No Reverse on MD 6B

[moondance5003]

Hi to all,

I have no reverse on the engine. The shaft rotates well and increases
revs in forward but slows to nothing in reverse. In reverse the
engine speeds up but the shaft does nothing. (It actually slows down
to nothing even with the engine speed increasing.) I'm a novice at
these things but I'm willing to learn and get dirty. What could it be
and how do I fix it?

Thanks to all of you who helped with the bilge condensate problem.
The biggest contributer was the stuffing box, but I found all of the
things that were mentioned needs work.

Robert
SV 2955

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi Robert

Looks as though the combi needs looking at. Not too bad a job and as you
will be servicing the stuffing box/sterngland it can all be done at the
same time. The repair kit covers the combi and sterngland and comes with
full instructions and diagrams. (£38 plus postage). If you dont mind
getting dirty and have some mechanical knowledge then not toomuch to
worry about.

Kind Regards

Steve Birch Vega Southern Comfort V1703

 

[moondance5003]

Thanks Steve,

I'm new to the Vega and the combi. But now I'm confused!! Is the kit
you refer to for rebuilding the variable-pitch prop? If so, how would
this affect the shaft speed? Please advise me, I don't quite
understand.

Respectfully,

Robert
SV2955

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi RObert

If the combi internals are out of aslignment then the shaft wouldnt turn at
the
correct speed as there would be too much effort required for too much pitch on
the blades at teh wrong time. The engine revs have to be in sync with the
pitch
of the prop at all times. It sounds as though yours has slipped. If you take
the combi apart (hardest bit) then best to renew the bits as quite cheap and
would give you piece of mind.

Kind Regards

Steve Birch

At 02:45 15/01/04 +0000, you wrote:

 

[orchardprojects]

Robert,

I was in the same position as you last year - had to service the
stern gland and check the pitch on the prop - without knowing a whole
lot about it. With the help of Steves Kit and another more mechically
minded Vegarian the job took about a day - provided you keep track of
the order stuff comes out and get over the complexities of locking
rings and don't get too squeamish about taking a sledgehammer to your
prop (to free the rings) it's All OK. A good tip if your going to do
it is to get an extra set of the rubber seals for the stern gland.
Put the extra set behind the new ones, so that when you need to
replace seals you don't have to take the whole lot apart again - you
just loosen it all up cut off the old seal and roll the new one up
the shaft.

I don't know what Steve thinks but before you start taking it all
apart you could look at the propeller to see if the two marks on the
propeller are aligned in neutral and look as the mechanism contolling
the combi - it's unlikely given the engine is dying on you - but you
never know.

Generally the only rule of Vega maintenence I've learnt is do what
Steve says!

Good luck

david

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi David

Many thanks for the blind faith! Perhaps I should be Prime Minister!

I always send an extra lip seal with teh combi kit so you can do as you siuggest. As you say it takes a lot longer to dismantle the whol combi system again just to change a seal. It brings to mind an old Army saying we always used:

"Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance" or the Six P's

See ya all as I am off to the London Boat Show tomorrow to meet all the other Vega owners in the RYA bar at 17:00

Kind Regards to all

Steve Birch.

 

[mphalv]

Suggest you check all alignment marks on prop and gears before taking apart,
Ten minutes with flashlight may save 10 hours and $100. Bet the alignmment
off.

Paul Halvachs
Double Fantasy