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Clunking sound near transmission


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Three times this season I have heard a clunking sound coming from the transmission and v-drive area only when in gear and at idle speeds. As soon as the speed is increased the clunking stops and does not return.

At first I thought the prop was hitting something but it is all clear, the clunking sound was loud.

I am thinking it may be the damper plate not fully engaging, it happens in both forward and reverse.

Anyone else have this problem? If it is the damper plate wearing out, how long do I have before is becomes a bigger problem?

Thanks for any help!

The boat is a 01 VLX with the monsoon 325. 600 hours.

Edited by ride_everyday
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Very well could be the damper plate. Mine was a rattle that could be heard at idle and low speeds, but would go away once the speed increased.

There are quite a few posts out here about the plates. After reading them, I had the dealer replace it this winter. Its a good thing I did, three of the springs were broken. I have an '05 LSV with the 340 Monsoon and 190 hrs. There was a re-design of the plate in '06 or '07.

Its probably worth having it checked out. You don't want that sucker to fail completely on you while out on the lake.

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Thanks for the response!

But I just found the actual problem...

I noticed that the prop had an lot of free play when spinning it back and forth by hand. I was thinking the worst; maybe the v-drive or trans.

I had a buddy move the prop back and forth and I could see the shaft moving inside the coupling (about 10 degrees). So we unbolted the coupling and found the nut was almost fully backed off the end of the shaft and the key was getting pretty rounded on one side.

There is a set screw that should be tightened against the shaft bolt. This set screw has backed out of the coupling and was hitting the bottom of the V-drive making the clunking sound. The is a slot in the V-drive about a 1/16" deep. The clunking stopped when the grove was made and the screw was ground down. The set screw did not have any trace of locktight, I think this would be a good place to apply a little.

This also explains the vibration I was experiencing at low speeds.

I am very happy that its a $1 stainless set screw and key... not the V-drive, transmission, or the damper plate.

Now to fix the broken cable on my lift, replace the leaking transmission cooling line, and reinstall my OJ 475 prop I just had fixed after "dog earing" on the 2nd trip out, we will be back in action.

I think my luck is finally changing!

Edited by ride_everyday
Link to comment

Thanks for the response!

But I just found the actual problem...

I noticed that the prop had an lot of free play when spinning it back and forth by hand. I was thinking the worst; maybe the v-drive or trans.

I had a buddy move the prop back and forth and I could see the shaft moving inside the coupling (about 10 degrees). So we unbolted the coupling and found the nut was almost fully backed off the end of the shaft and the key was getting pretty rounded on one side.

There is a set screw that should be tightened against the shaft bolt. This set screw has backed out of the coupling and was hitting the bottom of the V-drive making the clunking sound. The is a slot in the V-drive about a 1/16" deep. The clunking stopped when the grove was made and the screw was ground down. The set screw did not have any trace of locktight, I think this would be a good place to apply a little.

This also explains the vibration I was experiencing at low speeds.

I am very happy that its a $1 stainless set screw and key... not the V-drive, transmission, or the damper plate.

Now to fix the broken cable on my lift, replace the leaking transmission cooling line, and reinstall my OJ 475 prop I just had fixed after "dog earing" on the 2nd trip out, we will be back in action.

I think my luck is finally changing!

Hey nice work!

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