Transmission squeal

I am a new CC owner. Purchased a 92 Sport Natique in February. I have had it out about 5 times. Loving the boat so far! I have noticed that when I start the boat and rev up while in neutrel, I get a short loud squeal from the motor box (sound like transmission). I have checked the fluid and everything looks fine. Can anyone account for what makes the squeal. How concerned should I be?

JKH

I usually hit the ignition before I go to the lake to avoid any suprises when I get there. I have heard the noise both in and out of the water. It does not occur during normal operations. Just when I rev in neutrel. Not real concerned because It does not really need to be rev'ed in neutrel to start. I just like to be aware of unusual sounds to avoid future problems.

Thanks for the quick reply!

im with pete, sounds like a impeller, always fire the boat in the water, try it and see if you hear the squeal

8122pbrainard wrote: Kyle, The surprise you may be getting is burning up the rubber RWP impeller from running the engine out of the water. Don't do it!

Hogwash. checking to see if the engine cranks and fires when on the trailer will NOT harm the impellar as the engine is not running long enough for the impellar to be damaged from friction induced heat. I have been doing the same practice for 20 years and have NEVER damaged an impellar in doing so. Less than a 5 second run will do no harm!

Revving the engine excessively and running for more than say 10 seconds, might damage the impellar. But, I can say that I have done it on occasion when forgetting to turn the hose back on. I immediately pull the impellar to check its condition and am always amazed at the toughness of the impellar.

My thoughts are that people that have impellar failures NEVER check them and leave them in service until failure.

I agree, I never put the trans in gear when out of the water. It will make a horrible racket.

Backfoot, yes, duh !!! neutral+ Rev, then squeal= belt.. told ya I wasn't qualified

Moj'

David F wrote: 8122pbrainard wrote: Kyle, The surprise you may be getting is burning up the rubber RWP impeller from running the engine out of the water. Don't do it! Hogwash. checking to see if the engine cranks and fires when on the trailer will NOT harm the impellar as the engine is not running long enough for the impellar to be damaged from friction induced heat. I have been doing the same practice for 20 years and have NEVER damaged an impellar in doing so. Less than a 5 second run will do no harm! Revving the engine excessively and running for more than say 10 seconds, might damage the impellar. But, I can say that I have done it on occasion when forgetting to turn the hose back on. I immediately pull the impellar to check its condition and am always amazed at the toughness of the impellar. My thoughts are that people that have impellar failures NEVER check them and leave them in service until failure.

David, I do feel that running a rubber impeller dry will harm it. I saw it first hand at the ramp at a show I was at. It was saturday morning and all the members were launching. One had started his engine and was reving it. We warned he that he could damage his impeller but he said no he does this all the time. Well, he got it in the lake and no cooling! Later that day at cocktails, a group of us were discussing Georges impeller problem and two other people stated they have seen other blow impellers from the same practice.

As you commented, you only run your engine for a couple of seconds and in that case there is probably enough water left in the pump to lubricate it. The newer urethane compounds used to make the impellers are helpful too. It is a tougher rubber with a lower coefficient of friction than the old nitrial or buna N rubbers. You are also one of the people who put in a new impeller before waiting for failure. The bottom line is that the RWP is a water lubricated pump. I'm sure you wouldn't think about running your engine without oil.

backfoot100 wrote: Since I put the MSD dist. and ignition in, I can't help but fire it as soon as the key is touched when doing this.

I second that

eric lavine wrote: if it fires on land it will fire on the trailer in the water, some habits are hard to break

If it don't fire in the water, you've made a trip to the launch and boating plans in vain. Now you get to go all the way back home pissed because your plans have been ruined and try to figure out why it didn't fire. At least if you tried to fire it before you even left home, you have a chance to look at it quick to try and fix it and you can call your boating partners to tell them to hold up until you can confirm or cancel the plans before they make the trip to the launch also.

I've seen that happen way too many times. No thanks, I'll fire it on trailer before I even leave the garage.

I think it is funny that the same guys who insist that the pump never be run dry for even 5 seconds or less are the same guys that insist you replace the impellar every two years regardless of the condition. I can gaurantee that if you replace the impellar every two years, that firing on the trailer to see if it runs (PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT CONDONING REVVING THE ENGINE) will not cause an impellar failure before it is change anyway.

Sheesh!

Eric:

How often do you replace the impellar in your boat?

backfoot, jmho,but some of these boats are 30 to40 years old and a problem will rear its nasty head years later.
There is not room here to tell some of the issues I address everyday as a result of poor workmanship, ignorance and just plain stupidity.
Don't assume cause it ain't happened to you it won't.
issue at point:
There are two types of sailors;
Those that have left the plug out.....
Those that WILL LEAVE THE PLUG OUT....
   Which are you??????

I got home yesterday and went into my records to find out when I replaced the impellers in my 312. It was 1989. On my Atom I didn't have to look but know I put one in when I rebuilt the engine. It went into the water in 1985 but does have low hours. That's 22 years for one and 18 for the other. Wow, maybe I'm getting good impeller life because I NEVER run them without water!

Try draging a dry window squeege across a dry window. Wet it down and try it again. Any difference?

If you run it in the driveway at home hooked up to the hose and then can't even make it to the water at the landing before starting it again, then you have a problem. How about a tune up guys!

This annual replacement of impellers is overkill. I feel it was started by marinas that learned from Jiffy Lube that small maintenance items can be money makers. It's irritating to be sitting waiting for your oil to be changed and have the "oil Technician" come in and show you your dirty air filter and then tell you it's only $25.

eric lavine wrote: I think you may be sending a negative signal out to perhaps people that are new to boats. they may mis-interpret that running thier boats out of the water is acceptable and truly it really isnt

I absolutely agree. They could also get the impression that not changing the impeller until too late is acceptable also which it really isn't.

This should get people blood flowing: When I had my Martinique with the CC drive on trailer, I used to load the boat by driving on the trailer and leave the engine running (abit above idle speed) AND in forward gear. My buddy (or wife) would then pull the boat/trailer out of the water. Once the prop cleared the water, I would shut the engine off. Kept the bow of the boat tight against the crash pads and by apply a bit of rudder, I could keep the stern of the boat centered between the posts.

Never burned up an impellar....NEVER. Have at me boys.