Shaft noise help needed

[josemolino]

Hola,
My G21 has a light screech noise when going to neutral and the props stopping. I have tried to lubricate from outside the hull and it has worked for some hours but it has returned.
Any ideas of the root cause? lubrication, misalignment, bearing fail...
If there´s a bearing through the hull that I have to lubricate from inside, does anybody know how? I could not even find it.
Thanks,
Jose

[WakeDad]

I’d be interested in a solution as well. 2018 G23 doing the same thing. It’s intermittent so of course dealer says they don’t hear it.

[bcpharmd]

I had the same issue this last weekend at Powell with my 2016 G23. I was a new screech I hadn't noticed before. I checked the fluid in the V-drive (small square-headed nut in each side of the V-drive). I didn't get any oil on the stick when checking with no ballast and engine turned off (I verified with dealer in SLC that this was correct way to check this fluid level). Dealer told me to add SAE 50 full-synthetic. The only oil I could find at the MC dealer in Page, AZ was Valvoline SAE 50, which I don't think its synthetic (I could be wrong) but better than nothing. Anyway, I added about 4/5 to 9/10 of a quart to get to the full line. Then started engine, ran in forward and reverse, then stopped and retested to verify it was full. The screech didn't return after I added the oil, which I was extremely happy since surfing and wake boarding behind a house boat is not an option . I was also told about a recall or maintenance issue with the V-drive for my year, but the cell phone service was terrible so I have to call the dealer again to verify what they were talking about. At minimum, I'm going to order synthetic SAE 50 then suck out and replace current oil in V-drive.

[josemolino]

I had the same issue this last weekend at Powell with my 2016 G23. I was a new screech I hadn't noticed before. I checked the fluid in the V-drive (small square-headed nut in each side of the V-drive). I didn't get any oil on the stick when checking with no ballast and engine turned off (I verified with dealer in SLC that this was correct way to check this fluid level). Dealer told me to add SAE 50 full-synthetic. The only oil I could find at the MC dealer in Page, AZ was Valvoline SAE 50, which I don't think its synthetic (I could be wrong) but better than nothing. Anyway, I added about 4/5 to 9/10 of a quart to get to the full line. Then started engine, ran in forward and reverse, then stopped and retested to verify it was full. The screech didn't return after I added the oil, which I was extremely happy since surfing and wake boarding behind a house boat is not an option . I was also told about a recall or maintenance issue with the V-drive for my year, but the cell phone service was terrible so I have to call the dealer again to verify what they were talking about. At minimum, I'm going to order synthetic SAE 50 then suck out and replace current oil in V-drive.

Hola,

Thanks for the tip. In my case, I had already checked both V-drive & transmission levels.
Thanks anyway,
Jose

[ksarbau]

Interested to hear if you ever found a solution here? Today, my 2016 G23 starting making a squealing noise when I go from idle to netural. Only lasts 2-3 seconds while in Neutral. Doesn't squeal at all in while in gear. I have a dripless packing gland -- It's hard to see, but I could see enough to confirm the water line was still attached. Any ideas what else to check? We're just starting a holiday week at the lake and don't have easy access to a dealer mechanic where we are.

I checked the transmission fluid and it was fine. Sounds like I need to check v-drive oil as well?

Appreciate any advice / tips...

Thanks,
Keith

[ksarbau]

Checked and topped off v-drive oil. It was a little low. When I took the boat out, no squealing at first 15 mins or so. Pulled a skier for 10 mins and after that, the squeal returned. It happens when shifting to neutral and shaft is spinning to a stop. Same effect in reverse shifting to neutral...squeals as shaft is spinning to a stop. Could it be the strut bearing?? Hope our holiday week isn’t wasted...

[Infinity]

Likely that its the cutlass bearing inside the strut making that squealing noise. If boat is run in gear out of water (on a hose) it can develop a squeal at certain rpm since the strut/cutlass bearing inside the strut is lubricated by water and running on hose does not supply water to it. Also running in sandy/silty water can wear it out faster than normal.

Its possible that engine alignment is out and wearing that bearing faster than it should too. I have a 2014 and actually just ordered new cutlass bearings for my strut as I can see angle is off a little bit. You have to remove the shaft to replace....and re-align the engine if its not already good so it a bit of a process but with right tools its not a hard job and something you can look at some videos on utube.
Its not something that must be urgently replaced as long as the alignment is not too bad and you can see the shaft is still relatively straight thru the bearing and not on the metal but you dont want to let it go too long as if shaft get sloppy in there it can cause other issues.

FYI...that synthetic 50 weight v-drive oil is special stuff and nothing else should be used in the newer power plus v-drives. Manual has the specs on it. Nautique Parts sells the right oil.

[blueroom]

Replacing the cutlass bearing can be a huge job, for as simple as it sounds. Had to have mine replaced last year due to a shaft issue and it took the shop a couple days. Mechanics said that they would rather replace an engine than that bearing when they were all done. Pretty simple on the surface, but mine would not come out.

[beamons]

I can attest. It sucks. It has been one of the hardest things I have ever done on my boat. A very tedious process.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[ksarbau]

Thanks for all of the responses here...this community is amazing! The more I test my boat, the more I’m convinced the cutlass bearing is the source of the squealing. While the boat was on the trailer, I pushed grease into the bearing as best I could...I know this is ridiculous but was grasping for anything. In any case, the grease eliminated the noise for a few hours until it wore off. The strange thing is that the shaft looks perfectly aligned in the strut and there is absolutely no play or slop in the bearing?! Am I wrong to assume I would be able to see a misaligned shaft?

Two previous posters mentioned the noise just going away on it’s own...wondering if I should go through the pain / expense of changing the bearing or just run it and see if the noise goes away or anything changes.

[mpost]

Quote
"Am I wrong to assume I would be able to see a misaligned shaft?"

Yes you are. Shaft alignment starts at the strut and you align to the hull and engine. Unless the strut was bent somehow. To check the bearing for play, try moving the prop and shaft side to side in the bearing. If there is any play at all it is worn. I could not see that mine was worn but could move the shaft and hear it clunk side to side in the bearing.