Westerbeke JS tranny. No cooling?

[Chris Patterson]

I have the aforementioned Westerbeke 30B Three, w/ JS gearbox. In the tech manual, it shows cooling hoses run to it; but mine doesn't. Nor does it look like it has ever been. The connections are there on the tranny, but....no hose.
So, will this be acceptable? Instinct tells me that it should be plumbed up. But I was hoping the Westerbeke guru would be reading this and chime in. Or ANY opinions for that matter. Thanks in advance.

 

[kloudie1]

On a Catalina 22?
How old/many hours on the engine/trans? Does the transmission oil look dark and smell a little cooked? If so then I'd hook it up.. in line, cut the line to the exhaust ell and splice the cooler in series , back to the ell.. in other words, the water that is all going to the exhaust mixing ell should all go through the trans cooler before going to the elbow. Check the cooler for leaks and obstructions prior to messing with it since those may be reasons it is disconnected..

 

[tkanzler]

I can't speak to marine transmission design in particular, but on industrial drives, reducers are rated in terms of torque, AND thermal considerations. Often, there is a thermal limit without cooling, and a higher one with cooling.

Getting your hands (or eyes) on the tranny specs would probably be the best course of action. But if it doesn't appear to be burning the oil, or causing premature seal failure (common symptom of excessive temps in hydraulic equipment, for instance), then it's probably not something to worry about.

But do try to get the thermal specs, in terms of continuous power through-put at speed.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Mmhmm. Well, in my opinion, the oil wasn't very pretty that I took out. It probably never is, so..
But I haven't put this boat in yet, I'm still doing my refit. But since I already have the raw water cooler off of it, and several other things that in my opinion should be addressed prior launch, I noticed the hoses weren't plumbed up.
And, sorry. It's not on a C22, it's an Ericson. I have a 22 that I putter about on, and just never changed the bio. As my associates put it, "part of the fleet". I take a lot of ragging about my boat addiction...