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2002 merceuise 350 mag mpi. Squeaky AF

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rightytighty

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Bought new. 1200 hours. Wakeboard / v drive boat. Squeak seems like its in the belt area. Been getting worse for several years. Its even seized the belt a couple of times in recent years on start up. Belt is tight. Impeller is changed every other year. I changed the belt last year but may be damaged again? Dunno.

Is it a common problem? My thoughts are to just change any /all idler pulley just because but i normally change several things that werent wrong until i finally get lucky.

Hopefully this BTDT group can save me some heartaches. I hate working on the front of the engine. Its super cramped.

Thanks!
 
Fun Times

Fun Times

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rightytighty said:
Bought new. 1200 hours. Wakeboard / v drive boat. Squeak seems like its in the belt area. Been getting worse for several years. Its even seized the belt a couple of times in recent years on start up. Belt is tight. Impeller is changed every other year. I changed the belt last year but may be damaged again? Dunno.

Is it a common problem? My thoughts are to just change any /all idler pulley just because but i normally change several things that werent wrong until i finally get lucky.

Hopefully this BTDT group can save me some heartaches. I hate working on the front of the engine. Its super cramped.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Here are a few things for you to check out as it was an issue back around your engine year enough that Mercruiser created a service bulletin for it..., http://www.mercurypartsonline.net/database/DATA/001/04/2003/EN_04.PDF
 
rrrr

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monkeyswrench said:
I know on most boats it's a pain, but pull the belt, and rotate all accessories by hand. It could be a bearing seizing.
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Yeah, that squeaking is caused by one of the driven devices seizing intermittently. Replacing the belt isn't a repair, it's a bandaid. Do as monkey suggested, before it locks up hard and causes a fire.

Of course with 1200 hours on the boat, burning it to the waterline and getting a new one courtesy of your insurer works too.

This may have all began with an overtightened belt years ago. Find a video that shows the correct method of tensioning the belt after you replace the bad idler.
 
4Waters

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monkeyswrench said:
I know on most boats it's a pain, but pull the belt, and rotate all accessories by hand. It could be a bearing seizing.
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^^^This^^^ like he said, rotate/turn by hand, like keep your fingers on the pulley, you are trying to feel bad bearings, you'll be hard pressed to spin it fast enough by hand to make it squeak, and it will probably only squeak with the tension on the belt on it anyway.
 
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rightytighty

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Thanks all- you’ve confirmed my sucky day(s) ahead. Was really hoping you were going to tell me it was something super easy to get to… 😂

Keep you posted what i find…

And I am still considering RRR’s fire comment strongly…
 
4Waters

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rightytighty said:
Thanks all- you’ve confirmed my sucky day(s) ahead. Was really hoping you were going to tell me it was something super easy to get to… 😂

Keep you posted what i find…

And I am still considering RRR’s fire comment strongly…
Click to expand...
When you turn the pulleys put a little pressure the direction the belt puts pressure as well, might help you feel the the bearings.
 
RadMan

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Cool old mechanics trick used on my car to find if the belts squeaking or an accessory. With engine running and belt squeaking, the guy took a soap bar and let the belt run across lightly on the belt contact sides, be careful, if it’s the belt, the squeak should stop temporarily.

It worked that day, never needed it since.

Use at your own risk😳
 
HNL2LHC

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RadMan said:
Cool old mechanics trick used on my car to find if the belts squeaking or an accessory. With engine running and belt squeaking, the guy took a soap bar and let the belt run across lightly on the belt contact sides, be careful, if it’s the belt, the squeak should stop temporarily.

It worked that day, never needed it since.

Use at your own risk😳
Click to expand...

If you have a bit of clearance you can use the old screwdriver or extention one end on the part and the other to your ear. It is like a Dr’s stethoscope and will project the sound of the part. Any ones making noise has an issue. 👍
 
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Mines a carbed 93 multiple belts but I had an odd noise and a mild whine upper rpm. Luckily my alternator gave out and i parked it for rest of week. But anyhow I noticed water circulator pump on engine pulley moving a lil more.

Got home took off stuff and water circulator was loose on shaft new pump and noise and whine went away.
 
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rightytighty

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IMG_7210.jpeg

This is the only weirdness I see. Appx 1/2 the circumfrence of the waterpump(if it were on a car) is surface rusty. No clue why? Can see no rust in 2nd pic.

Could that cause squeaks? I think I’ll hit it with emory paper, but not certain this is the best choice?
 
monkeyswrench

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IMG_7215.jpeg

What's going on here? It looks like the inner rib or rear of pulley is not concentric to the others, but hard to tell on screen. The water pump pulley shouldn't make much noise if it's just surface rust. A bunch of pitting may make an audible sound though. Unfortunately, that rust is probably in the area the belt wasn't covering on the off season.
 
4Waters

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monkeyswrench said:
View attachment 1237933
What's going on here? It looks like the inner rib or rear of pulley is not concentric to the others, but hard to tell on screen. The water pump pulley shouldn't make much noise if it's just surface rust. A bunch of pitting may make an audible sound though. Unfortunately, that rust is probably in the area the belt wasn't covering on the off season.
Click to expand...
Nice catch
 
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rightytighty

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IMG_7240.jpeg

So i got the pump out and changed the impeller and housing. While apart, i took a good look at the pump itself. It feels perfect. There’s no play any direction.

And that weirdness on the alternator pulley pic was a photo glitch.. its fine.

I’m going to change the idler pulleys (because I have to feel like im actually “fixin” something…

And then cross my fingers…
 
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Update: mission was a success! Just water tested and more quiet than I can remember in a long long time. It must have been a slowly worsening issue over time that finally reached my breaking point.

So if you have a 20 year old/ 1200 hour mercruiser 350 mag that’s squeaky and annoying, changing both idler pulleys might just do the trick for you. It did for me.

Its literally a 20 minute job and mercruiser parts are less than $100. Unheard of in my world.

Of course, changing the water pump cap and impeller took me the other two days… oh well.

At least i didnt have to tow the old girl to a shop.

Win for me!
 
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