Successfull run at lake on sunday!!

[Big-E]

Well after saturday's setback we were on the water by 10:30 am. Boat fired up in about a second and off we went. I eased her up onto plane and she went effortlessy with 3 adults on board. Drove her about 2800 rpms for the 1st leg of the lake ~ 5 miles. Then shut her down and let her cool for about 40 mins. Then went the other direction ~5 miles and let her cool down again. Then drove her for about 30 mins varing rpms from 2200 - 3300 , never once flooring it other then a little blip getting her up onto plane. <br /><br />Allthough she did make a noise like a low/no greased bearing noise during left and right turns and before i trimed the outdrive while running. Straight ahead it makes no noise at all. Is this the gimble bearing? Is there grease fittings for it on outdrive? After it made this noise i did stop and sprayed some wd40 into where the driveshaft goes into outdrive and it shut up for a while. <br /><br />thanks in advance guys , <br /><br />Big-E

 

[notinbig]

Re: Successfull run at lake on sunday!!

mine started to do the same thing, I was told probebly the u-joints. I have not checked it out tho as my boat is slipped and I need to pull'er out of the water to remove drive unit.<br /><br />I am interested in what others say tho.

 

[Big-E]

Re: Successfull run at lake on sunday!!

I dont really think its the u-joints ( i greased them very well) and they didnt have any play in them. I am interested in w hat others have to say. <br /><br />thanks, <br /><br />Big-E

 

[Don S]

Re: Successfull run at lake on sunday!!

If it's making a growling noise when turning left or right, it's usually the ujoints. They need replaced. You'll find there are grooves worn in the bearing surface of the cross piece.<br />When you notice a growling noise when triming up or down, it's probably the gimbal bearing. Again replace it, there is roughness in the bearing that causes the noise, and greasing it dosn't fix it, it just quiets it down for a short time.<br />Water in a bellows is the most common reason for ujoint and gimbal bearing failure, so don't wait too long to pull the drive and check.

 

[Don S]

Re: Successfull run at lake on sunday!!

PS: I have replace a lot of bad ujoints that "Felt smooth and tight" but still had grooves in them and were noisy.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Successfull run at lake on sunday!!

Is it an Alpha drive? If so there is a grease zerk on the starboard side, not on the drive itself, but on the housing. When my gimble bearing started to go out my outdrive had a vibration in it, even when it just idled.

 

[Big-E]

Re: Successfull run at lake on sunday!!

Don S: This is the 1st time ive had the boat running in the water so i dont know if it ever had water in the drive. I replaced the motor just recently and know i have it aligned right. <br /><br />Vipzach: yea i think i know which grease fitting your talking about.Yes it is a alpha 1, I will give that a shot and should be able to dup the noise in the driveway. The boat has no vibration in it but she does make a growling sound. I dont like the way it sounds, funny thing is the wife didnt even notice it and it did get better ( less sounding ) as the day went on. <br /><br />thanks, <br /><br />Big-E