Outdrive making odd sound under load -

[lornemilz]

1976 Sea Ray
Pre Alpha Outdrive

Here is the short update on whats going on.



I somehow managed to send my lower drive over the edge last week with poor cable adjustments. It would no longer engage and stay in gear. So my local boat shop sells me a replacement used lower drive, we replaced the water pump with my new impeller kit, and filled it up with fresh oil. It goes into forward, reverse, and neutral as it should. I did a lake test with it and all went well.

I changed props from a 21 pitch 3 blade to a 19 pitch 4 blade. All went well. Last night I took it out on the water and in forward drive I am getting a THUNK THUNK THUNK repetitive noise coming from somewhere in the outdrive. It does still engage drive and go. It seems to have no immediate effect on performance at all but its fairly loud and you can feel it throughout the boat. Out of the water I tested it this morning and the results are much different. There is no knocking noise at all. It does engage both gears with ease.

What could be the source of this repetitive noise I am hearing and feeling?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

1976 Sea Ray
Pre Alpha Outdrive

Here is the short update on whats going on.



I somehow managed to send my lower drive over the edge last week with poor cable adjustments. It would no longer engage and stay in gear. So my local boat shop sells me a replacement used lower drive, we replaced the water pump with my new impeller kit, and filled it up with fresh oil. It goes into forward, reverse, and neutral as it should. I did a lake test with it and all went well.

I changed props from a 21 pitch 3 blade to a 19 pitch 4 blade. All went well. Last night I took it out on the water and in forward drive I am getting a THUNK THUNK THUNK repetitive noise coming from somewhere in the outdrive. It does still engage drive and go. It seems to have no immediate effect on performance at all but its fairly loud and you can feel it throughout the boat. Out of the water I tested it this morning and the results are much different. There is no knocking noise at all. It does engage both gears with ease.

What could be the source of this repetitive noise I am hearing and feeling?

Ayuh,.... It's not fully engagin' the gear, 'n the noise yer hearin' is it poppin' outa, 'n back into gear...

It's a Serious issue that needs to be fixed, or yer new lower will be junk in no time.....

 

[lornemilz]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

So more cable adjustments are necessary? It definitely locks into forward gear to the point I cant move break it free. Ill check them out again.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

make sure you follow the cable adjustment procedures in the manual (and as amplified in this forum....look in the stickys). By the way...no such thing as a "pre alpha"... what do you have? MC-1?

 

[lornemilz]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

make sure you follow the cable adjustment procedures in the manual (and as amplified in this forum....look in the stickys). By the way...no such thing as a "pre alpha"... what do you have? MC-1?

Im not sure if its an MC-1 or not. I was told the drive was pre alpha. I have the cable adjustment instructions. I had the boat shop I purchased the lower from adjust the cable at his shop when I installed the outdrive. It does seem to lock into forward gear no problem but reverse I can spin past it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

Im not sure if its an MC-1 or not. I was told the drive was pre alpha. I have the cable adjustment instructions. I had the boat shop I purchased the lower from adjust the cable at his shop when I installed the outdrive. It does seem to lock into forward gear no problem but reverse I can spin past it.

Ayuh,.... Odds are yer lower shift cable is worn out, causin' a lack of travel...

 

[lornemilz]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

Ayuh,.... Odds are yer lower shift cable is worn out, causin' a lack of travel...

I checked the distance on it before it went back on the boat and it was good. I can move it freely and engage drive, neutral, and reverse.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

I seem to remember hearing about a similar issue when the prop was changed and the thrust washer was not reinstalled properly. The other possibility (since you say your cable is adjusted properly) is the clutch dogs in your replacement lower are worn/damaged and it's only noticeable with the different prop.

 

[lornemilz]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

I seem to remember hearing about a similar issue when the prop was changed and the thrust washer was not reinstalled properly. The other possibility (since you say your cable is adjusted properly) is the clutch dogs in your replacement lower are worn/damaged and it's only noticeable with the different prop.

Both could be suspect. I didnt notice it the first outing on the new prop , only the second outing. The thrust washer is the one that came with the new prop and hub kit.

 

[lornemilz]

Re: Outdrive making odd sound under load -

I disconnected the drive cable and attempted to engage reverse by and and cannot get a solid lock in reverse. I can however get it to lock into forward solid. With the hose connected, motor running it does shift into forward and reverse with ease. If it were popping out of drive under load would I see it moving the outdrive cable?