squeak at low RPM's

dlewis812

dlewis812

.
May 21, 2006
321
catalina 25, 30 montauk / manhattan
launched the boat last week. about to leave the marina heard a noticeable squeaking from the engine. only at idle/low rpm's.

there was a surveyor with me a the time thought could be either water pump or alternator bearings. going to the have the marina mechanic take a look but wanted to hear thoughts in the meantime.

universal M18

thanks
 
centerline

centerline

.
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
agree.... loose or mis-aligned belt.

not sure about the water pump, but its not likely to be the alternator bearings. an alternator bearing will sometimes have a definite squalling or more usually a bit of a rumble without any other sound...
 
dlewis812

dlewis812

.
May 21, 2006
321
catalina 25, 30 montauk / manhattan
centerline said:
agree.... loose or mis-aligned belt.

not sure about the water pump, but its not likely to be the alternator bearings. an alternator bearing will sometimes have a definite squalling or more usually a bit of a rumble without any other sound...
Click to expand
thanks, but checked the belt. tension was good.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,037
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Is it a new belt or an old one?

Were your batteries fully charged?
 
dlewis812

dlewis812

.
May 21, 2006
321
catalina 25, 30 montauk / manhattan
Stu Jackson said:
Is it a new belt or an old one?

Were your batteries fully charged?
Click to expand
put on new belt last summer.

little background, at that time had troubles where the engine stopped a couple of times on me and then finally would not start. thoughts were either bad fuel or alternator not charging. replaced all the filters etc with no luck. ended up have the tank drained/cleaned and had no problems after that. at the same time went ahead and put in 2 new batteries.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,037
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
I am the "poster boy" for misaligned belt in Maine Sail's article!!!

Is your belt aligned?
 
S

Steve Dion

.
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Why don't you just try some belt lube or change out your belts. I may be time to replace any how.
 
Nom De Guerre

Nom De Guerre

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May 6, 2012
303
Hunter 28.5 Jordan, ON
Start the engine.

Then hold the end of a length of hose up to your ear. Move the other end around the interesting engine bits to definitively locate the source of the squeak - it will get much louder through your home made stethoscope when you're ' hot '.

Be careful not to get your hose/hair/clothing caught in the belts!
 
centerline

centerline

.
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Steve Dion said:
Why don't you just try some belt lube or change out your belts. I may be time to replace any how.
Click to expand
while belt dressing only covers up the problem for a little while and shouldnt normally be used, it can be used as a diagnostic tool by spraying some on the belt while the engine is running and while the squeek is present. it will tell if it is in fact the belt, or if the problem is elsewhere... because it would either change the noise or make it go away for a little bit.
it it does nothing then the squeek is elswhere....
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

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Jan 25, 2011
2,437
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Mom beat me to it.. Make your stethoscope and find out what's squeaking. It works well. You can use a funnel for an earpiece
 
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