Clunking sound heard when shifting to forward or reverse

beernutz

beernutz

Member
Aug 16, 2009
427
Mobile, AL
Boat Info
2000 190 Signature BR
Engines
5.0L EFI 240 hp Mercruiser
As my profile says, I've got a 2000 190 Signature that I bought used last year. Mostly it runs well but when I shift to forward or reverse initially there is a clunk sound just before the boat starts to move. The process of moving to forward or reverse consequently is not as smooth as I would like it to be, making docking more of an adventure. The gear lube reservoir is filled to the line.

A friend, who has a similar Chaparral boat which sometimes makes the same clunking sound before his boat warms up, and I are contemplating getting a gear lube gun and changing the gear lube. Do you think this would help or does this type of clunking sound indicate something more permanent has been damaged?
 
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It's normal...at least on the older Mercs. Volvo's use a cone clutch, so they are smoother. I believe the newer Mercs now use a cone clutch as well, but I am not 100% sure of that.
 
If it's an alpha 1 drive, then it's normal.
 
Yep, mine has clunked since new. Don't be a namby pamby when shifiting with an Alpha. When shifting from neutral to reverese or foward, shift firmly as this reduces wear on the internals. Forward or reverese should engage with a solid clunk, not a clunkity, clunkity, grind clunk and then engaging.
 
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This was my same question and i have tried to adjust everything to get it to go away and its still their so they are telling the truth, its normal.
Does yours kind of take off once its in gear? I had the same problem docking it as if it was going to fast and i couldnt really cost into the dock?
 
Mine does not take off when you put it in gear. It simply eases away from the dock idling at 650 RPM.
 
This was the same for my Alpha I's, you have to put it into gear swiftly so it doesn't get hung up and wait a second or two before going from forward-nuetral-reverse.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I feel better knowing it is normal. I will make an effort to be sure and move the shifter firmly and quickly out of neutral in the future. I just don't want to accidentally move it firmly into a higher speed than I want when around the dock.
 
It's good to here it's normal because mine does the same thing. If can recall my 65hp mercury outboard did it also. That was an old 16' glastron fishing boat.
 
beernutz said:
Thanks for all the replies. I feel better knowing it is normal. I will make an effort to be sure and move the shifter firmly and quickly out of neutral in the future. I just don't want to accidentally move it firmly into a higher speed than I want when around the dock.
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What are your RPM;s at idle? If you are idling fast you will have a louder/ harder clunk when shiftng.
 
Mine does the same thing. You've got two sets of gears, one always moving. It has to mesh with the other set that isn't moving. If you ease into it you'll hear the noise of the gear teeth hitting one another. Doing it firmly engages them quickly. As said, helps prevent wear on the gear teeth.
 
SeaRide said:
Yep, mine has clunked since new. Don't be a namby pamby when shifiting with an Alpha. When shifting from neutral to reverese or foward, shift firmly as this reduces wear on the internals. Forward or reverese should engage with a solid clunk, not a clunkity, clunkity, grind clunk and then engaging.
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We used to have a merc I/0 and the owner manual said to do exactly what you described. People tend to ease these into gear which is the wrong approach because it causes lots of grinding wear over time.
 
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