88 Mercruiser 5.0 alpha one outdrive making some crazy noises when turning

[bassboy416]

So my alpha one outdrive has made this intense almost honking noise when turning.... When at slow idle it clicks sometimes... There is no clunk when going into gear at all just a loud consistent noise when turning that vibrates the boat or is so loud in your ear that you think the boat is vibrating. The guy who sold it to me said that the Ujoints just needed to be greased... Somehow I doubt thats all it is. I've looked into possible causes and suspect it would be a good time to do a u joint, bellows, and gimbal bearing replacement.... What do you think is causing the noise? Is this repair I'm thinking of making something an intermediate mechanic who has never done this before can pull off? And am I risking damaging other components by running it this way?

 

[Northportdiver]

Actually, that's the first thing that came to my mind when I was reading your question.
The U-joints are mostly under stress when at an angle......while you are making a sharp turn.
The clicking noise: when is the last time you inspected the "flappers" in your y-pipe? (Bull horns)
You say you just got the boat?
Unless you have, ON PAPER, service records, I would not leave the dock without first:
-removing the drive
-inspecting the bellows for gear oil (Upper seal condition)
-check U-joints (grease fitting or not?)
- output shaft......is it LUBRICATED ?????
-shift and U-joint bellows condition
There are many many more things that I WOULD want to know and inspect on my boat, but that's me!

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

I think if that noise is from the ujoints, which is also the first think I thought of reading your post, they are beyond greasing at this point. The needle bearings probably have rust in them and grease isn't gonna fix that.

You'll have to pull the drive off and inspect them.

 

[bassboy416]

So I've taken it out about 4 times in this condition, and I'd like to take care of it while its still running. I have no idea what a Y pipe is or what flappers you are referring to. It doesn't sound like anybody thinks replacing the gimbal bearing is needed which is nice since the tool to do it is expensive. What should I order while I have the drive off to replace? How hard of a job is it to replace bellows? And is this a relatively easy job? I've done u joints on cars before but never on a boat.

 

[Bt Doctur]

clicking type noise is usually associated with the U joints, but a growling ,vibrating type noise is usually a gimbal bearing
I would remove the drive first for inspection of U joints , water intrusion, or drive oil leakage.