Vibration in reverse. Response lxr

[Stejcraftben]

Hey!

I hope some of you response owners can put my mind at ease. Took my new response lxr out yesterday to continue running it in. As I was putting it on the trailer I put it in reverse to slow down. It was then I noticed a pretty harsh vibration. Took it for another drive to see if it would do it again and it does. Costing slowing fowards and then into reverse is the worse and if you stop and go into reverse hard it shakes the boat. I'm positive it never did this (only done 6 hours). Is this normal from a response??. It's under warrenty but id still like to hear from others with the same issue.

 

Thanks

 

[Waternut]

Are you still moving forward when it vibrates? You can generate some pretty harsh cavitation in reverse regardless of what boat it is especially if you're still moving a couple mph forward.

[Stejcraftben]

Yeah just slowly moving forward...just above idle. I've driven response lx's and I can't recall them doing it. I read that it could be cavitation but the odd thing is I'm positive it never did until yesterday.

[MISkier]

Weeds on the propeller?

[Stejcraftben]

Na it's clean. Haven't hit anything. The dealer is coming to water test it with me on Monday. I read a few threads on the Malibu crew website and a few guys have the same problem but they think it's normal.

[mwetskier]

@Stejcraftben -the first thing to check is the coupler between the transmission and the drive shaft. if the coupler bolts are even slightly loose reverse can separate the 2 halves of the coupler slightly and cause this symptom.

[E_T]

I wouldn't say this is very probable. But a bad damper plate spring. Usually only hear them in reverse for some reason.

[mwetskier]

@E_T -correct. . . not probable. but i've seen it so it is *possible* and it can be eliminated as the cause with a 30 second inspection and a wrench. a guy would feel pretty stupid pulling a perfectly good transmission only to find nothing wrong.

[Stejcraftben]

Ive had worn dampener plate springs in my previous boat and it's not that for sure. I just Checked the bolts and they are all tight. I'll just wait for the dealer to come out. They told me to keep running it in over the weekend so they mustn't be to concerned.

[A_B]

If you turn the prop by hand does it feel any different forward and back? Wondering if the strut bearing might not be working correctly? It is a wear item, but long wear, water is its lube. Do you have anything blocking the little water channels on the backside?

 

Just some WaGs.

[Skislalom]

My LXi did it, after I hit a log, turned out to be a very slightly bent drive shaft, our clubs nautique did it, it turned out to be a fault on the shaft where it went into the flange