My CD30 has a Universal 18 and for the life of me I can't figure how to get to the transmission dip stick. Any suggestions would help.
jnewt@oakeselectric.com
Checking Transmission Fluid
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Checking Transmission Fluid
Jim,
Just did this. Forget about climbing down into the Port or Starboard lazzerette. The easiest way is to carefully lean over the front of the engine, having placed a floodlight to illuminate the area first, take an appropriate sized socket wrench with you, and reach down and unscrew the dipstick. It ain't pretty, you will tear up a hand or two, but I find that it easiest to do it this way.
Also, if you have to adjust the stuffing box, get an approx. 18" piece of 1/2" electrical conduit, reach in over the top of the engine, place the tube on the locking nut and tap it with a small sledge hammer(I use a 5# sledge). Unlock the nut, and then tighten up the stuffing box with a tap or two. The flood light helps a lot in lighting up this area also.
I"ll not crawl into the bildge again, I always ended up upside down and backwards trying to figure out what the H#%% I was doing in there! One day I asked the yard to adjust the stuffing box, and the yard lead mechanic came down, tapped the adjuster just as I described, and I learned a lot for a little cash!
By the way, I think if I remember right, you check the fluid level with the dipstick UNSCREWED!
Hope this helps.......
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30 (with Universal 18)
Just did this. Forget about climbing down into the Port or Starboard lazzerette. The easiest way is to carefully lean over the front of the engine, having placed a floodlight to illuminate the area first, take an appropriate sized socket wrench with you, and reach down and unscrew the dipstick. It ain't pretty, you will tear up a hand or two, but I find that it easiest to do it this way.
Also, if you have to adjust the stuffing box, get an approx. 18" piece of 1/2" electrical conduit, reach in over the top of the engine, place the tube on the locking nut and tap it with a small sledge hammer(I use a 5# sledge). Unlock the nut, and then tighten up the stuffing box with a tap or two. The flood light helps a lot in lighting up this area also.
I"ll not crawl into the bildge again, I always ended up upside down and backwards trying to figure out what the H#%% I was doing in there! One day I asked the yard to adjust the stuffing box, and the yard lead mechanic came down, tapped the adjuster just as I described, and I learned a lot for a little cash!
By the way, I think if I remember right, you check the fluid level with the dipstick UNSCREWED!
Hope this helps.......
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30 (with Universal 18)
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will parker
Re: Checking Transmission Fluid
Because of the location of the heat exchanger just over the dip stick for the transmission, I found that I could not remove the dipstick without removing the heat exchanger. This is not an insignificant chore. Then, of course, you must pump out the old transmission fluid. Next, you need to insert a funnel to replace the old with new fluid. I found that the bracket which supports the heat exchanger almost prevented using the funnel.
Thank heavens one does not have to replace the transmission fluid as often as replacing the engine oil.
Will
"Jambalaya"
CD 30 w/Universal 18
whildenp@flinet.com
Thank heavens one does not have to replace the transmission fluid as often as replacing the engine oil.
Will
"Jambalaya"
CD 30 w/Universal 18
Jim Newton wrote: My CD30 has a Universal 18 and for the life of me I can't figure how to get to the transmission dip stick. Any suggestions would help.
whildenp@flinet.com