MAKDADDY

Am I way to Anal???

Or just paranoid

I had a problem with the port shifter (Neutral safety switch)
I fixed that boat starts every time now.
But now when I shift that drive into forward i get a little kinda clunk?

The Starboard shifts fine no noise at all. I also feel a slight vibration at idle speed when that drive is engaged?
I mean very slight but the Starboard doesn't do it.

So am I crazy or is this the beginning of a drive problem?
Or when I had that shift cable apart did I not get it adjusted correctly
They are Kiekhaefer controls. I have never adjusted these before?

Thanks Greg

formula31

I know it sounds stupid but check the prop and make sure its tight. Sometimes the thrust washer bends or wears and the prop gets loose. Make sure theres no slop in the prop shaft too.

MAKDADDY

Thanks Formula I did have the prop off to remove some fishing line.
I hope its that easy.

MAKDADDY

Formula
Thanks for the heads up
but the prop is on solid as Sears and i have no shaft play.

formula31

Personally, I think most of them have a little clunk when shifting, but I dont know why some of them dont. My port drive doesnt clunk and the stbd one does. Ive had them completely apart and there wasnt a problem. It may have to do with slight differences in gear backlash. Are you sure your coupler is OK? That slight vibration would worry me more than the clunk.

OkieTunnel

I read somewhere in official Mercruiser material or was told by a tech that the clunk is normal. You should hear my blower motor clunk at 1200 RPM

tssteph

Are both motors idleing the same rpm? If the port motor idles a little higher you may hear a slight clunk. May also be a U joint problem.

Brian

djm

My boat started to clunk when shifting into forward gear. The problem was that the shifter cable assembley mounts on the engine and loosened up over time. It was so loose that the boat wouldn't go into reverse. It shifted like new once I tightened everything down. Good luck!

MAKDADDY

tssteph
Both motors are idling the same RPM

djm
I am hoping that is all that is wrong. I have been on the road alot
lately getting home late, so i hope to adjust that this weekend. i will let everyone know what happens.
thanks to everyone for the suggestions

Greg