New outdrive - extreme vibration

[bigdaddypt]

I just had a new SEI Alpha 1 Gen 1 outdrive and a new gimbal bearing installed by my certified Mercruiser mechanic and took it out today to start the break in. I got massive vibration when I put it in gear (forward and reverse) and did anything over than putting along at a mph.

Any ideas?

I really trust my mechanic and that he'll stand by his work...if it was a defective drive, and I have to get another one, am I screwed on double the labor to get it installed?

 

[180shabah]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

Whats the condition of the prop?

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

brand new, used once with no issues.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

What happened to the previous drive? Why the change? Did he do a proper alignment upon instalation? Did it have this vibration before the old drive crapped out? Drive coupler damage? Guess your Mech. will have to pull it and do some closer inspection. Just some thoughts.

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

some water got into the previous drive and destroyed the gears in the upper unit. no vibration like this in the old drive - it ran like it should have, until it died.

I assume he did the proper alignment, but how can you really tell unless you sit there and watch him do it, right?

 

[jtybt]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

First, determine if the vibration is coming from the drive or engine.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

For testing try a different prop.

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

I would assume it is the drive becuase when I increase the RPM's with the throttle buttom pushed it runs fine.

It's not the prop...it was on my old drive and there was no issues. It never struck anything so it's in the same condition that it was when I got it new out of the box.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

Could be drive issue. Every SEI drive I have installed has been very noisy, but no vibration, you probably have the one quiet one.

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

so to close out this thread...

the plastic hub in the propeller was cracked, which caused the vibration at anything more than barely into throttle. I never even thought that might be an issue, but I guess you live you learn.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Maybe next time, I'll listen and throw a different prop on and would have figured it out myself.

-Mark

 

[180shabah]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

Glad you found it...

 

[bigdaddypt]

Re: New outdrive - extreme vibration

me too...I guess water gets in there during the winter...freezes, cracks or stresses it and under the load of being whipped around at several thousand RPMs it gives out.