saildrive reverse

[riojasailer]

I have a Volvo 2020 with a saldrive on my Hanse 301 which I bought last autumn and had professionally serviced. Recently I have been unable to engage reverse at the end of a day's sailing (we usually motor for about 45 minutes back up the channel to the marina) which makes berthing rather exciting. When the engine has cooled down a bit (later that evening or next morning) she drops into reverse easily with a satisfying little clunk. Has anyone any suggestions where I should look before I start to think about having her lifted out?

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[Sunnyseeker]

I dont know if its the same eproblem, but we hada saildrive(volvo) and found that if we sailed with it in gear (not turning) then it would lock up and you couldn't get it out of gear. Solution was to always sail with it spinning, then the gear lever was always free.

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[philwebb]

I know that this sounds obvious, but have you checked the oil level
in the saildrive?

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[Budgie]

Equally obvious, but have you checked the cable linkage to the gearbox?

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[charles_reed]

Sounds as though the reverse cone clutch isn't being energised, check you've taken up all the adjustment into reverse and that oil-level isn't down.

The possible alternatives require stripping.

1. the cones have become "glazed" due to overheating - strip and grind in to remove the glaze
2. the cones are worn - very unlikely, but you may be able to get them re-machined and not suffer Volvo's spares prices.

I had to strip between tides and Castletownshend - only to find (after I'd done that) the pin on the actuating level has sheared allowing just a little lost movement going into forward (I'd lost forward gear).

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[Rick]

What saildrive unit do you have? If it's a 120S, then sailing with the engine stopped and the unit in forward gear will cause the unit to stick in forward - you will not be able to select neutral or reverse. When sailing, the gear lever should be in reverse unless you have a reason to want the prop to freewheel, but never forward.

I'd have thought that the intermittent nature indicated an operation / adjustment / fluid level situation, rather than requiring a strip, but I've been wrong plenty of times before!

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