Was out to the
boat today. Did not do everything i wanted, as I had friends out for a sail, and had limited time. Did find the following:
- noise is NOT from belts. It is farther back, in either the
transmission / damper plate, or shaft / cutlass.
- Did loosen the stuffung box a couple turns, while motoring - enough to let frequent drips. Did not reduce the noise!
- Did not have time to disconnect the prop shaft from the trannie to see if noise stops (is in trannie). However, I also wonder if this would tell me anything, as the
engine / trannie would not be under load, and tjhis may affect the noise.
I am beginning to wonder if the noise (sort of squealing / light screaming noise) is just normal, and i never have really noticed how loud "normal"
transmission noise is!! As I mentioned earlier, for most of this seaon, I noticed it, but thought it was just a bit of belt noise, so I didn't worry about it. I don't
motor that much, so it hasn't really been an issue. And, since the boat is currently overpropped (will fix during winter), I don't rev the engine past 2000/2200, as it will smoke unburned
fuel (and I am doing 5 1/2 - 6kts at that
rpm anyway) The noise really only becomes noticeable at higher rpms / higher shaft speeds.
I will definitely check the cutlass bearing for wear / play, when the boat is out of the water.
re: feeler gauges, I know this is the accepted way to check clearances. However, as the cutlass bearing / strut is about 2 feet from the transmission coupler, there is sufficient play in the shaft, that it is possible to move the end up/down, back and forth enough that I don't think feeler guages would
work. The shaft (with one half of the coupler) presses up cleanly to the other half A(on the trannie), usch that it is tight together, all around. I do NOT have to tighten the bolts, for example, to pull it tight together!!
Now for a stupid question (that I know has been asked before). On the km2a (or other km2) transmission dipstick, there is a fill indicator line about 1/4" form the end of the stick. I believe that is the full mark! Is this correct??? There is also a hole in the dipstick, but it's about 2" from the end, but I am pretty sure that's not the fill level, as it would be very full!! I know it only takes something like 1/4 liter/quart of
oil (don't have my manual on me), so that's why I believe it's the lower mark that inidcates full!!
I really appreciate all of the great advice!! Thanks for taking the time to help me!!