New Beta 30 Questions - Especially for Tranona

[gavin400]

Hi,

I know Tranona is currently installing the same engine hence thread title

I'm not sure if I have installed the gear selector cable correctly (see photo)- should the clamp be in the recess of the cable?
The clamp has a raised 'lip' on the inside face that suggests it should maybe sit in the recess in the cable
If so, my cable is slightly too long as moving the cable down slightly then engages gear even though the gear selector is in neutral
I cant adjust the connector at the engine end as it is a Beta fitting that screws onto the end of the cable - but I could cut a bit off the cable end (the threaded bit) to suit and thus make the cable slightly shorter
The gears do select/operate with the cable as currently attached butbit doesnt seem right
I have fitted the throttle cable with the clamp in the recess

Also, does anyone know what the bolt on top of the gearbox is for (see photo) - the Beta manual doesnt seem to note this

Many thanks

 

[skip50]

The bolt on top of the gearbox is a breather, to allow for expansion and contraction of the ‘oil’, actually ATF. Otherwise I think the seals could be compromised. Just had a TMC60A fitted this winter, together with a Beta 30.

 

[scottie]

The cable should not be clamped as the photo but with the clamp over the slot in the cable end
normally the gear cable is set with the box in neutral

 

[BabaYaga]

I cant adjust the connector at the engine end as it is a Beta fitting that screws onto the end of the cable - but I could cut a bit off the cable end (the threaded bit) to suit and thus make the cable slightly shorter

Could you not adjust the cable length at the other end – at the control lever mechanism?
I would not cut anything...

 

[DownWest]

Ah, had the same prob with a 16. Just made a small plate that moved the clamp up a bit. As in, two bolts to hold the plate to the mount and two more so the clamp correctly held the cable. It was a exchange for a Yanmar 2GM20 and the gear lever action was reversed, so swopped the attachments in the gear lever unit. No prob, once you look at it. No option to adjust the length there.

 

[gavin400]

Many thanks all

 

[doug748]

It's worth making double sure that the gearbox rests in the fully neutral position. There have been premature failures of the TMC box which some folk have suggested might be due in part to inaccurate setting of the lever.

Beta used to suggest changing the gearbox oil every 750 hours which may be about every 3 years of yacht use. This may have changed and it's probably good policy anyway to change it every year.

.

 

[Tranona]

Just seen this. Think your questions have been answered. As it happens I have changed my gearbox because when I double checked all the specs I realised that the TMC40 was close to its limits with the 2.65:1 reduction, plus reading various reports of premature failure due to clutch slip. Phone call to Beta and swapped to a PRM 90 which is a far more robust bit of kit . Slightly different reduction ratio at 2.5:1 meaning my prop will be slightly too steep pitch, but I can always change it - easy to do with a Featherstream.

 

[gregcope]

Hi @Tranona what Featherstream are you using/go for?

 

[gavin400]

Now Im worried about my gearbox!

Just seen this. Think your questions have been answered. As it happens I have changed my gearbox because when I double checked all the specs I realised that the TMC40 was close to its limits with the 2.65:1 reduction, plus reading various reports of premature failure due to clutch slip. Phone call to Beta and swapped to a PRM 90 which is a far more robust bit of kit . Slightly different reduction ratio at 2.5:1 meaning my prop will be slightly too steep pitch, but I can always change it - easy to do with a Featherstream.

 

[doug748]

I would not worry excessively, mine has lasted 15 years so far.

Also good news that Beta will sell you a new TMC gearbox for £700 - which is about the cost of a tin of touch up paint for some engines.

 

[gavin400]

Beta advised me the TMC 40 was 2:1 reduction?

 

[graham]

Theres lots of good information on here and there is a beta marine owners face book group which some beta marine engineers sometimes contribute to.

 

[Tranona]

Beta advised me the TMC 40 was 2:1 reduction?

Yes, That is the most common reduction, but I need a bigger reduction so that I can use a 17" diameter propeller. With the shaft speed you get with a 2:1 the normal prop is 15" 3 blade, although you might stretch to a 16". The beauty of a Featherstream is that the blade area of the 17" blades is significantly bigger than 16" and the pitch can be adjusted more accurately than a fixed blade. You can also have a different pitch in reverse which is helpful if you have a box like the TMC40 which has the same 2:1 in reverse even when you have the 2.65:1 option. This suits my boat which is heavy with a wide long keel and the aim is to get as much blade area out in clean waterflow.

With regard to ratings with the 2.65 reduction the maximum input rating at 3000rpm is 22kW against 20 the Beta 30 produces. With the 2:1 it is higher at 26kW against an engine rating of 22 at 3600rpm. The maximum with the PRM is 29kW at 3600 rpm.

So your 2;1 has a much bigger margin of capacity.

The TMC60 is an option but that is a much bigger and the one to suit my boat would have a rating of 38kW. However it is very bulky and has a bigger drop to the output which would have put the engine higher on the beds making what was already a problem with fitting the exhaust even more difficult.

 

[Tranona]

Hi @Tranona what Featherstream are you using/go for?

As in the post above I have gone for 17" with 11" pitch in forward and lower in reverse. Originally much lower because of the big differential in reverse. Probably too low now I have changed to the PRM but we are going to give it a try as the benefit if lower pitch in reverse is less aggressive at low revs and hopefully less prop walk. Actually fitting it tomorrow and hoping to launch on Friday.

 

[BB1]

Hi,

I know Tranona is currently installing the same engine hence thread title

I'm not sure if I have installed the gear selector cable correctly (see photo)- should the clamp be in the recess of the cable?
The clamp has a raised 'lip' on the inside face that suggests it should maybe sit in the recess in the cable
If so, my cable is slightly too long as moving the cable down slightly then engages gear even though the gear selector is in neutral
I cant adjust the connector at the engine end as it is a Beta fitting that screws onto the end of the cable - but I could cut a bit off the cable end (the threaded bit) to suit and thus make the cable slightly shorter
The gears do select/operate with the cable as currently attached butbit doesnt seem right
I have fitted the throttle cable with the clamp in the recess

Also, does anyone know what the bolt on top of the gearbox is for (see photo) - the Beta manual doesnt seem to note this

Many thanks

The outer cable MUST sit it the recess, you can try winding the cable in further at the hand control end also the gear lever can be moved slightly on its shaft, it's not keyed or on a spline.
If its a TMC40 you MUST replace the gear oil every season of you will end up with a lazy shifting cone very quickly, they only hold 200ml of oil.