Whining / Howling while in gear

[oldbrokeray]

I have a 1974 Sea Ray Merc 888. I just started having this problem last Friday. While in gear, forward or reverse, I get a loud whine from what sounds like the outdrive. The volume and pitch increases and decreases with the throttle. There is no noise while I am in nuetral, no matter how many rpm's. 4 months ago I had some work done on the outdrive.....gimble bearing replaced, new bellows, and I personally changed the u-joints. I also had the lower unit pressure tested, and it passed. Should I be looking at some kind of gear problem? I am thinking that it can't be the gimble or the u-joints, because they spin even in nuetral, I think. Any suggestions where to look would be a great help.

 

[Wart T]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

Check the oil in the drive lately?

 

[oldbrokeray]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

Ya I checked it yesterday. There was no water in it at all, but it was black. The oil was put in when the work was done is it normal for it to be black already?

 

[tommays]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

if the right oil was used it should come out looking pretty close to how it went in<br /><br />tommays

 

[Bondo]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

Something on the Prop Shaft is Not right......

 

[oldbrokeray]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

Thanks for the replies. I'll have to take the outdrive off this weekend. Do you have anything specific that I should look for while it's off?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

Something on the Prop Shaft

 

[oldbrokeray]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

Last Friday I pulled the prop off and there was a ton of fishing line all wrapped up around the prop shaft. I took that off and I also changed the gear oil just for the heck of it. After that I stuck it in the water and it ran like a champ with no howling. Thanks for the input and help guys.

 

[Flames]

Re: Whining / Howling while in gear

Sounds just like mine did when the Gimbel bearing was going out...........then broke into lots of tiny pieces LOL!<br /><br /><br />Pretty easy to change though<br /><br /><br />Rudy