and fix what YOUR problem is.
When you pulled the drive off, before, was there water in the bellows? Did you replace the bellows if there was? Did you check the ujoints? Did you check the gear lube for water and/or metal on the drain plug magnet?

Before you pull the drive, start the engine and carefully look and see if the shaft to the outdrive is turning?

No water in the bellows, I didn't replace them, as they were replaced less than a month ago, and are still in great condition. I did a visual inspection on the U joints, didn't see anything that was out of the ordinary.

I didn't check the gear lube. I will check that in an hour or so, and report back. When I start the engine, the shaft at the prop is turning very slowly in nuetral, and goes both into forward, and reverse.

Maybe a better explanation of the sound, is a medium tone, "humm" for lack of better terms. It is quite loud. The sound when turning hard right, is a grind. Sounds like metal on metal.

Please forgive my lack of knowledge, I am still learning, and am very thankful for all the help I have recieved so far!

Brian

 

[Bondo]

Re: Help please!!!

Ayuh,... Pull the drive, 'n start it...
If the noise ain't there, ya know which end to look at....

The prop turnin' in neutral is normal oil drag...
Ya might wanta sample the drive oil too...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Help please!!!

gimbal bearing may not be seated fully and the U joint caps are rubbing.

 

[BrianCathcart]

Re: Help please!!!

Ayuh,... Pull the drive, 'n start it...
If the noise ain't there, ya know which end to look at....

The prop turnin' in neutral is normal oil drag...
Ya might wanta sample the drive oil too...

OK, please forgive me again, starting it without the outdrive, how do I hook up the water for the engine?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Help please!!!

You can start it for 30 seconds or so without water. If you want to run it longer, you can hook up a hose to the thermostat housing to the same inlet which receives the water from the transom assembly.

 

[BrianCathcart]

Re: Help please!!!

You can start it for 30 seconds or so without water. If you want to run it longer, you can hook up a hose to the thermostat housing to the same inlet which receives the water from the transom assembly.

OK, did this, no "hum" without the outdrive. I need to find where to check the gear oil at.

The "grind" when hard right steering, is still there.

However, since I purchased the boat up from my grandfather, it has sat, in his driveway. I haven't had time to "tinker" with it. This week, is when I brought it home, and started playing with it.

I just checked all the fluids in the engine, I know better, should of done this, before 1st starting. ( please don't shoot me, I already feel like a jackhole ) The power steering pump is dry. I really don't know how I forgot to check fluids.

Can this cause a grinding noise when turning full right?

edit: u joints look good, to the best of my knowledge.

edit: outdrive is topped off with gear oil.


Thanks again,
Brian

 

[Bondo]

Re: Help please!!!

I need to find where to check the gear oil at.

Ayuh,... There's a Drain/ Fill screw, lower portside of the drive's Bullet, 'n the vent screw, upper portside...
Full is the bottom of the upper vent screw hole...

Can this cause a grinding noise when turning full right?

Yes...

edit: u joints look good, to the best of my knowledge.

They have to be disassembled to actually Inspect the workin' surfaces...