occasional "ticking" at idle in gear

[mrothwell]

On Saturday on the lake, my 2007 VTX had a "ticking" sound that sounded like it was coming from the v-drive area.  We had already been on the lake for over an hour when I heard it the first time.  I pulled the center cushion and storage tray to inspect, wondering if I had broke bolts that connect the prop shaft to the v-drive ( I have broken these before, I think because they were slightly loose), but they were all present, and tight.  I didn't feel any vibration, just the sound.  After going from forward to reverse and back a few times, it stopped.  Never made any sound or vibration above idle.  Then later in the day, I heard it a couple more times, but always only at idle.

I have no idea what to even look for here.

 

Michael

[minnmarker]

Check the starter slot for debris from the damper plate.  A busted spring could be rattling around at idle in gear.

[mrothwell]

Wouldn't that cause a continual "tick", not just when in gear?

[minnmarker]

Yep, I thought you had it in gear since you were originally looking at the V drive - which of course would be doing nothing in neutral.

[DockRocketeer]

Enough fluid in the transmission?

[mrothwell]

Yes the Transmission fluid is correct level, not burnt at all.

I checked the V-Drive fluid last night, it was slightly low, but not by much.  That fluid had been burnt to some degree, not horrible, but enough to change it.   I changed the fluid last night.  Probably get the boat back on the water in a couple days to see how it does.

[UWSkier]

was the engine sputtering at all?  On our '01, if the engine is cold and you put it into gear, it can run a bit rough for a second or two when the RPMs drop and we'll get a little rattling from the V-drive.

[mrothwell]

No, this happened part way through the day, engine hadn't been shut off, just picking up a down boarder.

 

[Chris_B]

I know this is an old thread, but did you ever successfully diagnose the cause?