bad u-joint-gctid371014

[Guest]

My starboard drive is making a light knocking sounds when at full turn. I am assuming this is a u-joint. If so, how long will it last like this? Its fairly faint but I can hear it only when turning at maximum.

I dont want to pay to have it pulled again for an hour right now.

Figures, after I splash...shoulda replaced those damn u-joints....

[tonyiiiafl]

I replace mine as a matter of maintenance every two years. If it were me, I would pull it and replace. They can make a mess out of things if they let go at speed, high or low! Just my opinion.

[Chief_Alen]

I'm hoping you don't have water in the bellows. There is a weep hole inside the boat, it's low and if you see water coming in that hole it's time for the boat to be pulled. See the bellows is leaking or the drive has water in it pushing water into the bellows.

If the u-joint goes it can and will take out the bellows and you will sink. Maybe if you have enough pumps going and you can stay on plane you might make it back to the dock.

If you see milky drive oil in the reservoir Then you have no choice. It has to be pulled and checked out.

I don't want to sound like the sky is falling but a slightly rusted u-joint can last the season.

Just check the weep hole see if water is seeping in and the reservoir. Your in freshwater, your lucky saltwater is a byatch.

[Guest]

I was getting a growling sound from my outdrive in a sharp turn while up on the step. It turned out to be the gimbal bearing. From what I understand that is typical. I suggest getting if fixed asap as has been mentioned if one of those components (ujoint or gimbal bearing) lets go at speed it will take a lot of other components with it and will cost much more to repair at that point.

[Guest]

It can go for a long time. Then again...

Had the same situation in my old 2750. I tried not to make hard turns. When I finally hauled, I replaced the u-joint, the gimbal bearing and the bellows.

I got away with but I like to live on the edge.

[Guest]

The bellows are fine, they are only a couple years old. It could be a gimble bearing, if it is that would require my mechanic to take a peak at. I am pretty sure the gimbles were replaced 2 years ago, but they are using the grease less type which I am not a fan of. No there is no leaking, if there was anything leaking the boat woulda been pulled out already. I was just wondering opinions, my mechanic said run it, itll be alot louder before you know it needs replacing.

I was also concerned about it ripping the bellows. I am going to try to get it back out of the water if possible and get it fixed. Shoulda replaced them over the winter, but they both looked great lots of lube and clean. )(*&(!*

[Guest]

Here's what mine looked like when I changed it. It was noisy but far from 'flying apart'.

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/674542=26447-Dead U-joints.jpg[/img]

[itsabowtime2]

Can you borrow a trailer? Got mine lent to dock mates as we speak, then another person is taking his turn. If the u-joint does go you will more than likely be looking at additional damage/cost. My question to you Ryan is do you want to be worring about this every time you go out on the boat, or do you want to relax and 100% enjoy yourself?!

[2850Bounty]

Ryan, here's a basic cost do this.

Pull the boat.

Remove the drive.

Pick up two new bearing crosses for about $40 ea .... you can do much better if you go directly to a supplier.

Pick up the new gasket set.

As you can see, no drive disassembly is required to replace these bearing crosses.



You could do this yourself, and save the cost of the mechanic.

.

[Guest]

To change it out or leave it as it. It's a crap shoot. The question is:.........

[Guest]

2850Bounty wrote:
Ryan, here's a basic cost do this.

Pull the boat.

Remove the drive.

Pick up two new bearing crosses for about $40 ea .... you can do much better if you go directly to a supplier.

Pick up the new gasket set.

As you can see, no drive disassembly is required to replace these bearing crosses.



You could do this yourself, and save the cost of the mechanic.

.

Even in flip flop's !

[Jeffw]

Git 'er done!

[Guest]

Well the boat comes out of the water friday, re-splash saturday for 100 bucks.

I had a chance to do some more testing this weekend, which is what influenced me to remove the boat now. I cranked her up a bit to 1500 rpm's and did a hard turn, the noise was very noticeable and vibration could be felt through the boat via the starboard drive. I also noticed the port drive is doing this as well but much fainter. It was doing it before full hard turn also, trimming the drive up and down did not seem to effect the sound which makes me lean toward just the ujoints being shot. I will be heading to the boat tonight for a little more testing, apparently it will make noise when not even in gear so I am going to try that and see if I can get a recording of it. I will post the results and hopefully a sound file.

I have ordered new ujoints all around and a couple new gimbal bearings just incase those are toast as well. Anything else anyone can think of?

[Guest]

biohazard wrote:
Well the boat comes out of the water friday, re-splash saturday for 100 bucks.

I had a chance to do some more testing this weekend, which is what influenced me to remove the boat now. I cranked her up a bit to 1500 rpm's and did a hard turn, the noise was very noticeable and vibration could be felt through the boat via the starboard drive. I also noticed the port drive is doing this as well but much fainter. It was doing it before full hard turn also, trimming the drive up and down did not seem to effect the sound which makes me lean toward just the ujoints being shot. I will be heading to the boat tonight for a little more testing, apparently it will make noise when not even in gear so I am going to try that and see if I can get a recording of it. I will post the results and hopefully a sound file.

I have ordered new ujoints all around and a couple new gimbal bearings just incase those are toast as well. Anything else anyone can think of?

I think I recall you just had your drives off this winter so you probably don't need new gaskets/etc. I believe the Alpha is very similar to the Cobra in the layout of these parts... the Cobra uses an oil seal next to the gimbal bearing, it's not terribly important but an easy and cheap replacement while you're in there. There are a couple things you need to accomplish this don't forget - a way to remove the u-joints (C-clamp?), a way to remove the gimbal bearing (a small inner puller) and a way to reinstall the gimbal bearing putting pressure on the right spot. You may be able to use wood for reinstallation, it's just important to hammer the bearing in via the case and not the inner race. Don't forget to grease the u-joints when they go back in of course

There are a couple people on eBay which sell combination alignment tools with an add-on gimbal bearing driver... if you want to buy one I'll split the cost with you and use it when I do mine, then we could loan it out for free to BOCers if they pay shipping?

[Guest]

I have access to all necessary tools and whatnot from my mechanic. I did order a couple seal kits for giggles, they are pretty cheap anyway no biggie.