Removing/replacing transmission on a Hunter 44

[Lkarrh]

We have been tasked with removing and replacing a Kanzaki model KM4A1 transmission on an '04 Hunter 44 that's in the water. The issue we're wrestling with is that there is only about 1.5" of room between the driveshaft flange and the stuffing box but, so that's as far back as we can push the driveshaft without hauling the boat.

Does anyone have experience removing this type of transmission? Is 1.5" enough clearance to disengage the transmission from the crankshaft?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Lee

 

[kloudie1]

I don’t have direct experience with that engine but I don’t think you have enough room to disengage the drive shaft. There usually is enough slack in the wires, hoses, cables to raise the engine off its mounts and move it another inch or so forward. If you leave the bottom nuts on the engine mounts in place, you’ll have a good starting point for realignment when you are done.

 

[Lkarrh]

I don’t have direct experience with that engine but I don’t think you have enough room to disengage the drive shaft. There usually is enough slack in the wires, hoses, cables to raise the engine off its mounts and move it another inch or so forward. If you leave the bottom nuts on the engine mounts in place, you’ll have a good starting point for realignment when you are done.

Cool. Thank you

 

[jssailem]

Might want to stuff a plastic bag from in the water up the driveshaft to moderate any inflow if in your efforts somehow the shaft log gets damaged.

Also I would check the bilge pump and assure that you have adequate pumping capabilities.

 

[markwbird]

I did this with my H34. I can only assume your situation is similar. I had to disconnect the engine mounts to allow me to raise the engine and transmission so that the flange at the transmission was above the flange at the drive shaft allowing me to move the transmission backwards once I unbolted it from the engine. This is not easy. It is quite a wrestling match and requires patience and lots of foul language. BTW I raised the engine using the mainsheet. My boat as mid boom sheeting so the main sheet is right above the engine. Good luck.

 

[NYSail]

Not familiar at all with your set-up…… however assuming you have Traditional stuffing box, why not tie a line around your shaft / prop then remove the stuffing box from the stern tube hose and all, slide shaft aft keeping it in the stern tube (the line is just in case!) and quickly seal the stern tub. Not much water will come through and it should give good space. And when done maybe consider a Volvo dripless glad (they are simple and great) and put everything back.

A little water but nothing a shop vac and good planning can’t mitigate.

Good luck
Greg

 

[Lkarrh]

Thank you all. We took Kloudie1's advice and moved the engine. A big I beam, a come-along, some blood, sweat and tears, along with language that I wouldn't want my wife or daughters to overhear, the transmission is off and on it's way to being rebuilt. Again, thank you.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Sorry I am a little late but this may help someone in the future.
Best advice I can give. You will need heavy duty quart freezer bags, a sharpie, duct tape, red shop rags and a cell phone.
The cell phone is to take step by step pictures of the process.
The freezer bags and sharpie is to store and label everything that you remove. As you take pictures.
The freezer bags and duct tape is to cover open ends of hoses, oil, freshwater and saltwater. You don't want that dripping into the bilges. I also bag and duct tape the plugs on any sensors. I label these too.
The red shop rags are to plug the bilge drains so all the nasty stuff doesn't get into the rest of your bilges. I use red because they are harder to forget.

 

[Ltfdrebbin]

LKarrh- our KM4A1 just went out today. Who did you have rebuild it, and are you happy with the work? How long did the rebuild take? I'm considering buying a rebuilt one and swapping to speed the process up, but I'm only finding KM4A2. Any idea if that works? the bolt pattern looks the same and the gear ratio is the same.

Thanks,
Sam