Hurth HW50 Problem

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Jan 22, 2008
21
Oday 34 Ferrell, NJ MD
I've run into a strange problem with the Hurth transmission in my ODay 34. If I shift from neutral into reverse, the transmission locks up and stalls the engine. If, however, I go into forward first, it slides into reverse without a problem. No evident noise or vibration, and I've checked the cable adjustment and the shift lever throw.

Anyone else run into this?

MadMax
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,362
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
When was the last time you changed the transmission fluid?

Do you have any knocking sounds from the transmission?
 
Jan 22, 2008
21
Oday 34 Ferrell, NJ MD
When was the last time you changed the transmission fluid?

Do you have any knocking sounds from the transmission?

I haven't changed the transmission fluid in about two years (boat has had very little use). I'll be down this weekend and do just that. I would think that if the fluid was low or dirty there would be some indication of a bearing problem. There are no knocking noises from the transmission or anything to suggest that something major is wrong other than the shifting problem.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,362
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Good idea for this weekend. When you say limited use, can you define that a tad better? Reason for asking is this: those that lay their boats up for the winter completely FILL the transmission with fluid and then drain it out again to the normal level before using the following season. My understanding is that this is per manufacturer's suggestions, and keeps everything lubricated when not being used. If the boat sat for a loong time, or will again, you may want to try this.

Good luck.
 
May 24, 2004
7,215
CC 30 South Florida
I'm not familiar with Hurth transmissions to be able to give any worthwhile advice but I would recheck the Linkage and the lever travel at the transmission end. Check the travel as you push into reverse and then check it again as you push forward and then into reverse. It could be something simple as something sticking for lack of use or it could be a worn part like a shifting fork. That is good advice Stu has provided for those that are storing their boats for some time. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
 
Jan 22, 2008
21
Oday 34 Ferrell, NJ MD
I'm not familiar with Hurth transmissions to be able to give any worthwhile advice but I would recheck the Linkage and the lever travel at the transmission end. Check the travel as you push into reverse and then check it again as you push forward and then into reverse. It could be something simple as something sticking for lack of use or it could be a worn part like a shifting fork. That is good advice Stu has provided for those that are storing their boats for some time. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
Thanks guys. The boat was not used over the Winter and I didn't fill the transmission up with oil, which may indeed have precipitated the problem. As far as the linkage goes, I ran it through its travel without the cable being hooked up and it did exactly the same thing. I'm going to change the fluid this weekend, cross my fingers, and let you know when I'm back in town on Monday.
 
Jan 22, 2008
21
Oday 34 Ferrell, NJ MD
No change

Well, I changed the transmission fluid this weekend, and there was no change in the behavior of the transmission. Took it out in the Bay and motored around for about an hour without any noticeable problems, then brought it in. Since we're nearing the end of the season, I think I'm going to use the engine as sparingly as possible and pull the transmission out over the Winter and find what the problem is.

Thanks for all of your good advice.

MadMax
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,362
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Sorry to hear that, but

the C36 skippers, for some reason, have experienced a lot of Hurth failures. Here's one post and Maine Sail's suggestion:

Had an interesting 4th of July. Was pulling into a fore & aft mooring around 4PM, put the trans. into reverse & got nothing but clanking... same for forward.

Towed into a marina the next morning & had the transmission pulled to find that the flex plate plastic insert between the 2 pieces had disintegrated and fallen out (see pictures).

The interesting part of this is that the tranny always made a clanking sound at low RPM. It passed the survey like this and I had a diesel tech on board once who said it was normal and was called "transmission backlash". I did notice this year when I shut the engine off it made a sound like 2 pieces of metal clanking together which, in retrospect, was exactly what was happening

After replacing the plate all the clanking stopped so obviously it was not "normal".

I post this because others have told me they get the same noise. You can't check this like checking your oil, but if anyone is getting a similar noise, be aware.

On a posiitive note, all this happened as I was in the harbor, not going down the East River or thru Hell Gate. I got towed into Norwalk Cove Marina on the 5th. They told me they were short staffed but would try to look at it. I got in at 10:45AM, they had the tranny and plate out and a new one ordered by 1:30PM and by noon the next day I was ready to go. AND, they didn't charge me for two nights in a slip. Good folks for anyone sailing the LI Sound area if you need repairs.



There have been a number of reported failures of the R&D damper plates. Replace it with the Sachs damper plate and you'll be fine... __________________
______
-Maine Sail
 
Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
There have been a number of reported failures of the R&D damper plates. Replace it with the Sachs damper plate and you'll be fine... __________________
______
-Maine Sail
[/quote]
Yea, I'm one of them!!!
 
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