Grinding when putting in gear

[Richard10002]

Well.... we're on our way at last ... to Portugal via Falmouth! Thanks to everyone for their help... couldnt have got this far without you, (I'll try and do a more formal thank you, with details of the jobs done, in a separate post in Scuttlebutt).

Great 1st leg, but half way down the Irish Sea, when putting the engine into gear, there was a grinding or clunking noise, and it almost feels as though the engine is bouncing about. (checked the mountings whilst running and they are fine at all revs).

The noise happens as you move the gear lever, just before you get the click where it engages gear at the lowest revs, As soon as it's in gear, the noise stops, and it runs fine.

The noise happens whilst engaging forward or reverse.

MD22L Volvo with gearbox directly between engine and propshaft.

Me and the crew are thinking oil, gears, clutch.

Any ideas and possible solutions welcomed.

Many Thanks

Richard

 

[alb40]

You'll probably find its most likely the gear cable to the controls is out of adjustment, or its about to snap.

Try it without the gearcable attached.

I had the same thing with a prm 120 gearbox, which also uses a cone clutch type system.

Good luck

Alex

 

[ridgy]

Agree, I had a similar thing last year and made a similar post. It turns out that the gear cable had come off one of it's mounting points so when you tried to put it in gear, it didn't quite pull it far enough giving a grating noise as the box tried to engage. As said, disconnect the cable and try to change gear by hand...I was very relieved to find this simple solution!

 

[Richard10002]

Just started the engine, put it into forward and reverse... no problem. I'm wondering if something could have overheated as the engine room air blower isnt working.... or could it happen again, or snap, or whatever.

Anyway.. I'm going to see how easy it looks to dissconnect it, and may redo the connection.

Thanks for the help... hopefully it is something as simple as the cable, and not as complicated as the clutch.

Cheers

Richard

 

[rwoofer]

Richard,

I had exactly the same problem at the end of my 3 week cruise after about 16 hours of solid motoring. It got me very concerned. I checked the engine mounts, gearbox and everything seemed fine. Left it a day and the problem went away never to be seen again. The only possible conclusion was that the gear cable must have stiffened temporarily to cause the problem.