Gearbox oil

[Neil]

When I bought the boat in 2012, it had just been fitted with a new Beta14, gearbox, exhaust and fuel tank. The engine service page noted that the gearbox oil had been changed at 25hr and there is no other checkbox for gearbox oil. I just came across the manual for the gearbox, which asks for the oil to be changed every year. Does anybody do that? Can't remember when I last changed the gear oil on my car, actually never?

 

[doug748]

I change the gearbox oil every three years on my 20hp job. Technodrive gearbox, ATF oil.

The maintenance schedule, section 2 in the Operators Manual, actually specifies every 750 hours.

 

[nathanglasgow]

Oil is cheap,gearboxes are expensive.We change the engine oil and gearbox oil in our wee Beta 13.5hp every year.Gearbox takes less than a third of a litre of AFT.Simple to do,just suck it out with length of tubing and a big syringe or outboard type fuel line pump.

 

[cryan]

Check the correct oil to use. ATF might be to thin for some gearboxes. All oil majors will produce the correct grade of oil specifically for gearboxes. I tend to use Shell because I'm familiar with their range but castrol, mobil , texaco etc all do the same.

 

[scottie]

You only change it to inspect the oil for traces of water or other contamination such as swarf from burnt or slipping plates etc the oil itself will not deteriorate over 12 months or a lot longer
Discolouration is one of the first signs of problems.

 

[Neil]

What's AFT? The gearbox manual doesn't seem to specify a specific lubricant, not that I could see anyway - I'll have another careful read.

 

[RAI]

ATF - Automatic Transmission Fluid, I believe. You do need to get the right oil. Some gearboxes run on engine type oil.

 

[cryan]

A quick email or phone call to the manufacturer should get the answers you need.

 

[Tranona]

What's AFT? The gearbox manual doesn't seem to specify a specific lubricant, not that I could see anyway - I'll have another careful read.

Pretty sure you have a TMC gearbox and the operator's manual very clearly states ATF - in fact every little drawing related to oil has a little oil can graphic with ATF alongside it. Oil change after first 30 hours then every 500 hours.

 

[Colvic Watson]

That's 2,500 miles motoring - it lasts a long time!

 

[Hydrozoan]

Oil is cheap,gearboxes are expensive.We change the engine oil and gearbox oil in our wee Beta 13.5hp every year.Gearbox takes less than a third of a litre of AFT.Simple to do,just suck it out with length of tubing and a big syringe or outboard type fuel line pump.

+1 I usually use the drain plug but it's a bit of a nuisance to get a plastic tray under it, so I'll try your syringe approach next time as the volume is indeed so small - thanks. One point with our gearbox is to remember to use the dipstick without threading it in, otherwise you'd underfill significantly.

 

[TNT]

I advise clients that the cost of not changing it is a no brainer.........£5.00 V's 2k+ for a new gearbox

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

When you contact the manufacturer have the serial number of the gearbox handy because sometimes they change from ATF to engine oil (or vice versa) for the same model of box.

 

[Neil]

Its a TwinDisc Technodrive (TMC 40P:maybe?) and the manual has a pictogram of an oilcan with ATF inscribed inside......Doh!

 

[LittleSister]

What's AFT? The gearbox manual doesn't seem to specify a specific lubricant, not that I could see anyway - I'll have another careful read.

It tells you which gearbox oil in the Beta manual, page 20, which you can download from the Beta website - here's a link http://www.betamarine.co.uk/seagoing/beta14/beta14he.html

 

[robertg1]

I came across this thread because I was looking for which specification of ATF to use in my TMC40P gearbox and could not find the answer. Just telephoned Beta and they told me to use Dexron II or Dexron III.

 

[Latestarter1]

That's 2,500 miles motoring - it lasts a long time!

No clue why OP is making any comparisons with automotive applications,......Mechanical marine transmission with a wet clutch.

Oil spec is certainly in operators manual.