Yep, last sail of the season, we barely made it up the Housatonic to Shelton CT due to some sort of tranny issue. First smoke...smelled like a belt buring, or burt oil, tough to tell. The dipstick in the Hurth HBW50 appeared dry - can't remember the last time I check it (yikes!). We added the right ATF fluid and were able to limp at low revs (e.g. 2,000) but only at about 1.5 Kts thru the water. Reverse seemed to have full power, but my boat is impossible to steer in a straight line in reverse.
Well, long story short, 2 nerve-wracking bridge openings, 3 emergency achor deployments and 7 hours after we left New Haven, we got there.
If it matters, this is a 15 year old tranny in a 36 year old NorthStar 38, 16,000lb sloop rig with a 2-blade prop, fin keel and a clean bottom. The engine is also 15 years old - a Universal M4-30 (25 hp 4 cyl diesel.)
Now...
Is it the tranny? or the damper plates? any suggestions on the path of least resistance and cost to diagnose and fix?
Thanks all!!!
Well, long story short, 2 nerve-wracking bridge openings, 3 emergency achor deployments and 7 hours after we left New Haven, we got there.
If it matters, this is a 15 year old tranny in a 36 year old NorthStar 38, 16,000lb sloop rig with a 2-blade prop, fin keel and a clean bottom. The engine is also 15 years old - a Universal M4-30 (25 hp 4 cyl diesel.)
Now...
Is it the tranny? or the damper plates? any suggestions on the path of least resistance and cost to diagnose and fix?
Thanks all!!!