1989 Cobra on 4.3 liter engine makes a funny noise

[rolmops]

While testing my engine I heard a funny noise coming like something rattling from in or around the outer unit. It sounds like a loose piece of metal banging against something. It is not bothering the engine or lower unit performance (as yet) and when I engage the gear it goes away. For now I will dig up my stethoscope and see If I can more precisely locate the source of this noise What could it be and what should I pull apart?

 

[Mc Tool]

Ooooh ! that sounds expensive . I would start looking at either the motor or the drive unit .

 

[rolmops]

I used the stethoscope to pinpoint where the noise is from and it is neither in the engine , nor in the lower unit or gear housing. So far , that is good news.
I'm hoping , maybe a loose screw or something that fell down when attaching the lower unit. The funny thing is that the noise is gone .

 

[Chris1956]

When I had my sterndrive in salt water, every spring there was small pieces of rusty steel in the bilge. Lots of non-critical items would succumb to rust. You might look around for some of that. Also, the cover over the ring gear, next to and down from, the starter can rust and rattle.

 

[rolmops]

I didn't consider that. thanks for the heads up