Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

[flye135]

Have the 2004 5.0 OSI-Ef with XDP outdrive...had the boat hooked up to the hose and was ops checking a new impeller that I put in the other day and put the boat in gear and heard a god aweful noise coming from the outdrive or driveshaft. Shut it down and carried it straight to my mechanic and after listening to it he said that he was willing to bet that if I ran it in the water with some pressure against the props that the noise would go away...said it almost seemed like the props were spinning too fast for the shaft to keep up when it was out of the water. Anyone ever ran into something like this? I trust this mechanic immensely and have never had any bad information come from him, so I guess I will give it a go in the water and see what happens

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

I would bet you have water in the bellows, a rusty gimbal bearing and rusty ujoints.
Leaking bellows was always a problem with those drives, they had several service bulletins on the subject, along with many other problems. Probably why they stopped using them in 05 or 06. (can't remember which year for sure, and not worth looking for)

I sure wouldn't run it before checking the bellows.

 

[flye135]

Re: Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

Just called him back and asked if he had checked all these...said they were checked and looked good, and that a knock from those is a whole different sounding knock. I guess we will see...

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

Well, at least he checked, and he can hear the knock, I can't.

 

[flye135]

Re: Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

Don,
Do you think it could be anything related to the shift mechanism cable that goes into the top of the outdrive? I recently had that replaced and had never had the problem before then. I really have my doubts that it will go away when I put it in the water, so I am trying to think of everything before I run it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

put the boat in gear and heard a god aweful noise coming from the outdrive or driveshaft.

I don't know how the cable adjustment could possibly make the noises you described. And it's really tough to diagnose a noise over the internet

 

[flye135]

Re: Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

I forgot to mention that the knocking only happens when in fwd, not reverse.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Outdrive/driveshaft knocking in gear

I forgot to mention that the knocking only happens when in fwd, not reverse.

IMO, sounds like u-joints. Rather than take a chance you better pull the drive so you can a good look. Everything else is a guess at best and thats not a big job. If the noise is inside the unit you will do a lot of damage on the water. Your mechanic might be good but to tell you to try it and take the risk is not good sense.