Finding neutral

[SailorRob]

Hi all
Last year I installed a new m25xpb on my Cat 30. I have a difficult time finding neutral since it doesn't "clunk" into gear like the old engine did. Is there an adjustment or should I try a new cable? I had a heck of a time connecting the old cable. Its a mk1 with the controls down low.
Thanks
Rob
1981 Cat30

 

[jrowan]

I've had the same problem with trans. shifter - but on an original Universal diesel engine. It doesn't clunk in or out of gear either. I've actually started the diesel several times in gear by mistake, thinking it was in neutral. I new shifter cable may not help, I think its more to do with the sensitivity of the Hurth transmission & the tight tolerences between the gears. I do miss the old shifter on my last boat's Yanmar - it uses a single shift & combination trans. lever. All the way forward combined the throttle control & forward gear. Center is neutral & lowers rev's to idle speed, reverse is backwards. It prevents u from stripping the gears by accidentally throwing it into gear at high rev's. I wonder how hard it would be to install on a Universal. Torrenson Marine sells them. If you've already gone to the expense to replace your engine, this upgrade may be worth it, & save your trans. from damage.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I wouldn't use the combination shifter if my life depended on it. Of course, that's just my opinion.

A friend commented recently about the difficulties he had with the single shifter. I've used it on canal boats in the UK and France and find it difficult to use.

Back to the OP: the only adjustment you have available is at the lever arm on the transmission housing. You didn't say whether you got a new transmission with your new engine. If it was my boat, I'd check the lever and connections and then determine if the cable is binding.