forward gear

[suse]

After many vissisitudes re: elderly gear box/gears, forward gear engages when on the bench, but doesnt when on the boat. This causes a great deal of excitement when away from the marina, as you can imagine.

What could possibly cause this problem? A friend suggested there might be some distortion when the gear box is on the boat, but none on the bench. Might this be the problem? any other suggestions?

I dont think the maker of the engine/gear box is now relevant, as I think it's a physical problem, but it's an elderly Volvo MB2A (I think)

Thanks in advance.

Suse

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[Johnjo]

On some gearboxes the shaft needs to be able to to slide forward in the tube to allow
it to engage, could check that there is the clearance needed for this to happen.
check that the prop is not running against the cutlass bearing.

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[david_bagshaw]

Are you certain that there is true drive on the bench? ie does it slip when there is power applied.

does the engagement / system / lever make its full travel on board?

<hr width=100% size=1>David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>

 

[mikesharp]

A silly question but could it be the morse cable? Have you checked that the throw of the lever on the gearbox is equal for forward and reverse?

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[dickh]

The best way to check if it is the cable, is to disconnect it at the gearbox and manually move the lever. If it engages both forward and reverse then it's a problem with the cable. All this is for a Hurth g/box, don't know about the Volvo.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif