Free wheeling prop

[Bruce]

My prop free wheels at over about 4K sailing. It's the original 2 blade. Is this OK? Does it hurt the transmission? Thanks.Bruce Z.

 

[David]

free wheel

Yes, Yanmar states that their engines should be put in reverse under sail to protect the transmission.

 

[Tom Ehmke]

Westerbeke/Hurth manual says freewheel

Don't know your engine or transmission, but I pass that along from my Westerbeke manual.Tom

 

[Bruce]

Thanks!

It's a yanmar 2GM20. Thanks for the info.BZ

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

The Manual, Gordon Torreson .........

......... and several others have stated that the transmission is splash lubricated, hence it is fully lubricated while freewheeling. Also, a recent link mentioned here had measured the amount of drag between a locked prop and a freewheeling one at various hull speeds and found a substantial decrease in the drag on the freewheeling prop.Hope this helps.Regards,s/v Island Hunter

 

[Terry Arnold]

Yanmar GM series transmission

Below is a link to a photo forum article on this matter. Reverse while sailing assures that rotation underway doesn't occur. Forward is least desirable of the three options since now rotation may occur while clutch is engaged. Figures on photo forum article show that large gears that transmission depends on for lubrication do not rotate while in neutral. On other hand, load on bearings much less freewheeling in neutral. As practical matter for day sailors, reverse or neutral, not forward.

 

[Kevin]

Some can and some can't

Hello,I would be very careful in making sure the model you have does not have a disclaimer in the instructions saying it's ok, but you can't do it for longer then 5 hours. I would look at the trans manual. A ton of transmissions have problems in the lubracation cycles. Some will not lubracate for instance freewheeling or in reverse.Kevin