Alpha 1 clicking at idle

[centuty7000]

I have a 1979 26' Century 7000 with a Mercruiser 260 and Alpha 1 drive. I have had everything out of boat to replace the transome,stringers,bulkheads,and floar. I have had the boat back together for second season this year, but not without my share of gremlins. I fish on Lake Michigan trolling for rainbow and salmon, so there is alot of time spent Idling. My newest gremlin is a low pitched clicking while idling in gear(forward or reverse). Does not make noise in neutral or when leaving dock to go fishing. Last time out noise didn't start until about one hour of trolling. There is no change in tone or volune when turning or triming up or down. I went down by the engine while troling and seems to be from lower unit transmiting through driveshaft. I took the boat out of water checked for visual or phisical damage to prop, none. checked oil level in lower,good, removed lower plug oil looked good, no water, did have some shavings on magnetic plug,very fine and few, just enouph to cover tip.

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Alpha 1 clicking at idle

sounds suspiciously like shift cable(s) need adjusting. either the upper (from control lever to stern) or lower (from stern to outdrive). maybe both. check repair manual for your specific boat/motor for proper adjustment process.

 

[centuty7000]

Re: Alpha 1 clicking at idle

Checked shift cables and they were set correctly. Talked to local marine tech he thinks it may be a cracked gear, said not to run until checked out.

 

[centuty7000]

Re: Alpha 1 clicking at idle

Well just got back from mechanic's shop that is looking at my boat and here is what he found so far. After removing lower end unit and checking gimbal bearing and universals he proceded to disassemble gear case and found nothing wrong. After he reassembled and upon reinstalling lower end unit he found a flapper in exhaust. Now he suspects that is what the noise is from. The problem now is that the risers won't come off the manifolds so they can be replaced, aperently they are rusted in place, so the option is to remove maifolds to replace flappers. I sure hope it is that simple and he didn't miss something in gearcase. If anyone had a similar problem I would appreciate your input. I will keep you all posted.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha 1 clicking at idle

You need to get the risers off the manifolds. If you use them that way, and the manifolds and risers are also bad, you could end up loosing an engine, not just some rusty manifold studs.

 

[centuty7000]

Re: Alpha 1 clicking at idle

That is a good point Don. I looked into new manifolds and the price is staggering for log stye with new risers. I seen a conversion kit with center rizers and elbows that is suppose to replace the log style and increase performance. The price for a kit is comparible or less than relpaceing the stock log style. Would you or anyone have any info on this option. I am considering this option to increase fuel economy not so much power. Also to get back to original problem of clicking, after removing manifolds the mechanic called to inform me we had a unique situation. The exhaust flappers were in the bottom of Y-pipe and he had to remove engine to replace, as I suspected in the first place when he made me aware of this problem. Now I can pay him to remove lower unit again and replace(thats gona leave a mark).
I've been reading this forum for a year or so and read enouph topics about flappers to realise where they were located, but whith my good nature in the way I trusted that a certifed marine tech new more than me. Due to the ever shortning season here I instructed him to replace flappers and old manifolds and I'll adress replasing manifolds myself when I find a set.