Yesterday we noticed an occasional "ticking" sound at low prop RPM's. Taking the boat out of gear would silence it, and it varied with prop speed. We docked and I checked fluid levels in the transmission and V-drive, which were both just fine.
Since the sound varied with prop speed, it had to be past the engine's PTO. I started looking around, and noticed that the steering cable was very, very close to the hose clamp on the v-drive end of the stuffing box. I got my hand down in there and sure enough, the plastic sheathing on the steering cable has been "roughened up" a bit right where it would contact the hose clamp. Not pierced, but it was on its way.
I used a couple of zipties to gently hold it away from the propshaft. We didn't hear the noise again the rest of the day. Hopefully that's the end of it.
Now that I've seen this, I'm surprised the cable is just left to lie in the bilge like that. It's not unimaginable that this would happen, and it wouldn't take much time for the propshaft to nibble through the steering cable (particularly if it's the hose clamp that is contacting the cable).
Anyone else seen this?
Since the sound varied with prop speed, it had to be past the engine's PTO. I started looking around, and noticed that the steering cable was very, very close to the hose clamp on the v-drive end of the stuffing box. I got my hand down in there and sure enough, the plastic sheathing on the steering cable has been "roughened up" a bit right where it would contact the hose clamp. Not pierced, but it was on its way.
I used a couple of zipties to gently hold it away from the propshaft. We didn't hear the noise again the rest of the day. Hopefully that's the end of it.
Now that I've seen this, I'm surprised the cable is just left to lie in the bilge like that. It's not unimaginable that this would happen, and it wouldn't take much time for the propshaft to nibble through the steering cable (particularly if it's the hose clamp that is contacting the cable).
Anyone else seen this?
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