Westerbeke 4-91 or w30 gearbox choked

Justin koh

Justin koh

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Oct 29, 2015
3
Aries 32 Aries 32 malaysia
Greetings. i am currently working on my boat a 1975 Aries 32 sailboat. im facing a issue with my engine gearbox. the raw water actually runs through the engine before exiting the boat together with the exhaust. i have tried to use pressurized hose to pressurized inlet and outlet but no water exits out.
Anyone has any idea how to rectify this issue?
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Justin koh said:
Greetings. i am currently working on my boat a 1975 Aries 32 sailboat. im facing a issue with my engine gearbox. the raw water actually runs through the engine before exiting the boat together with the exhaust. i have tried to use pressurized hose to pressurized inlet and outlet but no water exits out.
Anyone has any idea how to rectify this issue?
Click to expand

STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You NEVER, EVER, EVER pressurize your raw water system from a hose. You will fill the exhaust with raw water which will then back up into a CYLINDER and when you go to crank the engine you will HYDROLOCK IT....

You place a hose into a bucket, which is connected to the raw water pump, and let the ENGINE SUCK the water through. Without exhaust gas pressure you will fill your engine with water before it comes out the stern. YOU DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN!!!!!
 
Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
6,152
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
In addition to what Maine Sail said, why do you think you have a gearbox issue? The cooling water cools either the engine block or heat exchanger, and is generally not related to the transmission. There is an impeller that's intended to push water through the cooling system. If you're lucky that impeller is what's preventing water from flowing through the engine freely when you (incorrectly) tried to force water through it.
 
Justin koh

Justin koh

.
Oct 29, 2015
3
Aries 32 Aries 32 malaysia
The raw water goes into the engine and heat exchanger before going into the transmission and exit together with the exhaust, after changing the impeller, everything goes well but later on i notice that no water coming out from exhaust, i remove the hose that connects between heat exchanger and gearbox, connects it directly to exhaust, run the engine, there is water coming out from exhaust. After connecting the hose back to gearbox, nothing coming out. i try to pressurized the gearbox water inlet, but nothing comes out from the outlet.
any idea how to rectify this?
 

Attachments

Ken13559

Ken13559

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Oct 29, 2005
2,366
Hunter Marine 326 303 Singapore
Cooling water going to gearbox? That's news to me. Then again I'm not familiar with Westerbeke engine and w30 gearbox but it sure sounds funny. But whatever it is never ever pressure water into engine cooling water intake as mentioned by MS. Let the engine suck on its own from a pail. And if the gearbox has water cooling system then it's probable it is choked.

Ken
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Did the boat come with the trans already connected to water lines?
Because that pic looks more hydraulic to me. Especially with what looks to be the gear oil fill/dipstick in the middle.
I've see older westerbeke trans with raw water circuit, but it didn't look like that.
Is there a 2nd "heat exchanger" that's smaller than the other?
 
Justin koh

Justin koh

.
Oct 29, 2015
3
Aries 32 Aries 32 malaysia
yup. the picture was taken after i removed the hoses which 1 connects between heat exchanger and trans inlet, the other is connected between trans out let and engine exhaust.
This trans comes with a raw water circuit.
I am not sure whether its hydraulic. Yes it has a gear oil filler/ dipstick in the middle.
Nope, it has only 1 heat exchanger.
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Justin koh said:
yup. the picture was taken after i removed the hoses which 1 connects between heat exchanger and trans inlet, the other is connected between trans out let and engine exhaust.
This trans comes with a raw water circuit.
I am not sure whether its hydraulic. Yes it has a gear oil filler/ dipstick in the middle.
Nope, it has only 1 heat exchanger.
Click to expand
Ok.
You can deduce that I'm not familiar with your setup. I'll just say what I'd do if mine.

I would still open the gear oil fill and dig some oil out to make sure there's no water in there.

It sounds like whatever jacket system is in there is clogged with decades of corrosion and debris. It will need to be cleaned out.
Disassembling a transmission is not as bad as it might seem. Especially on the hard. However, the very first thing I would do is obtain a service manual. Find the exact model of the trans - probably stamped on the flywheel cover. Then google it.
If it looks too daunting, or you're lacking in tools, it may be prudent to consult a tech.
 
Skipper

Skipper

.
Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Btw, is there another raw water hose that exits the heat exchanger and enters the exhaust manifold, or riser?Those hoses in the pic seem awfully small to carry the whole load.
 
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