Squealing 2005 Mercury 4 Stroke EFI Outboard

[oldtortuga]

Hi All from a boating newbie. Sure would appreciate a little info here.
I have just this week bought a 2005 (New in original box from a authorized Mercury dealer) 60 HP 4 stroke EFI Outboard.(Not the bigfoot)I also have the original full 3 year warranty.
I hired an on site marine tech(who located the dealer and motor for me) to come to the house and hang it on my 1983 28 foot "Funtoon" pontoon boat (all aluminum and stainless boat) The marine tech also wrote the "death notice" for my 1983 Evinrude 60 HP 2 stroke outboard which died an untimely death in July.
Everything lined up nice and install went off without any "OOOP's"
New control cables, control box and prop from Mercury dealer as well.
Just finished the first two break in hours per the owners manual.
Starts and runs like a dream. I love it!
But,,, at one certain low RPM's it squeals softly between the power head and the lower unit. Go up or down a hudred RPM's or so and bingo, she runs quiet as a sleeping kitten. All other throttle advances and reversals quiet and smooth. Shifts quiet and smooth as well.
The marine tech located the squeal and is clueless as I am as to its cause.
He called the dealer service and they report no similar complaints on this engine.

What say the sages of this forum ?
Do I have a minor annoyance that will likely go away after my first 20 hours break in ? Or do I have a potential lemon on my hands ?

I did spend a few hours reading this forums archives and didn't see the same problem reported. Some were close but did not sound like my problem. I know I can trailer the boat to a dealer for warranty service and will do so if necessary. I prefer to know something about this problem before taking that step.
Thanks again for any info or advice.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Squealing 2005 Mercury 4 Stroke EFI Outboard

It's a driveshaft guide bushing singing to you. It's there, ironically, to prevent damage from driveshaft harmonics. It's a harmonic noise that you are hearing, but it's preventing much worse vibration that I would imagine would be much louder. It's mechanically harmless. It might go away over time, but virtually all engines make annoying harmonic noises that we automatically make slight operation adjustments to avoid without even thinking about it. I guess you can thank the quietness of the motor for even noticing the whine. I doubt you'd have had any chance of noticing it with that old 83.

 

[oldtortuga]

Re: Squealing 2005 Mercury 4 Stroke EFI Outboard

Thanks much for the quick reply. I'll keep putting hours on the new Mercury and see if she quiets down after 20 hours. Am curious why the dealer said my problem is not known to them. I reckon it must be a boat, motor, prop and operator combo kind of situation. I am about half deaf now and getting more so each passing year, so I figure things will quiet down eventually (smile,,,).Thanks again.

 

[oldtortuga]

Re: Squealing 2005 Mercury 4 Stroke EFI Outboard

It's a driveshaft guide bushing singing to you. It's there, ironically, to prevent damage from driveshaft harmonics. It's a harmonic noise that you are hearing, but it's preventing much worse vibration that I would imagine would be much louder. It's mechanically harmless. It might go away over time, but virtually all engines make annoying harmonic noises that we automatically make slight operation adjustments to avoid without even thinking about it. I guess you can thank the quietness of the motor for even noticing the whine. I doubt you'd have had any chance of noticing it with that old 83.

I have about 30 hours on the motor now.
Still very happy, it runs great and quiet (well most of the time).
I am still bugged by this darn squeal though.
I throttle up or down a tad and the squeal stops.
Here is what I find puzzling. As this noise is common (harmless or not)
why don't I see lots of folks asking the same question ?
Is there a simple tweak that would dampen or quiet the squeal ?
Many thanks to the group for their help and info.

 

[gss036]

Re: Squealing 2005 Mercury 4 Stroke EFI Outboard

I read a post sometime back about and engine doing what your motor is doing and if I remember correctly, the fix was to lubercate w/somthing and when that wears off it will come back.
There is a product called Break Free, if you can locate the bushing try to spray some of that on it, but I think it will wash away pretty fast.
Queery they Yamaha forum, I think that is a Yamaha built engine. Maybe post over there also.

 

[KJC69]

Re: Squealing 2005 Mercury 4 Stroke EFI Outboard

I have a 2011 Mercury 60 4 stroke EFI making the same noise between 1800 and 2400 rpm's under load. I have tried a new prop thinking it might be "prop whine". Still had the noise. Tried another gear case, still had the noise. I pulled the powerhead and removed the plastic bushing like what was mentioned in previous post. Went to the lake thinking i had it fixed. Nope. Still making whining sound. This engine is also on a pontoon boat, not sure if that has something to do with it. I am stumped.
KJC69