Hurth transmission replacement ... again!

[cscheck]

Replacing the Hurth transmission on the Universal diesel ... there's something no one should have to do twice in one lifetime!
Funny thing is ... mine wore out after about 15 years. We paid a very patient and good natured mechanic to pull the trans and install a rebuilt one. Now it's been about 20 more years and guess what ... tranny is slipping again. It takes about 20 seconds to engage forward after you move the lever. Not fun in a crowded anchorage.
I've had a different mechanic look at it this time, and he told me it needs to be replaced again with a new one, or a rebuild. It's not just out of oil. He also says it isnt due to a misadjustment of the shifting cable. I'm wondering, who else has done this repair? How did you diagnose it, and how did the job turn out?
Thanks.

[Frenchy]

Hi Chris, this probably is not the cause; that is overfilling of the transmission oil. When I overfilled the Hurth,
even just a little, I got the symptoms you describe. After shifting, it took a good 10 seconds or so before it would engage. So, anyway, it's something you could look at and eliminate as a possible cause. - Jean

[Paul D.]

I have this same issue starting with our transmission that was new in '98. Has anyone done this project without taking out the motor? I'd be interested in any experience with working on these transmissions - new vs rebuild, tips for removing and installation, who is a good rebuilder, etc. Thanks.

[Tom Keevil]

Paul, we changed our transmission with the boat in the water back in 2006. It died when we off the Oregon Coast, and sailing into Newport over the bar at dawn, with no engine is one of our more memorable experiences.

At any rate, it can be done, but only if you have someone of suitable size and temperment to crawl back in there. That would be my wife Jean, who essentially did all of the work. You must remove the bell housing, and as I recall, it was a typical situation where all the bolts came off except one. We borrowed an industrial impact driver from a local guy that did the job. Jean loved it, she thought it must be what a machine gun is like.

106 Jean in Rover Engine Compartment.JPG

As long as we had it open, we also replaced the damper plate. The project is doable, but not trivial. There was not enough space to the shaft coupling to simply pull it off, so we unbolted the engine and raised the rear up with block and tackles. That, of course, had its own set of problems to solve. The exhaust system had to be removed, and we discovered that the riser was rusted and falling apart, so that was replaced as well. If the boat was out of the water you could probably remove the propeller shaft, and have room enough to pull it off. Measure it.

Getting it back together was frustrating, because it is very heavy, and the splined shaft has to be perfectly aligned to go in. It took a long time, and we were about to quit in despair when it just slid in easy as can be.

The whole job took about three weeks I think, but we were 275 miles from home, had to go home to work on occasion, and had to wait for parts.

Two years ago we removed the transmission from our Beta 25, and it took an afternoon. The difference was the extra space you get from the smaller engine. We had it repaired at the shop the next morning, and were on our way the next day. We removed it ourselves to have it done quickly. If we wanted someone to come to the boat and remove it, it would have taken forever.

[mgphl52]

Tom, You are very lucky to have such a talented and cute mechanic!

[Paul D.]

Thanks Tom, that is great info. I adjusted my linkage at the pedestal and I think we are good to go.