Initial question from me:
I change my transmission fluid every year (Hurth HBW50 tranny, I think,
on an M25XP), and in between I put around 20 hours of motoring in.
Alignment is reasonably good, and I have a flex coupling. No strange
gear noises or slippage and shifting is very easy.
Every year I see a darkening of the fluid when draining, almost as if it
has a bit of engine oil in it. Even the dip stick, when I first pull it
out carefully, has significantly darker oil on it. No water though.
The darkening doesn't seem uniform. At first I thought that the drain
might be picking up some contaminant while draining but my engine is
quite clean, and I wipe everything down before letting the final 1/2 cup
out of the lower drain. Any thoughts?
Response from Westerbeke:
(They included two pictures from the Transmission Manual that I can't include here becasue of format. I'd be more than happy to send them off-list).
DARKENING OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WOULD MAKE ME FEEL THAT THE CLUTCHES
IN THE TRANSMISSION ARE SLIPPING. MAYBE WHEN YOU ARE PLACING THE TRANS
IN FORWARD OR REVERSE.
UNDER SAIL WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE LEFT IN
NEUTRAL. HOWEVER TO STOP THE PROPELLER/SHAFT FROM TURNING. THE
TRANSMISSION MUST BE PUT INTO REVERSE. "NOT" FORWARD. fORWARD WILL
PRODUCE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE.
WHEN YOU SHIFT DO YOU BABY THE SHIFT LEVER INTO ENGAGEMENT OR DO YOU
DUMP IT INTO GEAR (MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER QUICKLY) ??
YOU WANT TO MOVE THE LEVER QUICKLY INTO GEAR.
CHECK THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER MOVEMENT AT THE TRANSMISSION.
I HAVE ATTACHED SOME INFORMATION ON THE TRANSMISSION LEVER AND ITS
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS.
SEE WHAT YOU FIND.
BEST REGARDS,
JOE JOYCE
SERVICE MANAGER
I change my transmission fluid every year (Hurth HBW50 tranny, I think,
on an M25XP), and in between I put around 20 hours of motoring in.
Alignment is reasonably good, and I have a flex coupling. No strange
gear noises or slippage and shifting is very easy.
Every year I see a darkening of the fluid when draining, almost as if it
has a bit of engine oil in it. Even the dip stick, when I first pull it
out carefully, has significantly darker oil on it. No water though.
The darkening doesn't seem uniform. At first I thought that the drain
might be picking up some contaminant while draining but my engine is
quite clean, and I wipe everything down before letting the final 1/2 cup
out of the lower drain. Any thoughts?
Response from Westerbeke:
(They included two pictures from the Transmission Manual that I can't include here becasue of format. I'd be more than happy to send them off-list).
DARKENING OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WOULD MAKE ME FEEL THAT THE CLUTCHES
IN THE TRANSMISSION ARE SLIPPING. MAYBE WHEN YOU ARE PLACING THE TRANS
IN FORWARD OR REVERSE.
UNDER SAIL WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING. THE TRANSMISSION CAN BE LEFT IN
NEUTRAL. HOWEVER TO STOP THE PROPELLER/SHAFT FROM TURNING. THE
TRANSMISSION MUST BE PUT INTO REVERSE. "NOT" FORWARD. fORWARD WILL
PRODUCE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE.
WHEN YOU SHIFT DO YOU BABY THE SHIFT LEVER INTO ENGAGEMENT OR DO YOU
DUMP IT INTO GEAR (MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER QUICKLY) ??
YOU WANT TO MOVE THE LEVER QUICKLY INTO GEAR.
CHECK THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER MOVEMENT AT THE TRANSMISSION.
I HAVE ATTACHED SOME INFORMATION ON THE TRANSMISSION LEVER AND ITS
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS.
SEE WHAT YOU FIND.
BEST REGARDS,
JOE JOYCE
SERVICE MANAGER