Deglazing cone clutch in situ with diesel?

[Mirage Aft]

The cone clutch is slipping in my old Volvo MS3B gearbox. I read a post somewhere that suggested draining the gearbox oil, filling it with diesel, shifting several times from forward to reverse, emptying the diesel out and filling again with the correct oil.

I am thinking that this might be worth a try before removing and stripping down the gearbox. It might just take enough of the glaze off the cones.

Any thoughts? Has anyone tried this?

 

[simonfraser]

Bet that is not in the manual, if you wish to try it please let us know the outcome

realy, don't, sort it properly or get a boat with an outboard engine, much easier to fix / maintain

 

[stelican]

The OPs boat is 41years old so has done very well probably on the original engine and gearbox.
Aft cabin Fairline Mirage hard to find a similar quality boat with outboard power.
Best option repair the gearbox.

 

[oldgit]

Do not be tempted by tales of getting the cone "machined"
A few years ago a skipper came on the forum with reverse gear problems, newly purchased boat with aggro engaging forward and
astern , box was removed and some "work" carried out locally but problem still there.
Persuaded by some outfit or other (in Essex? ) that the cone was the problem and could be reground ?
The gearbox was removed again, dismantled and the cone sent off for refurbishment, not that cheaply from memory, it was eventually returned and refitted, course it not make a blind bit of difference and the problem was still there.

In the end a entirely new reverse gearbox was apparently fitted at considerable expence and faffing, and no more was heard, think the poor owner had enough and given up.
A few years later helped to bring back a boat from Dover along with its new owner, enroute balancing RPM of both engines never quite felt right.
A glance down in the engine compartment on return indicated both a MS4 and a ZF/Hurth gearbox lurking side by side.
Shame who ever did the job did not alter prop pitch on the new gearbox.

Repair that old box , do it properly and sort it once only ?