Noisy Volvo Penta Outdrive

[hanoverboy]

I just bought a 1995 Four Winns with a Volvo Penta SX Cobra outdrive, 5.0 Ford. The boat is in excellent shape and has 300 hrs. on it. It runs great but at idle in neutral it has an annoying noise. When you engage it in gear all is quiet and works well. At first I thought it was the u-joints so I pulled the outdrive and checked them, the gimbal bearing and the gimbal to coupling alignment - all was fine. With the outdrive removed and water supplied to the motor there is no noise when running - I even removed the splined shaft from the u-joint and placed it into the gimbal and coupling - and still no noise. I now suspect the problem is in the upper gearcase, possibly the cone clutch, gears, shaft or bearings. Is this a common problem with this unit and is there an easy way (besides tearing down the drive) to determine what might be the problem?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Noisy Volvo Penta Outdrive

Start it on the hose.Then check for noise.Those Volvos don't usually make any sounds.If there is no burnt oil or metal shavings it's probably something else.
Possibly exhaust flappers.J

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Noisy Volvo Penta Outdrive

Volvos and bravos use a clutch/cone type gear arrangement and it is not uncommon for them to rattle slightly at idle due to backlash . Odds are greatly increased if the motor has a slight miss, could be so slight that you cant hardly tell it is missing but will make the gears rattle. Mine has done since about 100hrs and now has 1000+ on it. (Volvo SX).

edit: I assume the noise is very slight, mine you cant hear it in the boat but if you stand on swim platform above boat or on a hose outside you hear it. I assume you have changed the fluid and checked it for metal?