Had a great day yesterday, the new engine just passed its break-in period. Running like a top. Finally, after a whole lot of grief!
Then - just when I thought I was out of the woods - I was backing into a friend's slip and turned the wheel nearly all the way over to starboard and heard a clicking sound - almost as if the prop was hitting something.
I checked. It wasn't. I tried to repeat the incident and couldn't get it to make the sound again.
On the way home I tried again a few times and it started doing it again. If I turned all the way to either side, the clicking sound would return. As soon as I straightened the wheel just a little, it would go away.
I am due for a post-breakin checkup from the mechanic tomorrow, so I thought I'd just have him check out the sound along with a few minor things I had put on a list.
Ten minutes later, I was traveling at cruising speed, about 1/4 mile from my home marina, when it suddenly began to sound like it was grinding gears. I shut down, put it in neutral and tried to restart. At first, it seemed to be locked up. Then it started and ran, but definitely was not sounding right. Not quite grinding, but making noises it shouldn't.
It shifts fine, but makes this awful sound. I nursed it home and left a message for the mechanic.
I replaced this drive (Alpha 1 Gen 1) just before replacing the engine. It only has about 40 hours on it. At the beginning of the season, my mechanic pointed out a small (1/8" dia) hole in the drive bellows and replaced the bellows. I asked if this would have caused any other damage and he said everything looked good.
Does it seem like I'm dealing with a gimble bearing problem?
Then - just when I thought I was out of the woods - I was backing into a friend's slip and turned the wheel nearly all the way over to starboard and heard a clicking sound - almost as if the prop was hitting something.
I checked. It wasn't. I tried to repeat the incident and couldn't get it to make the sound again.
On the way home I tried again a few times and it started doing it again. If I turned all the way to either side, the clicking sound would return. As soon as I straightened the wheel just a little, it would go away.
I am due for a post-breakin checkup from the mechanic tomorrow, so I thought I'd just have him check out the sound along with a few minor things I had put on a list.
Ten minutes later, I was traveling at cruising speed, about 1/4 mile from my home marina, when it suddenly began to sound like it was grinding gears. I shut down, put it in neutral and tried to restart. At first, it seemed to be locked up. Then it started and ran, but definitely was not sounding right. Not quite grinding, but making noises it shouldn't.
It shifts fine, but makes this awful sound. I nursed it home and left a message for the mechanic.
I replaced this drive (Alpha 1 Gen 1) just before replacing the engine. It only has about 40 hours on it. At the beginning of the season, my mechanic pointed out a small (1/8" dia) hole in the drive bellows and replaced the bellows. I asked if this would have caused any other damage and he said everything looked good.
Does it seem like I'm dealing with a gimble bearing problem?