Strange Noise Coming From Outboard

[CAM21165]

I was traveling across the lake yesterday when suddenly I noticed my outboard was making a clicking noise. I was running at 5400 RPM. I stopped and put it in neutral throttled the engine to 5500 briefly and notice no "clicking" noise. Once I put back in gear I noticed the "clicking " noise did not seem to appear until approximately 2400 RPM. The noise seems to be coming from the powerhead and not the lower unit. I am running a Mercury 90HP motor with direct oil injection. Your help in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Colin

[MarkG]

No way to know for sure what it is,but for grins,try re-torqueing your prop. I had a similar situation,except a rythmic squeek,not a click. Had never heard it before but was there for 2 solid days of a trip I took last month. Was driving me nuts.Retorqued the prop,noise disappeared.

Though it does not sound like it's coming from your lower unit,it is possible to transmit noise or vibration up the driveshaft. I believe some call it proprattle,but it's possible that it can manifest itself with various sounds.

Might be worth a try,at least to eliminate something that may be that simple.

[just me]

Check the plugs. I have an older 60hp mariner on my panfish boat and when Im in a little bit rougher water and constantly on and off the throttle it never fails, always fouls a plug and it makes a "clicking noise" similar to what your experiencing.

[staylor]

I ask this because on high hours motors when the upper main bearing starts to go it will make a clicking noise such as you describe. You can check this by pulling the cowling- after pulling the kill switch so it won't start- and work your fingers up to the flywheel and try to rattle it back and forth. If you feel a distinct click or rattle the main bearing is worn. Another possible powerhead issue on low hour motors is a coil or ignition trigger that is out of adjustment or loose. At certain rpm ranges these may be contacting something. I had this once on a new 15 Evinrude- an odd clicking at high speed. Turned out to be a slightly loose coil mounting bolt easily fixed in about 20 minutes.
Doug