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Author Topic:   1998 225HP Merc EFI lower unit noise

Swellmonster posted 12-16-2003 09:47 PM ET (US)
My merc has a noise emitting from the lower end only noticable at idle/trolling speed in gear. The dealer heard the ugly noise, disassembled the lower unit, found absolutely no problem. He said it was my Mirage prop being so heavy that it caused the noise. He put a similar Vengence prop on and the noise went away. He weighed the 2 props and mine was heavier, which was 2 lbs more, which he feels caused the problem. I told him to put my prop on another motor to see if the noise stayed with the prop and he said that the noise wouldnt show up, for atleast a while...
He suggests I change props permanently.
What do y'all think about the prop weight issue?
Bigshot posted 12-17-2003 01:24 PM ET (US)
you have benn running it for how long? I would not worry about it but I would say the vengence or whatever would perform better. The Mirage is designed for heavy boats, your 20' with a 225 is not exactly in that category. Mirage are used mainly on i/o's and heavier twin engine o/b boats.
lhg posted 12-17-2003 02:21 PM ET (US)
Pat - If I remember correctly, somebody else reported a similar problem, on same 225 EFI, which was solved, about 6 months ago. Do a search and see what you can find.
The prop is not the problem, unless the prop hub is bad. You may need gearcase work. At least 90% of all 3.0 liter Mercs use Mirage props, and they are highly recommended for the engine. See mercurymarine.com for the latest recommendations on props. The website is excellent in this category.
Bigshot posted 12-17-2003 03:34 PM ET (US)
I thought the Mirage was for heavier boats. I run one on my Baja which was recommended over the Laser 2. I know they also make the mirage 2 I believe for outboards.
Bigshot posted 12-17-2003 03:35 PM ET (US)
PS Larry, I got the stuff yesterday, thanks. Will let you know when I unpack it tonight if any damage happened, etc but boxes look 100%.
BW23 posted 12-18-2003 09:55 AM ET (US)
Swell,
I also have a 97 225 EFI w/Vengence. It was making a lower gearcase sound at 1500 RPM and up. Turned out to be the pinion gear nut came off and tore things up. I've received many opinions on a fix and I plan to shop for a new non-OEM lower unit this spring.
If yours is making the noise at slower speeds, you could check your shift cable adjustment to make sure it is completely engaging in gear.
Dave
BW23 posted 12-18-2003 10:00 AM ET (US)
Swell,
I also have a 97 225 EFI w/Vengence. It was making a lower gearcase sound at 1500 RPM and up. Turned out to be the pinion gear nut came off and tore things up. I've received many opinions on a fix and I plan to shop for a new non-OEM lower unit this spring.
If yours is making the noise at slower speeds, you could check your shift cable adjustment to make sure it is completely engaging in gear.
Dave
Bigshot posted 12-18-2003 02:20 PM ET (US)
Who makes non-oem lowers that are not for racing?
BW23 posted 12-18-2003 02:50 PM ET (US)
The wholesaler is OBR, Red Rhino. And the distributor is boatfix.com.
I was told by a reliable source at boatfix that OBR and Mecury purchase their castings from the same company.
OBR the puts the gearcase together. I don't know if the gear sets themselves are Merc or not.
A new OEM Merc lower on has a 90 day warranty. The OBR lower has a 1 year warrant. No brainer.
Dave
Swellmonster posted 02-09-2004 11:10 PM ET (US)
The lighter vengence prop is quiet. I called Mercury factory and they called the not so unique noise "Clutch rattle"
So I asked them if I put on a high 5 or a 4 blade prop, would that be noisy and what motor is designed to run them? I should be able to run any prop as long is its in the right rpm range, right?
Whats propper? "couldn't resist"

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Author	Topic: 1998 225HP Merc EFI lower unit noise
Swellmonster	posted 12-16-2003 09:47 PM ET (US) My merc has a noise emitting from the lower end only noticable at idle/trolling speed in gear. The dealer heard the ugly noise, disassembled the lower unit, found absolutely no problem. He said it was my Mirage prop being so heavy that it caused the noise. He put a similar Vengence prop on and the noise went away. He weighed the 2 props and mine was heavier, which was 2 lbs more, which he feels caused the problem. I told him to put my prop on another motor to see if the noise stayed with the prop and he said that the noise wouldnt show up, for atleast a while... He suggests I change props permanently. What do y'all think about the prop weight issue?
Bigshot	posted 12-17-2003 01:24 PM ET (US) you have benn running it for how long? I would not worry about it but I would say the vengence or whatever would perform better. The Mirage is designed for heavy boats, your 20' with a 225 is not exactly in that category. Mirage are used mainly on i/o's and heavier twin engine o/b boats.
lhg	posted 12-17-2003 02:21 PM ET (US) Pat - If I remember correctly, somebody else reported a similar problem, on same 225 EFI, which was solved, about 6 months ago. Do a search and see what you can find. The prop is not the problem, unless the prop hub is bad. You may need gearcase work. At least 90% of all 3.0 liter Mercs use Mirage props, and they are highly recommended for the engine. See mercurymarine.com for the latest recommendations on props. The website is excellent in this category.
Bigshot	posted 12-17-2003 03:34 PM ET (US) I thought the Mirage was for heavier boats. I run one on my Baja which was recommended over the Laser 2. I know they also make the mirage 2 I believe for outboards.
Bigshot	posted 12-17-2003 03:35 PM ET (US) PS Larry, I got the stuff yesterday, thanks. Will let you know when I unpack it tonight if any damage happened, etc but boxes look 100%.
BW23	posted 12-18-2003 09:55 AM ET (US) Swell, I also have a 97 225 EFI w/Vengence. It was making a lower gearcase sound at 1500 RPM and up. Turned out to be the pinion gear nut came off and tore things up. I've received many opinions on a fix and I plan to shop for a new non-OEM lower unit this spring. If yours is making the noise at slower speeds, you could check your shift cable adjustment to make sure it is completely engaging in gear. Dave
BW23	posted 12-18-2003 10:00 AM ET (US) Swell, I also have a 97 225 EFI w/Vengence. It was making a lower gearcase sound at 1500 RPM and up. Turned out to be the pinion gear nut came off and tore things up. I've received many opinions on a fix and I plan to shop for a new non-OEM lower unit this spring. If yours is making the noise at slower speeds, you could check your shift cable adjustment to make sure it is completely engaging in gear. Dave
Bigshot	posted 12-18-2003 02:20 PM ET (US) Who makes non-oem lowers that are not for racing?
BW23	posted 12-18-2003 02:50 PM ET (US) The wholesaler is OBR, Red Rhino. And the distributor is boatfix.com. I was told by a reliable source at boatfix that OBR and Mecury purchase their castings from the same company. OBR the puts the gearcase together. I don't know if the gear sets themselves are Merc or not. A new OEM Merc lower on has a 90 day warranty. The OBR lower has a 1 year warrant. No brainer. Dave
Swellmonster	posted 02-09-2004 11:10 PM ET (US) The lighter vengence prop is quiet. I called Mercury factory and they called the not so unique noise "Clutch rattle" So I asked them if I put on a high 5 or a 4 blade prop, would that be noisy and what motor is designed to run them? I should be able to run any prop as long is its in the right rpm range, right? Whats propper? "couldn't resist"