Help please -vetus bowthruster grumbling noise

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Mike k

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Hope someone can point me in the right direction. Been out today and returning to berth tonight I was using the bowthruster a fair bit as it was very windy getting onto berth. Suddenly the tone changed and it made a loud grumbling noise as if a gear had gone or something . Would welcome any suggestions as to the cause so I can order the parts.The loud noise was twice as loud as normal and someone on the marina suggested it could be something sucked in but I am not sure about that. Its a 25kgf.
 
Mike k said:
Hope someone can point me in the right direction. Been out today and returning to berth tonight I was using the bowthruster a fair bit as it was very windy getting onto berth. Suddenly the tone changed and it made a loud grumbling noise as if a gear had gone or something . Would welcome any suggestions as to the cause so I can order the parts.The loud noise was twice as loud as normal and someone on the marina suggested it could be something sucked in but I am not sure about that. Its a 25kgf.
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It could be many things and beginning a logical process of elimination is the best way forwards, and usually much cheaper; it is fairly easy to check for something sucked into it so perhaps this advice is correct, check to see if something has been sucked in and if it can be removed; if you have an ammeter fitted this would show a rise in amps if something has been sucked in.
 
Assassin said:
It could be many things and beginning a logical process of elimination is the best way forwards, and usually much cheaper; it is fairly easy to check for something sucked into it so perhaps this advice is correct, check to see if something has been sucked in and if it can be removed; if you have an ammeter fitted this would show a rise in amps if something has been sucked in.
Click to expand...
My thought as well. Brushes, bearings, gearbox could all cause an unusual noise.
 
thanks for replies Assasin and Boathook. I can't tell easily if something is sucked in and I don't have an ammeter,I think she will have to be lifted to check that. Wondered if the brushes, gearbox can be accessed and checked from dryside,inside the forward compartment. Anyone done this and any tips?
 
Remember you can remove the motor etc without lifting the boat. It does not take long so you can investigate.

to check if clogged the marina diver will do it for you and will cost a lot less than a lift
 
First things first!
See if it is still thrusting. 99% thruster troubles are a bust shear pin - it's what they're there for. And easy to replace without too much effort.
Give it a brief whirl.
 
Thanks JR and Roy will have a go at taking the motor off . Portlnd Billy- if the shear pin had gone wouldn't the noise be a simple and quieter whirring sound as the propeller wouldn't be moving?
 
Normally, yes Mike, but if something solid is stuck in the impellor it would shear the pin, but if it is seaweed, plastic, or similar it would quite likely still spin and anything catching the intake/outtake sides could create the noise.

One simple trick is to use drain stain, it is a non toxic dye and if you operate your thruster and drop some into the sea it should suck it up and blow it out the opposite side and at about £6-7 a tub its much cheaper than lifting the boat and if the thruster is spinning it answers your question by it shoving stained water out the opposite side, and you don't use a lot so you have some spare for any similar incidents.
 
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