Clickety clack noise from the transmission

[cigars01]

I have a 1981 310 Vanguard. Twin 454 350hp Crusaders installed in 1999. Now have 380 hours. Straight shaft / direct drive Borg Warner transmissions. This past weekend when first putting in forward I here a clickety clack type of noise at idle in the no wake zone. After a couple of minutes the noise went away. No noise at higher engine speeds. Shut down for about 5 hours and put in gear and no noise. I had gotten some opinions on another site but I would like here what you guys think.

Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

loose coupler hardware or the damper springs in the plate on the flywheel

 

[JimG]

Could be a slight miss in the engine(s). I had similar symptoms on my starboard engine/transmission... changed to plugs out, clickety clack at idle went away.

Topic has been discussed here before with similar symptoms and fixes... plugs, plug wires, etc.

 

[cigars01]

Could be a slight miss in the engine(s). I had similar symptoms on my starboard engine/transmission... changed to plugs out, clickety clack at idle went away.

Topic has been discussed here before with similar symptoms and fixes... plugs, plug wires, etc.

That is the answer I was looking for and the answer that the other group said as well. Thank you

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

It could also be a low idle condition. I had these on my last boat and one always clacked away at idle. Apparently it doesn't cause damage to the unit, but it sure sounds like it!

 

[midexp]

It's the damper springs in the transmission. If it goes away with increased RPM. Like mentioned, been discussed a lot. Sounds scary, but most trans do it.

 

[sbw1]

I'm guessing your idle was below 600 RPMs when you heard the noise. As others have said, a miss will cause this as well. Good state of tune and idle at spec means no noises like you describe. Those old BW transmissions are pretty robust.

 

[cigars01]

It could also be a low idle condition. I had these on my last boat and one always clacked away at idle. Apparently it doesn't cause damage to the unit, but it sure sounds like it!

Thanks. I think I will raise the idle a touch

 

[cigars01]

View attachment 65690 I'm guessing your idle was below 600 RPMs when you heard the noise. As others have said, a miss will cause this as well. Good state of tune and idle at spec means no noises like you describe. Those old BW transmissions are pretty robust.

Thanks. I love a good robust BW