OMC 800 noise

[scottkanderson]

I have a 1986 omc stringer 800 drive. No it is not a cobra, they did make sringers until 86. Anyway, the boat has been running great, until last time out. We were wakeboarding for about 2 hrs and everything sounded fine, we then started tubing. After about 1/2 hr I started to notice a ticking noise that got louder as you turned, but also seemed to change with the throttle.<br /><br />I didn't think that the 800 had u-joints or a gimbal bearing? What would make this type on noise, and what should I check when I start looking at it.<br /><br />Would the ball gears make this noise, and if so, how hard is it to replace them.<br /><br />Any thoughts are greatly appreciated

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC 800 noise

How do you know it's the outdrive not the engine? Did you check all the fluids? You are correct, they do not have gimbals or u-joints.

 

[scottkanderson]

Re: OMC 800 noise

I don't know that it is not the engine. I was with kids so I just got off of the lake and did not check much. I did seem to have something to do with the steering though. The engine seems to run real good. What type of things could cause this type of noise in the engine?<br /><br />I am going to try and run it on muffs in the drivway tomarrow and try and find where the noise is comming from. Any things to check would be a great help.

 

[liner85]

Re: OMC 800 noise

If the outdrive is tilted even a tiny bit, you will hear the ball gears clicking. I have experienced this on occasion with my '85, where the drive, over time, manages to tilt up a little bit on its own, manifested by the ball gears clicking. A quick bump of the tilt switch to put it back down takes care of it. I'm not sure, but I would guess its due to a weak tilt clutch, so the water can push the outdrive up a little. It doesn't happen very often so I've never done anything to fix it. Don't know if this is what is happening with yours, but thought I would throw it out as a possibility.

 

[fendersfender]

Re: OMC 800 noise

also check that outdrive is tight where it fastens to intermediate housing...mine was loose, had similar noise to you, and i trashed a set of ball gears.....found that bolt holes were stripped, i had to drill and heli-coil them

 

[scottkanderson]

Re: OMC 800 noise

I would just like to thank everyone that responded, but next time maybe I should check it out myself first.<br /><br />Turned out to just be a loose belt on the power steering. Not sure what was making the noise, guess it was just slapping. <br /><br />Anyway, it's better now. Thanks for all the input.