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Engine coming out again... 2nd time since being installed 4 years ago (or is it 5, who's counting).
J3ff
Member Posts: 4,060 ✭✭✭✭✭
After having the motor out to reseal the transom and then having the transom fixed so that it was nice and flat the boat has developed a noise that is only present when it's in Neutral.
I have taken it on 20+ mile trips with no issue, the saga is all blending together at this point.
Yes I personally aligned the engine. Yes it has had two new gimbals and a transom kit in the last year and a half and even a complete new outdrive.
So it seems like it's just time to throw some more boat bucks at it and get it fixed.
Anyone want to take a stab at what it might be?
Symptoms are:
- Knocking noise only when warm and in Neutral.
- Cold and in neutral, no noise.
- Warm and in gear, no noise.
- To me I feel a vibration in gear and on plane, but some people say that's because of the hill marine props.
- Noise does start to knock a little more when turning extreme right and left.
- When boat is out of the water and running, the noise isolator scope (like a doctors stethoscope) shows the noise being the LOUDEST at the TOP of the out drive. Don't forget this out drive is new and the one previous to it made the same noise in the same spot!
Take your best guess! Prize will be a pat on the back and a beer in the keys. Boat comes out in two weeks and will be on the hard for 4 weeks.
I have taken it on 20+ mile trips with no issue, the saga is all blending together at this point.
Yes I personally aligned the engine. Yes it has had two new gimbals and a transom kit in the last year and a half and even a complete new outdrive.
So it seems like it's just time to throw some more boat bucks at it and get it fixed.
Anyone want to take a stab at what it might be?
Symptoms are:
- Knocking noise only when warm and in Neutral.
- Cold and in neutral, no noise.
- Warm and in gear, no noise.
- To me I feel a vibration in gear and on plane, but some people say that's because of the hill marine props.
- Noise does start to knock a little more when turning extreme right and left.
- When boat is out of the water and running, the noise isolator scope (like a doctors stethoscope) shows the noise being the LOUDEST at the TOP of the out drive. Don't forget this out drive is new and the one previous to it made the same noise in the same spot!
Take your best guess! Prize will be a pat on the back and a beer in the keys. Boat comes out in two weeks and will be on the hard for 4 weeks.
Post edited by J3ff on
Comments
Nope nevermind mind I finished reading all the post 😃
The bravo is modeled after the old volvo Penta clutch style drive. The 290 vovlo Penta didn't use an alignment bar, it had 3 notches behind the motor where it bolted to the transom housing that all had to be equal, you could measure the 3 points (2 sides and top) with the angled end of a paper clip. If they all slid in an equal amount she was aligned.
The difference between the engine coupler of the Volvo Penta SBC and a mercruiser SBC? The volvo Penta was all metal and sprung like a vehicle clutch.
So, your transom was cockeyed for how long? Unelss you clocked your engine during alignment you may have a well tweaked engine coupler or...out of round.
I don't think you'd have a burnt rubber smell if it's just deformed and out of round, you would have it off centered and causing vibration which also causes noise.
Those couplers are not cheap at all iirc. I remember one of the tdi conversion guys didn't like them with high torque applications. I dont know how interchangeable they are but I have a low hour pre alpha 2pc rear seal chevy 305 parts motor that has one (early 80 model) that still has the coupler on it. You can have it for the price of shipping if it will work for you. The motor froze at just a few years old. I know the transom was good while bolted to the motor as I still have that too. Stole one of the rear engine mount nuts off of it for my bravo 2 a few months ago.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
This would make a little more comfortable live aboard and remedy your current issues
PC BYC, Holland, MI
As I said the noise was MUCH louder on the very top of the drive than actually on the transom. or anywhere inside the engine bay.
This is the noise that completely goes away in gear and does not appear to have any negative effects underway. Although as I've said, I've kept it on light duty this whole time because I just need the boat to get me about 5 mins out to an island..
https://photos.app.goo.gl/eivrNSNvDdWNRhmq8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8bCdy2bQ8AkD6SMR8
He said the engine doesn't need to come out and this a drive problem. A carrier bearing or something like that inside the drive.
The question is why did the old drive and the new drive have this problem.
Unfortunately I am 13 months into ownership of this new seacore bravo 3 drive. (sigh).
As we have talked about for more than a year, the engine came out, the transom was redone, the transom seal was fixed and then the motor was put back in, along with the old drive. The old drive then started to make this noise, then the new drive did the same thing.
Then after the new drive made this noise I pulled it out on my own to verify alignment. It was NOT aligned at this point and I could barely get the bar in and out. I adjusted to where it was buttery smooth in and out, but at this point the damage must have been done to the new drive.
The mechanics who took the engine out and put it back in did NOT bend those metal tabs on the alignment bolts. The new mechanic says that the engine could have settled and this could POSSIBLY be what is going on. Keep in mind he is not saying it's 100% the problem, just a possible cause.
At this point he's going to take the drive off, replace the gimbal bearing (3rd in 2 years) and inspect the out drive. I have no idea what to do if it come back that the drive carrier bearings are torn up. I guess at that point it's find out how much to fix or go purchase another one from all American drives and call it a freakin day.