Horrible grinding/crunching/vibration noise when turning. Not Gimbal or drive shaft

[RCSConstruction]

I don't think it's the drive. The top pinion and bearing were perfect, no metal in oil. I would think if it were the drive it wouldn't matter what angle it was at to make a sound.?

 

[89retta]

100% not that. Motor is quiet as a mouse without the drive on.

It must be in the drive as you said its quiet without the drive. Are you able to try a different drive ?

 

[RCSConstruction]

Ok... Update time.. Pulled the motor. Coupler seemed fine. Put a new one on and am back to square one. Heavy marks off to one side. so... We moved the motor over.. No dice, bar was way too tight, moved it the other way, same thing. Tried to align best we could and got it pretty dead on and then we spun the motor and the marks on alignment bar were off again. Turned the motor some more and it was hard getting bar in. I have a hard time believing the new coupler is bad and can only think that the transom plate is crooked or the back of the crankshaft is bent??? I am at a loss.. We plan on pulling the motor and running a dial indicator on the crank and check out the coupler. Any other things I could check? I am at my wits end.