Dampler Plate

[btbaeder]

My boat started making noises that I knew it was not supposed to make and week to week they began to get worse. When I researched it in this site I diagnosed it to be the damper plate and purchased the heavy duty replacement for discont inboard marine. It took me about 5 hours to swap and if it were not for the information on this site and air tools I would still be out there in my driveway using words that I should not be using. So thanks to all that have posted info on damper plate replacement. The old damper plate looked very weak compared to this new one. I was very surprised that the old one looked like it was built like the clutch on my sons 5.5 HP go-cart and not for a 340HP marine engine.

I also looked at other sites and found this to be more common with Malibu boats than other makes. Does anyone have any idea why? I read a post from some other site that suggested it was caused by the wedge but I just can't see that.

[Baddog]

Can you give more details on what it sounded like or felt like before it got too bad? Pics?

[nuttyskier2002]

My boat started making noises that I knew it was not supposed to make and week to week they began to get worse. When I researched it in this site I diagnosed it to be the damper plate and purchased the heavy duty replacement for discont inboard marine. It took me about 5 hours to swap and if it were not for the information on this site and air tools I would still be out there in my driveway using words that I should not be using. So thanks to all that have posted info on damper plate replacement. The old damper plate looked very weak compared to this new one. I was very surprised that the old one looked like it was built like the clutch on my sons 5.5 HP go-cart and not for a 340HP marine engine.

I also looked at other sites and found this to be more common with Malibu boats than other makes. Does anyone have any idea why? I read a post from some other site that suggested it was caused by the wedge but I just can't see that.

I think that the reason you are hearing that the wedge is contributing to damper plate failures is due to the additional load that is placed on the drivetrain when it's in use. I could be wrong but this makes since to me.

Edited August 24, 2009 by nuttyskier2002

[btbaeder]

It sounded like a little like a bearing was rattling. It was never very loud but began occuring more often even a couple of times there was a slight vibration along with the rattling sound. If you were talking or had the stereo playing you could not hear it at all. It would only occur while in gear at idle speed. Also it began to develop a pretty good thud when putting it in gear. Now it is very quiet and goes into gear without a sound.

I only took pictures of everything before I took it apart. I always do this so I know how everything goes back together. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of everythings disassembled.

Are you having a similar problem?

[Baddog]

It sounded like a little like a bearing was rattling. It was never very loud but began occuring more often even a couple of times there was a slight vibration along with the rattling sound. If you were talking or had the stereo playing you could not hear it at all. It would only occur while in gear at idle speed. Also it began to develop a pretty good thud when putting it in gear. Now it is very quiet and goes into gear without a sound.

I only took pictures of everything before I took it apart. I always do this so I know how everything goes back together. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of everythings disassembled.

Are you having a similar problem?

Nope, but there are many things I have learned on the site that educate me for what to listen/look for like the stupid HDS.

[JasonK]

Is this problem just in Indmar motors?

Go Mercruiser, the poor mans engine.