Direction of shift for TMC-40 Transmission

[druid]

OK, this is driving me nuts.

I'm getting a Beta 25 with TMC-40 transmission (the "standard" one), and I can't find on ANY of the documentation which direction the shift lever goes for FWD. In other words, using the standard from-above cable bracket, does pulling the cable put the transmission in FWD or REV?

I have the installation manual, the mechanical dwgs (for the engine AND the transmission) and none show the direction of the shifter.

Anybody know?
druid

 

[Benny17441]

Give the Beta Marine people a call, they should be able to point you in the right direction on how to install the shifter to move forward for FWD and back for Reverse.

 

[Bill Roosa]

First off who cares? It is a lever and one way is forward and the other is reverse. Do you really care which way that is at the helm?
second you have the transmission so I'm thinking you could simply put it in one direction and spin the input shaft (or output for that matter) as see which way the other spins. Match that against the engine spin direction and you have your answer.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Sometimes the gear ratio is different for FWD than REV.

I agree, druid, call Beta on Monday. Usually the manuals will tell ya, but you said they don't.

 

[druid]

First, I think Bill is missing some vital information: I'm INSTALLING this engine. So I DO need to know which way the lever on the trans goes so I can hook it up correctly to the new engine controls. I also don't have the engine yet, so I can't observe it (and I think you're incorrect anyway: on these transmissions the shaft rotates opposite to the crankshaft when in fwd).
I'm heading out to the boat tomorrow to take some measurements and I wanted to know which engine controls and/or which way I'll be routing the cable when I go there, and Beta isn't open til Monday.

I'm anxious to get the Edson engine controls ordered ASAP since the last time I ordered parts directly from Edson, it took OVER TWO MONTHS and innumerable phone calls to Toronto and Atlanta to get them here (no real fault of Edson - it was FedEx that didn't know the difference between Vancouver and Toronto). But that was like 20 years ago and hopefully they're better now.

druid

 

[Bill Roosa]

OK, so you do know which side goes on the engine right? That would be the INPUT shaft. The other one sticking out the other end would be the OUTPUT shaft. Now an enterprizing individual would be able to look at the prop and determine which direction the prop has to turn to make the boat go forward. The output shaft will have to also turn that direction. It is common knowledge which direction every engine in the world turns when looking at ithe engine output shaft. While there are some engines that do turn backword by design they are usually well marked on the bell housing so you don't make a boo-boo. I will leave it for your research to determine what direction that is but it is CW
I still have to ask that when you grab the shifter at the helm do you really care which way you push or pull it to get it into gear? Also pretty sure that my edison shifter has accomidation for this on the shifter so you can flip flop the direction if need be.

 

[druid]

Bill: First, I don't HAVE the transmission to look at. (If I did, I'm pretty sure the F and R are stamped on the transmission so I could SEE which way it goes). Second, the INPUT shaft is connected directly to the engine so I can't see it (moot point since I could look at the front of the crankshaft). Thirdly, since I haven't bought the propeller yet, I certainly can't see which way it will turn to move the boat forward (note that I will have to KNOW that information before ordering the prop). Fourthly, yes it DOES matter which way the shifter goes. On the vast majority of boats, pulling the shift lever BACK moves the boat FORWARD and vice versa. Having the shifter "backwards" is confusing, and will lead to putting the engine in fwd when you REALLY need to put it in reverse and you're concentrating on docking the boat or other complicated manoever. I know, because I had to install one that way and it was, shall we say, less than optimum. Can you imagine if the steering wheel on your car was backwards to what you're used to?

Oh, and the Edson shifter does NOT have that option: it's a different part (one has the shifter opposite the throttle, the other kind of has it sideways). So I have to know which way the transmission shifts so I can order the correct part.

druid

 

[Bill Roosa]

OK Druid
Thought you said you did not have the engine so assumed you would have vis of both shafts. Also I think you will find that most props are also built to be turned in only one direction due to the engines that turn them also all being designed that way. So engine thrany prop combinations are pretty much assured to work as, well, designed.
With all that said I was unawares that you are trying to actually do when you go to the boat. Routing of the shift cable to get the shifting direction you want. So the reall question is which direction you come off the tranny with the shift cable. Got it now. Sorry for the confusion.
Looked at some of the pics on the internet and there is no indication that I can see of which way the shift lever goes for it to be in forward or reverse. Forward and reverse do have different gear rations so you might be able to tell by counting rotations.