Transmission Repair Shop Recommendation - South Jersey, PA, DE, MD

[Ward H]

The Hurth HBW 50 tranny in my C30 started slipping badly near the end of the season. I checked the linkage and changed the fluid. The slipping just got worst each time I test ran it.

I'll finish pulling it from the boat this week.

I'm looking for recommendations for a marine repair shop/technician to open it up for inspection and recommendation on repair/rebuilding.

I'm hoping to find a shop in southern NJ but failing that, I'm willing to drive out of state if needed.

I've read everything I could find on the internet on the pros & cons of rebuilding vs replacement (New Age PRM 60 is almost a drop in replacement but not quite)
I've decided to have a marine tech open it up and give me options before committing to an "almost" drop in replacement.

Many Thanks,

 

[dlochner]

Ward,

East Coast Marine Transmissions.
eastcoastmarinetransmission@gmail.com
253 Vineyard Av
South Amboy NJ 08879
‭(732) 991-0694‬

Rick Neary was a lead mechanic for Mack Boring before MB got out of the service business. He rebuilt a transmission for me. Competent and a nice guy too.

 

[sailme88]

If your search expands to Maine, send me a PM and I'll share the name up here...

 

[Hayden Watson]

I benchmarked this video on how to rebuild a Hurth that might be helpful if you are of the "mechanical" mindset. Hurth HWB 10 Transmission Rebuild dissassembly part 1 A - YouTube
Hurth HWB-10 Transmission Rebuild (reassembly) part 2 - YouTube

 

[RitSim]

Parts alone are ~$500. add labor and you are approaching the price of a new Twin Disc. I replaced my Hurth (former boat) with a Twin Disc - bought it new for $1300 (it was a few years ago) . More piece of mind with a new transmission. If you google hbw50 Twin Disc equivalent there are lots of links. Also lots of discussions on rebuilding. Sold the old Transmission on Ebay for $250. I remember only minor dimensional/alignment adjustments required and the shift lever was on the opposite side. Good luck.

 

[sailme88]

Before I decided to rebuild I researched the ZR transmissions as a replacement. What was learned was that they were not an exact fit. Modifications to the engine beds and possibly the cabin engine cover would need to be made. It became a no brainer to rebuild. Parts were/are the biggest obstacle to overcome. Many came from a company in Italy that had come by the Hurth manufacturing tools. My rebuild cost $1600.00 including parts, labor and a new damper plate that while not worn to the point of concern was out of the boat, so why not hedge against any immediate issues...

 

[Ward H]

@Hayden Watson, Videos were very helpful in understanding how the tranny works and what's involved in a rebuild.
I considered doing the rebuild myself but I'm in the middle of several non-sailing related projects so I'll have a shop do the rebuild.

@dlochner Thanks for the recommendation. I spoke with Rick and will be taking the tranny up to his shop next week. He'll also supply me with a new damper plate if needed.

This rebuild will be more costly than a new tranny but I'd rather have a drop in, rebuilt, tranny than a new tranny and opening up the rabbit hole of modifications that will entail. I normally enjoy that kind of challenge but this year I'd rather be sailing.

Thanks All

 

[dlochner]

@dlochner Thanks for the recommendation. I spoke with Rick and will be taking the tranny up to his shop next week. He'll also supply me with a new damper plate if needed.

Ward, you're welcome. When I had to replace my transmission he was helpful even though he did not get the job. He helped me find a new transmission.

Get a new damper plate. Replacing them while the transmission is off is easy. Replacing them after the transmission is reinstalled is a PITA.

The extras required for a new transmission can add up. When we replaced ours it needed a new mounting plate, new shift cable, and new flange. That added several hundred dollars to the cost. Replacing the flange was tough to accept as the past spring I had just installed a new split flange. Which if you don't have, get one, makes installing and removing the prop shaft much easier, worth every penny even if you have to buy 2.

 

[Ward H]

When we replaced ours it needed a new mounting plate, new shift cable, and new flange. That added several hundred dollars to the cost. Replacing the flange was tough to accept as the past spring I had just installed a new split flange. Which if you don't have, get one, makes installing and removing the prop shaft much easier, worth every penny even if you have to buy 2.

A new damper plate is a no brainer.

Yep, if I went with a new tranny I see needing all of that, plus a new shaft cause I'll won't get the flange off and while that is out a new cutlass bearing and new bellows for the PSS shaft seal.

As it is I may replace the engine mounts while I'm lifting the engine to reinstall the tranny. That may be another thread topic.

 

[dlochner]

A new damper plate is a no brainer.

Yep, if I went with a new tranny I see needing all of that, plus a new shaft cause I'll won't get the flange off and while that is out a new cutlass bearing and new bellows for the PSS shaft seal.

As it is I may replace the engine mounts while I'm lifting the engine to reinstall the tranny. That may be another thread topic.

Now that the transmission is out of the way, it will never be easier to replace the flange and the bellows.

Last spring I used a flange puller. The diameter was a little large for the space I was working in, however that was fixed with an angle grinder and cut off wheel. It was worth every penny.

Buck Algonquin 5 inch 50MCP00500 Flange Puller

5 inch 50MCP00500 Flange Puller

www.deepblueyachtsupply.com

 

[Ward H]

Update
@lehighsail and I took the tranny and damper plate up to Rick Neary of East Coast Marine Transmissions yesterday. Rick took the time to open up the HBW-50 in front of us so I could see what failed. He showed us the good, bad and ugly. Mostly bad and ugly.
Note: Engine has close to 800 hours on it. I've put only 180 hours on it over 4 seasons.

The good:
The damper plate looked very young. Only a few spots of surface rust on the springs. It obviously had been recently changed. No need for a new one.

The Bad:
While removing the nuts/bolts holding the case together Rick commented that all of them appeared to be only snug. They did not stress his impact driver at all. He said apparently the tranny had been apart before and we knew it had been removed as the damper plate was almost new.

The first observation was the discoloration of the bearings, gear and clutch assembly (left side in the photo) from severe overheating compared to the reverse gear side.



The disc carrier actually had some blue discoloration from the heat. During my ownership the tranny oil was always at the proper level. Rick felt there was another reason that allowed the clutches to start slipping badly, then it overheated.

When Rick went to press off the shaft components most slipped right off, another sign of high heat.
Then he found the probable cause of the failure. The thrust washer appeared to have been installed backwards. When new one side of the thrust washer has a bronze wear coating on it because it slips on a gear, the other side does not have the wear coating as it sits against a bearing . On this one the bronze side had almost no wear (1st photo below) and the non bronze side was deeply grooved.(2nd photo below) That excessive wear allowed slop in the clutch plates so they slipped badly.




Rick took about 45 minutes with Stu and I, discussing what we found and possible causes for the failure. He even noted high wear on the shifting yoke and felt this tranny had been abused in it's earlier years.

He's concerned that the major components that show signs of being overheated will shorten the life of the rebuild. He said he has plenty of good spare parts and even a couple of used HBW-50s . When we left he was considering rebuilding one of the used ones he had in the shop for me, instead of trusting mine after the abuse it took.

I'm confident I'll get back a good running transmission when Rick gets done.

 

[sailme88]

PO probably knew of the problems when selling the boat. Did a half repair to pass survey. When I was in high school took my brother in law with me to look at a car. Before starting he pulled, checked and smelt the engine oil.. The pulled the transmission dipstick.. Looked at it, felt it and said let's go.. As we left he said that 50 weight gear oil had been added to the transmission oil... just enough to get by....not saying that this happened to you, but your description of conditions certainly supports a transmission service with hap hazard work..