Volvo Penta 305 - Squeak and Rattle

[Matthis]

Hello. I have a 2001 Chaparral Sunesta 232 with a Volvo Penta 305 I/O fuel injected. The boat is new to me. Recently I’ve been experiencing a squeaky sound from the engine compartment. Sounded to me like a belt drive issue. I have a mobile mechanic and he came out to inspect, ended up changing to idler pulley and tensioner (we thought those felt suspicious). He also changed the belt. The issue went away for 24 minutes and then it’s back. Next maybe is to try changing the alternator. Before that I was reading maybe worth spraying some “belt dressing” on each area where belt has contact to see if squeak goes away. I’m gong to try that to see if we can rule out other issues. But then something else happened last night… when I was docking the boat I noticed some abnormal vibrations going on, both when in gear (idle speed) and even neutral. What the heck now? I wonder if that is a new problem or is somehow can be related to squeak. Trying to figure this out. Would like to have some opinions on what this may be and good next steps. I have a video of the squeak problem I’ll try to share.

Thanks in advance

 

[ESGWheel]

Congrats on the boat!
Belt dressing will rapidly distribute throughout the belt path and thus is not a good diagnostic tool for a particular pulley. If you spray some and the squeak does go away, then yes, the squeaking is coming fm one of the pulleys and / or belt. So, it’s a good first step but will not isolate it for you. Need a mechanics stethoscope to nail it down.

That said your rough running could be a number of things. Best to start off with doing all the routine maintenance. This includes new cap, rotor, wires, plugs, raw water pump impeller, fuel filter, etc. And when pulling the plugs take note of their color and uniformity from plug to plug. And do not forget to thoroughly clean the spark arrestor.

And of course, pulling the drive is also a needed maintenance item, but perhaps that can wait until end of season.

If you need any help with those activities, post it.

 

[Horigan]

FYI. Belt dressing is intended for V-belts, plus it makes a mess when it flings the dressing off the belt.

 

[kenny nunez]

I suggest starting the engine and let it run until the noise is heard, then remove the belt and restart it if the noise goes away then it has to be belt related. Running the engine for a moment will not hurt anything with the belt off. If the noise returns then you better get the boat on the trailer. You need drive service.

 

[Matthis]

My saga continues. A little more back story to share: I bought this boat about a year ago and don’t know much about the history. My troubles started when I noticed a sheen of oil on the water behind my boat at the ramp. Of course that did NOT happen when i test drove before I bought (figures). Anyway I saw that and knew it wasn’t good so went back home and called mechanic. He came and said said the seal for that fluid was not seated properly and he replaced the fluid and sealed it correctly. At that time he noticed and pointed out to me the bellows was torn, so he replaced that, along with gimbal bearing. He explained to me the u-joints had water on them b/c of broken bellows and he inspected them and told me he could not identify anything that looked bad and he hoped they were fine. So everything back together and tested the engine in the driveway. Saw water dripping from water pump and he said that was bad, so that got replaced. Now finally back to lake and rode around with grandkids for a few days, all seemed find. Then a mysterious squeaky sound started. Mechanic met me there and took belt off and inspected each part in the belt drive. He was suspicious about how the belt tensioner and pulley wheel felt so he replaced those both. Test drive on lake for 15 minutes and no squeaky sound at first, thought issue was solved. Them I trimmed the motor up slightly while on a plane and the squeak came back. Trim back down and no squeak, trim back up a little and squeak there again … then the squeak stayed no matter where trimmed (although less noise if motor all the way down). Just to share, when I say trim the motor up on a plane, i press the up button for many 2 seconds … just enough get a better ride. That’s okay right? I have always done that with boats in past. Anyway, next thing that happens is a terrible rattle / vibration. So boat goes back on trailer and this time we replace the u-joints hoping that was my issue. But before that they even pulled the motor to check the engine and the stern plate to make sure no cracks. They decided the flywheel looked suspicious and replaced that (I feel like that was stretch). Once the took the old u-joints off and had the apart they felt sure that was the source of rattle. Back to water and the rattle and vibration is gone (hallelujah) and at first I thought the squeak was gone, but after 15 minutes of boating and trim motor up slightly, the squeak returns. I have been to 2 different boat mechanics and they cannot figure out why it is squeaking. So frustrating. One of the mechanics did remove the belt and ran engine for a moment and the squeak was still there … but I am thinking I want to go try again myself. So many episodes of troubleshooting I don’t even remember what all has happened or not. I am trying to hard to love my boat but this has been difficult. After all the time and money spent with two different mechanics, do I look for yet another mechanic? Someone out there surely knows how to diagnose and fix this for me, I hope.

 

[kenny nunez]

With the drive down and no squeak what happens when the drive is steered left and right?

 

[ESGWheel]

I am going out on a limb here or rather suggest you do. Please let me explain. You have a nice solid boat and just dumped a ton of money into it doing some good things. So don’t give up the ship yet, no pun intended. Here is my philosophy on squeaks fm my automotive days: If a bearing is making noise but cannot yet isolate it, just wait, it will eventually find you. This is a tongue in cheek way of saying “if its going to get worse it will, but if is does not, keep going.”

And this may be a matter of choice of words: squeak is being used and was initially suspected to be a belt, so in my mind squeak is what you got. Versus a rumbling noise (or loud ticking, or thumping, or vibration, etc.). Rumbling is bad, squeak not so much. Squeak may be coming fm a bearing but not yet rumbling, so let it go. After all you had 2 mechanics go thru this and they did not find it and a lot of suspect parts were replaced.
There are several caveats however:

• Get yourself a mechanics stethoscope to isolate where coming from. One of these with an air horn as well as a rod and it is cheap. Link. Start with the air horn and figure out, front or rear of engine and then go from there with the rod.
• If the squeak gets noticeably worse, head to port as it has now found you.
• Get yourself tow insurance. Its stupid cheap for the service they provide. And it’s such a piece of mind. The two major ones are TowBoatUS and Sea Tow. Check out which one has service in your area (I assume you are in the US).

So, my 2 cents, go enjoy, you have earned it. But be smart about it as outlined above.
PS: yes, pressing the button up for 2 seconds for the better ride is exactly what you are supposed to do