Hurth vs Twin Disc Transmissions

Yofy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2008

I am in the process of installing a new (to me) Nanni diesel engine on Yofy. I need to purchase a new transmission for the engine and am looking at two possibilities: either the HURTH HBW150 or the TMC 40 (or 60) transmission. Both are compatible for my engine and my boat, as well as both being recommended by Nanni.

In the future, we will be doing a fair bit of motoring as we hope to sail down the Red Sea and through the Suez Cannal to the Med. Even without the cannal, it's a passage with a fair bit of motoring into heavy winds and seas.

Does anybody have any feedback or experience as to which gear would be more reliable in those conditions?

Manny

Yofy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

No one? ... I've googled each transmission and from what I can find it would seem that Hurth is considerd a better gear. But maybe I'm just finding biased sources...

Manny

Stillraining · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

I can only tell you what a respected mechanic told me ..thats all OK..he said Hurth is on the light side as far as robustness...compared to what... I did not think to ask..However you can buy a new one almost as cheap as rebuilding one about 2400.00 US.

I have the 150 I believe

PS: I thought for sure I was going to have to rebuild/replace mine..it worked horribly during sea trials...I ran out of $$ so left it alone..The more I use it the better It seems to get...and for what it's worth it was flushed with straight diesel... sat pickled that way for 10 months... drained and then re-loaded with ATF..works a lot better now...Im not advocating this for you or anyone else just telling you what was done to mine. It aint leaking anywhere yet...what was once thought a loss has now found a second wind.

donradclife · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008

For what its worth, the Beta people said that they have stopped supplying the hurth transmission with their engines due to some problems. My Beta 50 has a twin disc TMC 260--no problems whatever in the first 450 hours. My old Perkins 4108 had a hurth--it had leaked and had new seals before I inherited it at 1250 hours, then it hesitated going into reverse at about 2000 hours. Once rebuilt, it lasted another 3500 hours without more problems.

Yofy · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Thanks for the responses.

My old ruggerini engine had a Hurth transmission which I need to replace anyhow. So I'm looking to buy new. I got a good deal on the engine and I am OK with spending the money.

I had the thought that if I got another Hurth I might be able to rebuild my old transmission as a spare backup... not sure how important that would be...on the other hand mechanics here have recommended Twin Disc...

It is beginning to sound like either one could be just as good...

Manny

Stillraining · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Spare parts are nice to have..but more then likely if the new one goes bad it will be the same parts that fail/ware out...

donradclife · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008

Talked to a the transmission repair guy at the boat show today and posed your question--he said he would buy the hurth, because he has a terrible time getting parts for the twin discs. He has been quoted as long as 28 weeks delivery time for some parts.

Rockter · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008

I worked in the Gulf of Suez for a few years, and I can tell you that the wind either blows down it, or doesn't blow at all. In all those yesrs, I never yet saw the wind blow from the south, or with a southerly component.

There were days of flat calm, and blazing heat. You might get lucky for some of the trip.

Piracy is a big problem in the south end of the Red Sea as you know.

donradclife · #9 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008

Actually, I charged up the first half of the Gulf of Suez in a 25 knot southerly, which changed to an ugly 30 knot northerly about 9 at night. You can get occasional northerly winds in the Red Sea during the winter months as lows move across the Med, but accurate weather forecasts are tough to get.

Piracy is not much a problem in the south of the Red Sea--its the Gulf of Aden which is the trouble spot.

Yofy · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

donradclife thanks so much for posing my question at the boat show. Getting parts... now there's something I hadn't considerd and I don't know why because finding parts is a real issue over here.

I'm slowly moving towards the Hurth I think. I've been looking at both transmission specs and it looks like the twin disc will be a little big for my engine compartment. By now I see that there is lots to consider; like how each transmission will sit and engine alignment, etc as well.

I've transited the Suez a couple of times and always had lots of northerly winds just like you experienced Rockter. However, my neighbour two boats down did a north - south transit two years ago and had flat calms! A 25 knot southerly would be a dream come true...It's possible if you get south winds down by the strait of Suez. We're preparing ourselves for 45 knots on the nose because that's what most folks get, but we'll be watching the weather when the time comes.

We're at the north end of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba. No piracy here and lovely prevailing offshore winds. We're really kind of spoiled.