mercruiser alpha 1 clacking noise when turning

scanle

Recruit
Joined
Jun 13, 2004
Messages
2
Hello,<br />this is my first time posting. I have a 93 crownline with a 4.3L mercruiser and an alpha one lower unit. When I turn to the stops (usually when manuvering from the dock, launch etc,) I hear a clacking noise, not loud, but I dont know if this is normal. This is the second year Ive had this boat, and my previous boats have been outboards. The noise also occurs when I am turning when the motor is not all the way down such as turning in shallow water. The onset of the noise will be much sooner when the motor is up than when it is down. When the motor is down I have to go to the stops to get the noise to occur, but when the motor is up it will start clacking much sooner in the turn.
 

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: mercruiser alpha 1 clacking noise when turning

The obvious guess is that the U-joint in your outdrive is going bad.<br /><br />One question, when you say 'motor is up', do you operate the engine with the drive trimmed up past the limit of the trim and into the trailer position?? If so, that is very bad for the u-joint and could explain why the u-joint is going bad..
 

sculbert

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 22, 2004
Messages
160
Re: mercruiser alpha 1 clacking noise when turning

Sounds like you have either a U-Joint, Gimbal Bearing or uppper bearing going bad on your outdrive unit. You should have it veriifed before to much longer.
 

scanle

Recruit
Joined
Jun 13, 2004
Messages
2
Re: mercruiser alpha 1 clacking noise when turning

Sometimes I need to trim up into the trailer position to avoid hitting the bottom when docking, etc. So yeah, I have run the motor engaged to the lower unit in the trailer position, but I will try to avoid it in the future. I am pretty skilled at mechanical work, but I have no idea about the lower unit. Any guess as to how much to replace the ujoints gimbal bearing or upper bearing? Is this an easy repair that one could perform with a manual?
 

qystan

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
291
Re: mercruiser alpha 1 clacking noise when turning

The u-joint cross bearings are fairly easy to replace. <br />Tools: <br />1. a large g-clamp, about 10-12 inch<br />2. a 27mm socket, used as a recessed tube for the bearing pushout.<br />3. a smaller socket, any size around 15mm, used as a spacer<br /><br />1. Remove the drive.<br />2. Position the g-clamp on the sockets placed at both ends of the cross-bearing.<br />3. Tighten the clamp and force the bearing into the larger socket.<br />4. Remove bearing cap, seal and the other end can be taken out.<br />5. Repeat on the other legs of the bearing.<br /><br />The bearing nearest to the upper housing will require the retainer ring to be removed, needs a tool. It was posted before that if one tab on the ring is filed off, it can be changed without having to remove the retainer. Yes, it is possible but be careful of filings falling into the recesses.<br /><br />Use this link for exploded diagram<br /> http://www.mercruiserparts.biz/partsimages/CRUISER/99964/13.gif
 
Top