When I shift in and out of gears with my Yanmar 2QM20, sometimes it takes some messing around with the throttle to get it to engage forward or reverse. This can be extremely nerve-racking on a windy day in the relatively tight fairway of my marina. So far, I've been lowering the throttle almost until the engine cuts, with the thought that the lower the rpms, the more likely it would be to engage. When the engine sounds like it's about to cut, I have to give it more diesel and then try to bring it back down until the prop engages. Sometimes this takes a few tries, and up to 10 secs before I have a responsive prop. I was out yesterday, and had a pretty close call. I've been "dealing" with this issue for quite some time--and by-passed this project for many other projects--but it's time to do something, and even pay an engine guy if needs be. I just wanted to put this out there to see if anybody thinks it's a simple fix, or even minorly complicated. It might be the cables that connect the levers at the pedestal to the engine. Perhaps they just need lubrication? If so, is that a matter of squirting some tri-flow into the connection at the pedestal? Wouldn't it be great if that was it? Anyway, I'm all ears if anybody has any ideas. Thanks,Josh
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Hey Josh.
Ed here. Try shifting from the tranny lever. On a nice calm day disconnect the shift cable from the lever on the tranny. Have a friend at the helm where you have lots of sea room. You can control the throttle and the transmission. Put some visegrips on the lever for a little more leverage. You should be able to go from neutral to forward back to neutral and into reverse all at 500 to 800 rpm. This will rule in/out any pedestal or cable problems. If this works then it is time for some cable lubrication and adjustment.
Ed here. Try shifting from the tranny lever. On a nice calm day disconnect the shift cable from the lever on the tranny. Have a friend at the helm where you have lots of sea room. You can control the throttle and the transmission. Put some visegrips on the lever for a little more leverage. You should be able to go from neutral to forward back to neutral and into reverse all at 500 to 800 rpm. This will rule in/out any pedestal or cable problems. If this works then it is time for some cable lubrication and adjustment.
Second what ed is saying
I would have some one top side working the controls while you look and see whats going on down at tha tranny. It could be just some lub but maybe new cables or just loose connections that need to be thighten up,how old is the system it needs to be checked out,my newer 2001 driveshaft bolts came loose recently but while looking over things I noticed one nut and washer off completely and the rest were loose so. I lub things up on a regular basis and also check for things that loosen up from vibration of the engine,as we all know already sailing our own boat is not all just fun but the work involved is all worth it when your out sailing. I gave up working on cars and rather work on my newer boat its all about men and their toys. nick
I would have some one top side working the controls while you look and see whats going on down at tha tranny. It could be just some lub but maybe new cables or just loose connections that need to be thighten up,how old is the system it needs to be checked out,my newer 2001 driveshaft bolts came loose recently but while looking over things I noticed one nut and washer off completely and the rest were loose so. I lub things up on a regular basis and also check for things that loosen up from vibration of the engine,as we all know already sailing our own boat is not all just fun but the work involved is all worth it when your out sailing. I gave up working on cars and rather work on my newer boat its all about men and their toys. nick
can't I just do it at the dock
while I'm tied up. That would save me the headache of doing it at sea. Also, does adjustment just entail tightening all nuts, or is it more complex than that.
while I'm tied up. That would save me the headache of doing it at sea. Also, does adjustment just entail tightening all nuts, or is it more complex than that.
Adjustments.
Yes, you could do it at the dock assuming well fendered and tied. My 2QM20 puts quite a strain on the docklines at 800 rpm however. As far as Nick's suggestion you would not even need the motor running. At least not for the part where you are just watching the lever move at the tranny while someone shifts at the pedestal. You are looking to see that neutral on the pedestal has the lever centered at the transmission. Then when the pedestal lever is moved to reverse or forward watch to see that the tranny lever travels the same distance as when the cable is not attached. In general though I think the clutches are worn on our old boats. Did I tell you about the time I stuck the rudder in the mud on the other side of the Huron river? I was trying to get out of the way of a fast boat(in a no wake zone) and missed forward. He saw what happened, felt guilty, and pulled me off.
Yes, you could do it at the dock assuming well fendered and tied. My 2QM20 puts quite a strain on the docklines at 800 rpm however. As far as Nick's suggestion you would not even need the motor running. At least not for the part where you are just watching the lever move at the tranny while someone shifts at the pedestal. You are looking to see that neutral on the pedestal has the lever centered at the transmission. Then when the pedestal lever is moved to reverse or forward watch to see that the tranny lever travels the same distance as when the cable is not attached. In general though I think the clutches are worn on our old boats. Did I tell you about the time I stuck the rudder in the mud on the other side of the Huron river? I was trying to get out of the way of a fast boat(in a no wake zone) and missed forward. He saw what happened, felt guilty, and pulled me off.
Ed's probably (or always) right...
The gears wear after a few years and don't slip as precisely as they once did. Keeping things well greased and checking for loose bolts etc is a good routine maintenance item. I find that sometimes when the boat sits for a while it is more noticable, so I am in the habit of checking that gears engage properly before leaving the dock. Just run engine at low rpm and shift, let it sit a second or two, then shift the other way.... My dock, incidentally, must be stronger than Ed's as I routinely run the engine under load at as much as 1800 rpm while tied up and working on the boat. Of course, I have extra heavy dock lines. Good luck, Sanders
The gears wear after a few years and don't slip as precisely as they once did. Keeping things well greased and checking for loose bolts etc is a good routine maintenance item. I find that sometimes when the boat sits for a while it is more noticable, so I am in the habit of checking that gears engage properly before leaving the dock. Just run engine at low rpm and shift, let it sit a second or two, then shift the other way.... My dock, incidentally, must be stronger than Ed's as I routinely run the engine under load at as much as 1800 rpm while tied up and working on the boat. Of course, I have extra heavy dock lines. Good luck, Sanders
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