Chattering sound in forward idle speed

[ALMA]

I have had a chattering sound in forward at idle speed that sometimes happens. I can usually get it to stop by engaging forward a few times until it doesn't happen.

Now it seems like its harder to get rid of the chatter-

Under way it is gone or masked by engine sounds.

I'm trying to determine if its is the operating cone bearing or something within the Walter Vee Drive. The cutlass bearing, propeller balance and engine alignment are all satisfactory.

Any one else ever fixed this?

Thanks.

[Al Schober]

Can't say 'I've fixed it' but I'll give you my thoughts.
First, I doubt if it's the Vee drive. Nothing in that drive is affected by the shifter.
Your mention of the shifter cone bears investigation. Those bearings do go bad, but fortunately not often. It sounds like that bearing is remaining loaded after shifting into fwd. It may have been doing this for a LONG time, hence contributing to the bearing getting noisy.
I'd try disconnecting your shift linkage and shifting it by hand. Idle at the dock should be fine. If you're on a mooring, moor by the stern. Once you're in fwd, see if loading up the shift lever causes/changes the noise. If it does, I'd say you know it's the bearing. If so, I'd try readjusting the shift linkage so the bearing isn't loaded when you're in fwd. Give you some time to shop for a new bearing.

[ALMA]

Thank you.

How hard is it to remove the bearing?

[Al Schober]

Well, you have to open up the transmission and disassemble it. With a Vee drive, you might have to move the engine away from the Vee drive. Bad news is that's not really a replaceable bearing per se - you have to replace the whole thing. Moyer doesn't even offer (as far as I know) just the shifter bearing. NOT an often replaced part.
In auto transmissions, this was called the throwout bearing and lived inside the bell housing. NO lubrication and often needed replacement.
Hopefully yours isn't too bad and a linkage adjustment will only give you the noise while you're shifting, not after in fwd.

[ALMA]

No worries. It isn't something that can leave me stranded- just a sound.

Thank you.

[ndutton]

It isn't something that can leave me stranded

. . . . . yet. It may be a chatter now but what happens after it turns into a BANG? These things don't heal themselves.

[Easy Rider]

The bearing in the accessory drive are sometimes known to fail and give off a chattering sound. Might be worth checking out. Sometime just tightening the belt will get rid of the chatter. Not a fix but a step in narrowing down the location of your chatter.

Chuck