Sudden Vibration

[tklopfenstein]

Out on my 08 20i crusing along at about 26 mph and all of a sudden there is a change in the engine noise and a very noticable vibration. Didn't feel or hear anything hit the boat. As long as I kept it under 1200 rpm in seemed OK so I went back to the ramp. Got home and inspected prop, shaft, everything on back side of tranny with nothing obvious. Probably going to make a trip to the dealer tomorrow but wondered if anyone had any clue to what it might be?

[Carter13]

You checked out all the obvious issues so hopefully your dealer finds the problem.

[tklopfenstein]

I noticed that the shaft seal doesn't appear to be installed per the instructions. On the end where the carbon flange is it is very sloppy. It can be moved up and down and back and forth around the shaft. There is also no water connection installed as described in the instructions. There also appears to be little to no compression of the bellows. I am not familiar with this packless sealing system but for those that are, does this sound right?

[raythompson]

That happened to me twice on the river. I did not think that I hit anything. I stopped the boat and put it in reverse, hard. Then I went forward again and the vibration was gone. I had apparently picked up something on the prop and using reverse vlew it off. You may have done the same thing and whatever it was fell off when you put the boat on the trailer.

[tklopfenstein]

That makes sense, because it happened once before while skiing so I stopped and put it reverse while picking up the skier and then it was ok. I don't believe it was put in reverse last night until it was being loaded at the ramp.

After inpecting and finding nothing, my plan is to go back out later today and try it again before taking all the way to the dealor.

Thanks,

[jdrake69]

Had similar issues. Turned out my prop key was broken, split length wise. New key installed and no more vibes.

[tklopfenstein]

Was out yesterday and everything was fine so it must have been as Ray suggested. Thanks Ray; you probably saved me an unneeded trip to my dealor.