Knocking noise from transom/stern drive area

[Westjc23]

After getting my 05 crownline 216 with alpha one out for the season I noticed a knocking from stern area. I can feel the knock if I touch the top of the outdrive. After researching I was thinking it was u joints. I pulled the out drive. Checked gimbal and it’s smooth. No water in bellows. U joints feel tight. Only play I can feel is coming from the gear end yoke. Is this normal. It’s not much play before I can feel the gears catch and the shaft starts to turn.

 

[Scott06]

Take the cap off the outdrive and have a look. Given you comments I suspect you’ll see the issue in there

 

[Bt Doctur]

What exactly is circled? by play, do you mean when you try to turn the shaft? you might detect a very minute amount of rotational movement , no in or out movement

 

[harringtondav]

The amount of backlash in the gear mesh is very small. Less than .020". I can't see it in my drive. If you can feel the gears "grab" you have a problem.

Pull the cap as Scott said. Something seems to be loose. Is the locking to ring tight? In-out play? Is be the bearing under the cap good?

I wouldn't run it until you determine the problem.

 

[Westjc23]

What I have circled is the yoke that goes into the top part of the outdrive with the gear on the other end. When I turn the shaft there is a little movement before feeling the gears grab and start to turn the prop shaft. No in and out movement. No movement at the u joints. I will pull the top cover and take a look.