Lately, I've been noticing a couple of issues with what sound like my transmission on my m-35.
The most alarming noise is one that happens when I'm motoring along, and suddenly my engine winds out at a much higher rpm (as though it suddenly went into neutral). Usually, I back off to idle, shift in neutral, and then put it back in gear, and everything is fine again. Seems to happen at higher rpms. Has this phenomenon ever happened to anyone with the same engine?
The second thing I have noticed is that when I reverse out of my slip (and continue reversing until I'm out of my entire dock area) I have begun to hear rattling or popping-like noises that sound like they are either coming from the transmission or perhaps the rudder. I have never noticed them before, so I'm assuming this is something new.
Anybody have any experience with either or both of these two issues???
Thanks a bunch--Joel S.
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California
Sounds like the damper is going out
Bill Miller
S/V Lorraine
Pacific Northwest,Sound Sound
Grapeview,Wa
1990 Mk1
Engine speeding up- Is your throttle cable binding on something? Maybe look for kinks or tight bends? Only other thing I can think of is to check that the prop shaft is securely attached to the shaft flange- if it was slipping in the rotating flange, I would think the load would be partially relieved from the engine and hence it might speed up a bit- but your boat would also slow down a bit. Just a couple of guesses.
Rattling transmission- check the tech area on this web site- lots of info on rattling "damper plates" in the bell housing. I think the damper plate is a clutch with some springs that loosen up with time. Sounds like it's repairable if you're
comfortable pulling the transmission out. Ours is noisy in neutral but under load it immediately quiets right down.I'm going to hold off doing anything until it gets much worse
Good luck
Paul Keyser
C 36 MK II Hull #2257
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
Hey Joel.
The first sound you have mentioned I have had happen to us the last two winters aboard our boat. As you mentioned yes it is alarming but I have never looked at the rpm's to see if they went up. I do as you do. De power / shift to neutral then power back up. I can tell you it is not your shaft coupling nor your damper plate or prop. At least on mine. When we left our boat for the summer months I brought the bell housing and tranny home with me so I could rebuild it myself. I am suspecting it might be the friction dusk in the tranny are starting to get bad. Once I tear into it I will know more. Right now it is on my list of to do things along with the home list .
Randy Sherwood
Mutualfun 1990 # 1057
T/R W/K M35a
Home. Charlotte, Mi.
Boat. St Augustine,Fl.
Just out of curiosity, how difficult would you say it is for a rookie grease-monkey like myself to pull the transmission and take it home? Are there any special tools involved? Most of my tools are contained in a Crescent set I bought from Costco!
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California
I removed and reinstalled mine and it took about 2 hours each time. You'll need to expand your tool kit, though, as crescent wrenches won't help.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Cresent wrenches are the natural enemy of nut and bolt heads; especially adjustable wrenches. 1/2" sockets will make the job much easier. I'd agree with Larry, about 2 hours each way.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Does the 2 hours include aligning the shaft? And what is allowed tolerance - 0.03" or 0.02" ?
Haro Bayandorian, 1999 C36 MKII, Sail La Vie #1787, M35B,
Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA.
Before pulling the transmission please check the control rigging. Remove the cable rod end and you will feel a positive detent when the control arm makes forward, neutral and reverse. If the cable does not push the lever to the full detent, the transmission can slip to neutral and give the symptom you have.
It would be a royal pain to remove the transmission, overhaul or replace only to reinstall and find you have the same issue due to control rigging.
These transmissions are fairly robust, like a clutch once they start slipping they keep slipping and get worse rapidly. If your symptoms are random or occasional, I would suspect rigging.
Steve
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas
Excellent suggestion, Steve!
PS, as an FYI, my 100 pc Crescent tool set also came with sockets, mechanical screw driver with tons of bits, needle nose pliers, alan keys, etc, etc. So from what I'm hearing, I have enough tools too pull my tranny....if I needed to. I'm not defending my little tool set, I'm just sayin' :o)
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California
Joel,
On my boat the gear lever hits the binical gaurd in Forward as I recall. If the arm has been reindexed or if the cable has slipped, you may not be getting full gear engagement.
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas