drive unit noise

[bowfishr05]

ok guys i have a question i have a 454 with a ch-3 drive unit i am wondering when i first start the boat am i supposed to have belt noise?

 

[Anonymous]

Bowfish, if you're keeping up with the shot of grease that the belt drive bearings require, then you may need to check the tension on the belt. You can go to the Airiboat Drives website to get the information on that .... it's a simple procedure.

DO find out what's causing it though. It's not normal.

BF

 

[stan]

while idling at a very low rpm sometimes you can expect some belt rumble also as stated already call the manufacture and get straight on belt adjusting.They also have info on there web site.http://www.airboatdrives.com/install.htm

 

[bowfishr05]

what i did was loosen the belt tensioner because it was to tight. I could only move it one hole and now between 500 and 1000 rpm it rumbles. i called the manufacter and they said it was ok what do yall think?

 

[stan]

sometimes I rotate the tensioner all the way back around to fine tune the belt tension to line up on differant holes . Belt should be snug no slop in belt.A little rumble is ok when cold.If you are running a big hollow composite prop sometimes the sound will be magnifide to sound like a beatting drum.

 

[bowfishr05]

thats what mine does and im running a sirus prop so it make sense. do you think it will snap my belt?

 

[rbjscott]

Mr. Bowfishr, if the manufacture said it was Ok I would go with what they said. If the "rumble" or belt slap goes away or becomes less at an idel, after the engine and drive heat-up the adjustment is very close.

 

[bowfishr05]

thanks guys

 

[bravo1218]

When I first got mine I was worryed about the same thing. I called an they said it was OK. It sounded like a bad bearing when it was idleing. I took the whole thing apart just to check it, I hate to break down, and all was ok. All bearings were smooth and tight. Hope the same is true for you also.
Tim

 

[roberti53]

I have to go along with Bravo.
When I first installed mine I adjusted it back and forth several times.
I finally called them and they said it sounded like I had it right.
You Will have some rumble at idle..........Been three years now and it sounds the same as it did the first day. I was worried about breaking a belt too. I asked if I should buy a spare and they said I should get at least 5000 hrs out of it (I have the polychain belt)

 

[basketcase0302]

bowfisher05,

My CH-3 rumbles too, even after every time during pre-launch check of tension and grease.Ask Cntry the first time comin' back in at night with a light fog/high humidity the concern I had. They are a different beast with thier own different howling at the moon sound.

Basketcase/Jeff

 

[Whitebear]

I ran a bunch of CH3s in the swamps and marshes of Louisianna and East Texas. The colder it its when ya fire up, the more they can rumble, shoud be less once its warmed up. They definately go thousands of hours even in heavy industrial use/abuse. Grease/tension and go. Run it and love it.

I've seen belt wrappers & ledfoots beat heavy wood props right down to the hub on them and we chacked it as we replaced their prop and there was no detectable damage. You can definately tear them up if ya try but they are tough.

Scotty

 

[marshmaster pat]

Whitebear - I agree. Saw them take some abuse. Once in a while a bearing went out (usually neglect), but just got used to that rumble.

However, you could tell when the bearing started going. That is one reason I don't like those darn rotator gear boxes. In my mind, when metal parts start making noise like they make at idle, they are about to break. Just cannot get used to like that.