Grinding noise when in gear

[jvm1]

I just noticed this yesterday, as I approached the shore I killed the motor and I could hear a loud clacking noise coming from the lower unit. The boat was in gear still.

Once I was out of the water i tested it at home too, when in forward gear if I spin the prop with my hand it clacks loudly. Any ideas?

[Surface Tension]

When you kill the motor in gear while still moving forward the prop will spin backwards and click. Its normal for it to do that but not the best practice when coming off plane to shut the motor off while still moving.

[20lbSloughShark]

Normal? Mine does not at all do this. I could probably start mine if it turned the prop hard enough. But my motor might be a bad example as it get 2 mpg (Which I used to think was good) and jerks around so hard at idle, my boat now leaks. (Apparently mine runs good for a "big twin")

[delcecchi]

You could start the motor by spinning the prop backwards?

[jvm1]

Well mine has never made that noise and I have shut it off like that many times.

I can easily adjust to switching it off after putting it in neutral, just wanted to make sure it's not something that needs attention.

Like I said, when turmned off in the garage, if I put it in gear (forward) and spin the prop by hand it clacks.

[Brad B]

could the lower unit lube level be low. check that first then maybe look at if there is any bearings in the lower unit that could be going bad.

[BoxMN]

Normal.

[delcecchi]

If I shut my motor off in gear while moving, it makes a clicking sound, sort of like a rachet. Is that what you hear? Or something else?

[boatfixer]

Normal. Find a picture of a clutch dog and you'll see it's ramped one side of the lugs.

[jvm1]

If I shut my motor off in gear while moving, it makes a clicking sound, sort of like a rachet. Is that what you hear? Or something else?

Yes very similar to this

just as loud too

[delcecchi]

I have been freaked out by it in the past, since I almost always put the motor in neutral and am going very slow when I shut it off. Mine is more continuous.

[PEATMOSS]

Could very simply be that the nut holding the prop on has loosened.

[shamrock7]

It is just the clutch dogs ratcheting over. Nothing to worry about. Some have straight cut teeth and some are ramped. If it was a straight cut, it won't ratchet. As stated by Surface Tension, not a good practice. With the engine not running, (exhaust not coming out the exhaust, you could get water up into the cylinders if you are going fast enough when you shut it down.

[mamohr686]

This might be off topic but where you trimming your motor up at the same time when you heard the noise?

[jvm1]

I think I was but it happens regardless. I haven't had time to check it out yet, hopefully this weekend I can take a look at the gear lube.

[fish_eat_sleep]

Most modern outboards aren't designed to be shut down when in gear. thats kind of like turning off your truck while in drive, still rolling. Nobody really does that. always wait until the rpm's are below 2,000 before shifting in and out of neutral. and never shut the motor off in drive. you'll always hear the clicking sound. as the prop is still engaged, the boat is still moving so the prop will still spin with the current and click.. just kick it into neutral as the owners manual states and you should not have that problem. Every modern motor will do that. electronic trim/tilt/shift is more like an automatic in a car. yeah in a manual mustang it might not matter depending if your on a hill or whatever but its not really the same.