Bob,

No! The noise you are hearing is probably normal. The reason for the change in pitch is due to the fact that reverse has a reduction in the number of revolutions per engine RPM's along with the resultant movement of different mechanisms within the transmission. -- It's just noisier by nature.

Just so you're not surprised, there is no reverse detente for holding the transmission in reverse, in other words, you have to hold it in reverse. That is unless you happen to have a transmission shifter cable assembly with a built-in detente for reverse.

Anyway, I would also suggest that you Buy, Borrow, or well maybe not Steal, a copy of Don Moyer's Manual for the Atomic 4.

Goto moyermarine.com

Good Luck,
Steve

P.S. I would suggest that you join the Atomic 4 e-mail list on Sailnet.com. It's FREE! It's also much more active than this site.