We purchased a '86 Donzi 22 classic recently. It has a small block 350 mag and an SE outdrive. When we took it for the first run, it made some noise like gravel rattleing in the bilge area. When it got up on a plane it was fine. It sounded like power steering or belt squeal to me. While on a plane it was ok. It runs great and we ran it ok for a couple of days. When coming in from the 3rd day and it was trimmed out just perfect, right on top of the water at full throttle, I felt the rpms going up and the speed going down, I happen to have me hand on the throttle and came off quick.After coming off plane, I trimmed it down and put the throttle back down agressively but not full throttle. I hear some squelling and feels like slipping going on in the rear. I idled back to the dock which was not far. Later in the day I eased it up on a plane to take it to the boat ramps to get it out of the water. it did fine but only ran it to around 2800 rpm. Took it to my very good shade tree mechanic and he said sounded like a rubber gimble bearing hub had come loose. He said it would have to be replaced but in order to do so, we would need to remove the outdrive and the engine to get at it. That is exactly what it felt like, a rubber hub in a prop slipping so it made sense to me. You have to understand I need directions on which end of a hammer to hold. Well he also told me that people have let them cool down and if not to agressive with them have gotten them to reseat and get some use out of them. Well that is what we did, after a day or two, I would put the boat on a plane by using a lot of trim tab and it would do great as long as you did not stretch ou the trim and get with it. We have used the boat for 15 hours or so since the first incident and it has performed well. Now yesterday, we were almost stranded with it and it would not get up on a plane without slipping and squeling so I do believe it is time to replace this hub or whatever. I forgot to reveal this tidbit of info but the boat is taking on quite a bit of water from somewhere around the outdrive transom assy and has been since we have had it for 3 or 4 weeks now. The previous seller disclosed this to us and we knew the outdrive needed to come off to find out where the leak was coming from. Well the ole bilge pump finally hit its final lick yesterday before we were having the problem and when I lifted the back hatch, it was dang near full. It was up to the bottom of the heads. We keep a manual bilge pump and an elactric with batter clips in the boat and started bilging the boat out. I think the extra weight had quite a bit of effect on the boat being so hard to come up out of the water and put a lot of extra pressure on the hub or whatever you call it.
Finally my question is, after looking at all the outdrive components part companies, I do not see this hub thingy and wondering what I need and what it would cost? Also is it possible to get the hub out on back in without taking the engine completely out of the boat? Thanks for any help we can get. My mechanic is good but just being sure what I can expect. Tom
Finally my question is, after looking at all the outdrive components part companies, I do not see this hub thingy and wondering what I need and what it would cost? Also is it possible to get the hub out on back in without taking the engine completely out of the boat? Thanks for any help we can get. My mechanic is good but just being sure what I can expect. Tom
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