ETEC Gear Box "clang"

[1978SeaRider]

Hi all

My ETEC is making, I can only describe as a clanging noise... at the bottom of the leg, doesn't sound awful, just a gentle clanging, not rhythmical... it lessens when I trim it up but clangs when its down... I've only heard it on the tap, but it wasn't there previously. I have changed props recently, but the prop seems to be on fine. It does seem to have got fractionally worse

Hopefully it's nothing and I'm being over paranoid but I thought i'd ask !

Any idea's ? Thanks in advance !


PS> The lads going around Anglesey looked great on saturday as they went past me !

[Downhilldai]

If the prop isn't torqued up right and there's some endfloat, that will produce a clanging noise as the prop moves about on the prop-shaft, against the thrust washer.

What sort of hub fitment does the new prop have and does it only happen in neutral?

You could try running it on muffs with the prop removed, to see if it makes any difference.

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

If the prop isn't torqued up right and there's some endfloat, that will produce a clanging noise as the prop moves about

What's "torqued up right"?

[yam man]

Back lash ? Or the new hub in the prop dosnt absorb gear clater . Is the prob genuine evinrude ?

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Leapy

What's "torqued up right"?

Basically what Brad is saying is that the Prop has to be sitting between and making contact with the thrust washer and the washer/nut assembly. If it isn't then the prop will slide back and forth on the splined shaft and could cause a rattle on muffs and make a clunk on taking up thrust after going in to gear.

The Torque he refers to is the effort required to do the nut up. So a 12" spanner with a 10lb load on the end will be 10 ft lbs Torque. You can get special Torque spanners (wrench) where you can dial in a specific torque setting and will click when the force applied reaches the desired level. The Torque settings for your prop should be in the outboard manual/handbook.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by 1978SeaRider

I have changed props recently, but the prop seems to be on fine. It does seem to have got fractionally worse

Sometimes when fitting a prop even a manufacturer recommended one you might find that you'll have to replace or modify the thrust washer or back washer to properly fit. I had this on a Mercury 90, 4 stroke years ago. First thing to do is to grab hold of the prop (engine switched off ) and push/pull to see if there is any movement.

To eliminate the prop for the equation, just take it off and run the outboard up again to see if the noise has disappeared.

Let us know how you get on?

[1978SeaRider]

Cheers guys, the prop is a 'BRP Evinrude Johnson V6 Cyclone 21" TBX Boat Propeller' and it seems to be fitted correctly... the clanging seems to be coming from the gear casing / bottom of the leg casing, although it does stop when trimmed up which hints at the movement coming from the back of the prop... i'll whip it off and put the old one back and test it on before I start to panic ! thanks again

[Chris]

I had this when I switched to a prop that had a flo torque hub similar to the new etec TBX hubs. These can make a slight whirring metallic sound as they prop does have a little movement.

Try the prop change, otherwise its back off to Liverpool Powerboats I guess aat least you have 2 years warranty left ;-)

[Pikey Dave]

The prop nut should be torqued up to 70lb/ft. Have you got all the bits the right way round & in the right order?

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

The prop nut should be torqued up to 70lb/ft. Have you got all the bits the right way round & in the right order?

Very easy to fit them back to front..

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Very easy to fit them back to front..

You've just figured out how you managed to achieve 48 knots going astern, haven't you?