Alpha 1 noise in neutral

[stevekw_3]

I have a 91 alpha 1 outdrive. To make a long story short, first time out this year the bilge got flooded really bad(freeze plug). I got water in the bellows and about mid July there was quite a bit of bearing noise. I pulled outdrive and replaced the bad gimbal bearing, greases u joints. They seemed pretty tight still, no slop. Now I have no noise at all in forward or reverse, but when sitting in neutral there is some growling noise going on. Any ideas what could be causing that? Thanks

 

[alldodge]

I have a 91 alpha 1 outdrive. To make a long story short, first time out this year the bilge got flooded really bad(freeze plug). I got water in the bellows and about mid July there was quite a bit of bearing noise. I pulled outdrive and replaced the bad gimbal bearing, greases u joints. They seemed pretty tight still, no slop. Now I have no noise at all in forward or reverse, but when sitting in neutral there is some growling noise going on. Any ideas what could be causing that? Thanks

Might just need a cable adjustment. Does the throttle have a shorter throw to forward or reverse as compared to the other direction. Can you move the throttle handle slightly in either direct and have the noise go away?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Is the Drive full of Oil,..??

 

[thumpar]

Have you checked the drive lube for water and to see if it is full? If the bellows got enough water in them it could get in the drive.

 

[stevekw_3]

I did change the drive oil after the bilge flooded. It had a small trace amount of water in it, I've put 25 hours on it since, no signs of water still getting in. Also the level is right at full. I haven't noticed any difference in forward or reverse, but I guess I don't go full reverse, I will check that. When I pulled the drive I didn't have an alignment tool, which I do now. Could miss alignment cause noise in nuetral and not in gear?

 

[alldodge]

I did change the drive oil after the bilge flooded. It had a small trace amount of water in it, I've put 25 hours on it since, no signs of water still getting in. Also the level is right at full. I haven't noticed any difference in forward or reverse, but I guess I don't go full reverse, I will check that. When I pulled the drive I didn't have an alignment tool, which I do now. Could miss alignment cause noise in nuetral and not in gear?

Misalignment wouldn't cause noise normally. You did fill the drive from the bottom, right? The oil level your looking at is the drive lube bottle or the top vent hole on the drive?

 

[Rick Stephens]

May be Ujoints that are going bad and grease wasn't enough. Amazing how much water gets into a joint bearing cup when you run them submerged.

Good luck.

 

[stevekw_3]

I filled lube up from bottom til it came out top vent. I also have the drive with the dipstick on top and it's staying at a constant level. When I greased u joints the. Ew grease squeezed a little water out of them. I just didn't figure they would be the source of noise now because they're turning in gear or not? Does nuetral ease up the pressure on the u joints enuf to let them rattle?

 

[Rick Stephens]

I filled lube up from bottom til it came out top vent. I also have the drive with the dipstick on top and it's staying at a constant level. When I greased u joints the. Ew grease squeezed a little water out of them. I just didn't figure they would be the source of noise now because they're turning in gear or not? Does nuetral ease up the pressure on the u joints enuf to let them rattle?

Wish I could answer that. In gear and in water the entire drive train is loaded. In neutral it isn't. A growl could be anywhere from gimbal to lower gear case since it all turns when the engine is running.

I also have run with water in my drive bellows a couple times this year. I am surprised at how little water in the bellows causes water to get into the bearing cups of the ujoints. It is my intention to replace my ujoints this fall when I winterize and park the boat. And I won't be surprised should they start to make noise in the meantime, which will have me replacing them sooner. Those little needle bearings won't take much corrosion to be messed up quick.

Rick

 

[alldodge]

I filled lube up from bottom til it came out top vent. I also have the drive with the dipstick on top and it's staying at a constant level. When I greased u joints the. Ew grease squeezed a little water out of them. I just didn't figure they would be the source of noise now because they're turning in gear or not? Does nuetral ease up the pressure on the u joints enuf to let them rattle?

Agree with Rick, and if we go back thru post I would lean toward the U-joints.
Beginning of year no noise.
Noise started and had water in bellows.
Replaced gimbal and greased U-joint (some water came out U-joints)
Noise still there

If your sure you have the new gimbal bearing bottomed out against the transom housing, and there is no play, that's about all you have left. Keep in mind were not seeing what your seeing

 

[stevekw_3]

Yea the gimbal bearing is seated all the way in. I guess I will just plan on changing the u joints after this season. I'm in Indiana so the boat will be put up by October. I plan to build a 4 barrel vortec motor thru the winter so it's all comin off anyway! Thanks for ur input