Boat mechanics please assist with issue

[Target]

Thanks in advance for checking out this post, if you can assist, I would greatly appreciate it.

I have a '86 Searay Seville speedboat with an 140hp inboard mercruiser and outdrive.

Recently it started to make a noise when using the trim (either up or down) and the engine running. The sound is similar to what I would say a bad/slipping belt makes (sort of a rapid squeeking noise). Note I said it only seems to make this noise with the engine running and the drive in gear (forward or reverse). While running if I adjust trim, the noise starts. If I attempt to adjust trim in opposite direction, the noise continues. Its not until I put it into nuetral that the noise stops. Back in gear again, as long as I don't move the outdrive, the noise doesn't happen. It also doesn't make this noise when I am trailering the boat and placing the outdrive in the trailering position (ie: all the way up).

The serpentine belt my motor uses was replaced with a new one two years ago, and appears to stil be very new. The tension seems right as well. Other than the noise, the outdrive lifts and lowers as its supposed to.

Anybody have any ideas on what could be causing this, what its an indicator of, and how to remedy it?

[MDS]

so you are saying it only makes the noise when you have it forward or reverse when trimming? if so I would check the shaft going to the outdrive for wear and see it it has been rubbing somwhere. I need to get a new outboard motor for my boat as I broke a ring and I have to wait a month or so to come up with the $$ for another 125hp outboard.

[Target]

Yeah, the only time it makes noise is when its either in forward or reverse, and trimming (up or down). Even after I stop attempting to adjust the trim, the noise continues. It won't stop until I put it in neutral. Once in neutral the noise immediately stops. I can then place it back in gear (forward or reverse) and the noise isn't there.

Hope that makes it more clear.

Sorry to hear about your motor MDS, that stinks...

[Target]

^bump^ Still looking for input, theories, and advice.

[Richard Cranium]

Does the noise change frequency, pitch etc if you change the RPM's of the engine ?

That's really strange, I was about to point to the outdrive Pump "motor" as they're like a windshield motor and sometimes lose lubrication. The sleeve bearing really makes a noise when operating..
Most Merc I/O's use a direct drive trim pump,
the one on the engine is usually for the power steering assist.

BTW, the mercruiser 4 cyl Inboard Outboard is IMHO the most desired of all "ruanbout" drivelines
For starters,
On the Mercruiser outdrive, you need to drain the oil from the outdrive unit and change.

Open the drain plug on the bottom of the foot, then open the fill level plug which is on the left upper side of my Merc-898

Observe the oil draining from the foot
[leave the top plug in at first]
Use a 2 Litre soda bottle to save the first bit of the oil.
Look for
1. Water
2. Debris
3. Metal Dust, shavings or chips

If the first couple of ounces draining out are just clear oil, switch to a regular drain pan and then open the top vent/fill line hole.

If the unit shows no water or debris, just refill.
If a little water & minor debris, let it drain overnight ,, I like to pour a bit of kerosene to wash it down followed by a bit of new gear oil.

I'll ask a "know-it-all" at work who does on boats about the odd behavior.
AFAIK, the unit takes standard old 80/90 gear lube.

[Hey-Todd]

I'm far from an expert, but I used to have a skiboat with a 4-cylinder MerCruiser that had similar symptoms. It turned out that it was the coupler that was starting to wear out. The coupler is attached to the flywheel and the spline from the outdrive connects to the coupler.

We had to pull the motor out of the boat to get to it.

Todd

[Target]

Thanks for the replies folks. RC, if your guy at work has any idea, would be glad to hear them as well.

I'm hoping Todd that this issue isn't the same as yours. Getting the coupler replaced sounds like an expensive proposition. I would think though that if it was the coupler, it would continue to make the noise as long as the boat was in gear as well. As it is now, it only happens when attempting to adjust the trim with the motor running and it in either forward or reverse. Like I said, putting it in neutral makes it stop....then going directly back into gear again and the noise is gone.

[Richard Cranium]

The dude is on vacation or somewhere, not here this week.

If Todd's problem is the same as yours, it looks like pulling the outdrive would be easier unless you have a tree and a chain fall.

The 4 cyl powerplant is pretty wide open for wrenching and if you do have to pull it, this should not be very lengthy.

I pulled the Chevy 305 outta mine and replaced it with a 1968 327

[Richard Cranium]

^^bump^^

[Target]

Thanks for getting back to me RC. This is what I found out today (finally had a day off to take a serious look at it)

Before putting it in the water this year, I had it into the dealership for general service....you know, new points/belts/fluids/etc. Mind you, I know this is all stuff I could do myself, but with my work schedule, I was pressed for time, and having them do this was actually more cost benefitial to me in the end......or so I thought.

Today, finally had time to get the cover off the motor and spend the whole afternoon going over it. It didn't take me long to find out at least a couple things that were wrong! Mr dealership mechanic must have been a complete freakin moron.
Upon inspection, I found two bolts laying in the bottom of my hull, and a 9/16th inch wrench!! Guess which two bolts they were? One was to the lower mount point of the alternator. The other was to the lower mount point of the power steering pump. Thats right, this idiot must have taken them out when replacing the belts and somehow forgot to put them back in!!!! He placed the adjuster bolts back in each unit, and apparently tightened them, but without the lower mounting bolts, it was only a matter of time before the engine tweaked them out of their brackets. How he actually got the belts tightened at all is a mystery to me. There was rubber dust all over the pullys and the front of the engine.

I checked the gear lube, and at least it was full and clear (no water or metal thank god) so he did one thing right. Power steering fluid is ok, little low, but still within correct level. Motor oil is also slightly low, but within the add and full marks so should be ok. Hydraulic fluid for trim was also good.

Greased all the joints, cables and gimbal, so I should be ready to put it in the water tomorrow for a test.

Needless to say, I was a bit miffed! Wanted to go straight to the dealership and give them a piece of my mind, but they had closed for the day (close early on saturdays). Probably best anyway as it will give me time to cool down.

Hopefully I caught the deal in time and didn't permanently damage anything. Ran it for a very short period of time after I noticed the squeeking....just long enough to get back home. I would have been sooo pissed, if not in outright danger, if I'd been stuck out on the mississippi with a dead boat.

Thanks RC and Todd for your suggestions, I'll let you know what happens after I get it wet tomorrow (weather allowing).