Transmission service on Universal M25XP

[armandolio]

1989 Catalina 30.
My gear shifter has been increasingly hard to handle. It takes two hands to put boat in gear. Then I noticed that it would take more than one attempt for the transmission to go into gear. I lubricated both ends of the cable (binnacle and transmission). Then I removed the transmission dipstick and found minimal evidence of oil.

I found nothing about transmission service in the manual. Have only owned the boat for 6 months.

Pls share your thoughts and suggestions. Is lack of oil the problem? What do I use and how much?

 

[Stu Jackson]

There is a lot of engine info in this link for transmissions and everything else you're going to ask about your engine:

http://c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Diesel_Engine

Use Dexron. If you don't know what's in there, suck it out through the top (the bottom has a non-reusable crush washer), and start over with new fluid.

Transmissions particularly this one:

Transmission Fluid 101 - link to the message board: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6417.0.html

 

[armandolio]

Stu,
Thanks for pointing me in the general direction. Clearly, I have ignored my transmission.

I did not find any specific info on the Catalina 30. I looked all through catalina30.com.

If anyone has any details regarding how much oil to put in, it would be appreciated.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I sent you a pm.

You do not put OIL into it, you install transmission fluid.

 

[mortyd]

call hurth transmissions, they are good.

 

[fortitude]

I had the same shifting problem with my 89 cat. Routine transmission servicing is important. Follow Stu's advice and check out the link he furnished, lots of info in one place. I lubed both ends of the cable also, and had no gains. Had the cable (probably original) replaced, and now shift effortlessly with two fingers! Hope this helps.
Bill.

 

[bobcat30]

Transmission

I had a problem 5 years ago. I checked the fluid and it was black. had to have the transmission rebuilt. That was the cheapest part of the job. So far, so good.
I check the fluid every time I use the boat. Overkill but I check th eoil so why not the Trans. Yes, any good ATF is acceptable.

BobCat30..

 

[armandolio]

bobcat,
How much was the damage for a transmission rebuild?

 

[FastOlson]

IIRC the M25XP uses a Hurth model 50 trans, and it takes about 10 oz of high-quality ATF.
I use Amsoil synthetic atf in ours, but any good brand should do.
And if Stu advises anything different, listen to him and not me! 'Cause he be de head guru....


Loren

 

[armandolio]

Gents,
I installed the transmission fluid per all your instructions (especially Stu's). I tested the shifter while still in the slip. I detected that it was smoother, but still far from easy to move. It did go into gear right away. I will be able to test further come the weekend.

If the shifter is still hard to handle, what suggestions do you have?

 

[fortitude]

Tied to your slip, if you can remove the attachment from the shifting arm on the trans., start the engine and try shifting the transmission by moving the arm to forward and reverse. If it shifts easily, you probably need a new cable.
Bill.

 

[armandolio]

Fortitude,
I tried the procedure you suggested, except I forgot to turn on the engine. The movement of the arm directly at the transmission was smooth. Might the result have been different had the engine been running?

If the movement of the arm is smooth (regardless of engine status), as you suggested, this points to the cable. I checked 90% of the cable's path and it appeared to be nice and loose and not caught on anything. Does the cable get damaged inside the sheath? If not caught on anything, what happens to the cable to inhibit the operation of the lever?

 

[Nom De Guerre]

Fortitude,
I tried the procedure you suggested, except I forgot to turn on the engine. The movement of the arm directly at the transmission was smooth. Might the result have been different had the engine been running?

If the movement of the arm is smooth (regardless of engine status), as you suggested, this points to the cable. I checked 90% of the cable's path and it appeared to be nice and loose and not caught on anything. Does the cable get damaged inside the sheath? If not caught on anything, what happens to the cable to inhibit the operation of the lever?

The cable can bind on the corrosion that is created in the metal cable sheath from moisture over time.

 

[rbjenterprises]

On my C30, 1989, the shifter was almost impossible to move without a lot of force, fun for docking! I checked trans fluid level, a bit low so I topped it off. No change. Disconnected cable from trans. Trans shifts easily, shift lever moves easily. It appeared that under load the cable binds in its sheath. I ordered a new cable from Catalina Direct, problem gone, shifts like new. What I discovered on the old cable was a dime sized wear area where it had rubbed up against the fuel tank. The plastic sheathing had rubbed away allowing water intrusion followed by rust.

 

[jimmcgee]

Mine isn't as bad as Armandolio's but has been getting gradually stiffer.

For those who've installed the new cable, any advice on fishing the new one through beyond securing it really well to the old cable?

 

[mortyd]

i had the same problem badly but solved it by cleaning the linkages at the transmission. free and easy is probably worth trying.

 

[armandolio]

On my C30, 1989, the shifter was almost impossible to move without a lot of force, fun for docking! I checked trans fluid level, a bit low so I topped it off. No change. Disconnected cable from trans. Trans shifts easily, shift lever moves easily. It appeared that under load the cable binds in its sheath. I ordered a new cable from Catalina Direct, problem gone, shifts like new. What I discovered on the old cable was a dime sized wear area where it had rubbed up against the fuel tank. The plastic sheathing had rubbed away allowing water intrusion followed by rust.

RBJ,
What length cable did you use on your 1989 Catalina 30? Catalinadirect.com seem hedge their bets by recommending a length, but at the same time telling you to measure the old one. I am having a mechanic do the work and don't want having to come to the boat twice.

 

[Stu Jackson]

RBJ,
What length cable did you use on your 1989 Catalina 30? Catalinadirect.com seem hedge their bets by recommending a length, but at the same time telling you to measure the old one. I am having a mechanic do the work and don't want having to come to the boat twice.

Of course you don't, gee, the mechanic and then you, too.

What's so hard to understand?

telling you to measure the old one

I am sorry to have to share this with you, but it seems you haven't quite gotten it yet.

Ach, I give up.

OH, RTFM.

Do any others of you get tired of these kinda posts?

 

[fortitude]

Me too, Stu.
Bill.

 

[mortyd]

stu, i have no idea why but it seems every third post or so is somebody incapable of calling a manufacturer, or finding their phone number.