Getting a new ZF transmission in the US?

[BjarneK]

I need a new ZF 25 MA transmission for our boat since the one we have is not working well. I might get the old one rebuilt to have a spare. We are currently in Mexico (Yucatan), but given the trouble involved with getting parts here, I figured that we would fly to Florida and have the transmission sent to a friend there.

The trouble is that no companies seem to want to sell us such a transmission. I e-mail five different companies that have the ZF transmissions on their websites, but none of them even answered my emails (and I was polite). Do any of you have a suggestion for a company that might want to sell me a transmission? It could be anywhere in the US as long as they will ship to Florida. I prefer e-mail communication since we pay about 3 USD per minute on the phone to the US.

[Gaffpilot]

Hi!

Give asap supplies a try. (Asap-supplies.com)
They’re based in the UK but ship worldwide.

I’ve had good luck with them in the past.

[jmorrison146]

Have you tried these?

http://www.transmission-sanantonio.c...ntonio-TX.html

https://precisiontrans.com/contact

[SailRedemption]

Commercial Marine in Chalmette, LA a call. I got our ZF 68IV from there just last year.

[BjarneK]

Thank you very much for your replies so far. I will be trying to get in touch with these companies after the weekend. Given my success rate, more suggestions are welcome.

[capt jgw]

Right on ASAP Supplies. I just replaced my old Hurth HBW 5 with a PRM 60D. Was only about $450 where the ZF (new name for Hurth) would be about $1500 if you could even find one. Beta uses PRM on some of their engines so they must be good. ASAP also had the drive damper for a lot cheaper than anyone else. Be aware when you shop their site the prices include VAT but if you ship to the US they deduct the VAT which was around $150 for what I ordered. Shipping was reasonable too.

[Davidhoy]

ZF Marine Propulsion are in Fort Lauderdale, have you tried reaching out to them directly. Worst case they’ll refer you to a dealer who can help you.

https://www.zfmarinepropulsion.com/parts-service/

I live in Fort Lauderdale, let me know if I can help you.

[briblack]

I bought one from Elias at Pacwest Marine and Industrial, in San Diego, CA. Shipped to me in Hawaii

[JDanielBryant]

I don't know where to buy a new one, but this is the link for the rebuild kit. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hurth-HBW-2...-/232700602861
I just rebuilt my ZF 25 (Hurth 250) last week. I disassembled the transmission myself, but did have to go to an automotive transmission shop to use their gear press to get the bearing sleeves on - I paid the guy $80 to press everything onto the output shaft. The YouTube link below will walk you through it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSgW...i4PTB-OijhUneU

[jen1722terry]

For what its worth, here is the email for Richard Bowles at ZF in Florida

Richard.Bowles@zf.com

We had a ZF-10, only a few years old, in our boat (Universal M-25 engine) when we purchased it in 2013. Even though we changed the fluid religiously and used the trans carefully, the trans failed (slippage, then no forward gear, black fluid).

We bought a new ZF-10 and had our mechanic install it in 2016. After less than 90 hours, the fluid was dark and smelled burnt. We made a warranty claim and Richard Bowles was very helpful. ZF had a local certified mechanic at our home port in Maine install a new trans at company expense.

So, Richard may be able to help you or, at least, direct you to someone who can.

Also, the old MaineSail how-to site used to have a good discussion of ZF trannys, why they fail and how to care for them. I believe that site is now:

https://marinehowto.com/

You may wish to contact them for advice. I do recall that he recommended frequent fluid checks/replacements, but I can't recall the service interval he recommended.

Good Luck!

[Quadrille in JB]

Call Jim at Federal Transmission in Chicago at tel:708-352-2200.
Or because of your high per minute charges federalmarine@att.net
I recently had to replace a torque plate and a flex coupling and he was very helpful and knowledgeable.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by capt jgw

Right on ASAP Supplies. I just replaced my old Hurth HBW 5 with a PRM 60D. Was only about $450 where the ZF (new name for Hurth) would be about $1500 if you could even find one. Beta uses PRM on some of their engines so they must be good. ASAP also had the drive damper for a lot cheaper than anyone else. Be aware when you shop their site the prices include VAT but if you ship to the US they deduct the VAT which was around $150 for what I ordered. Shipping was reasonable too.

Ditto with the hurth on my boat. Out with the hurth and in with the PRM, best decision ever.

[capt jgw]

And the PRM has cone clutches like the Kanzaki's that Yanmar uses. Very positive engagement with no slipping. Hurth/ZF use disc clutches which are very prone to slipping and failure. That's the main reason I went with the PRM instead of rebuilding the Hurth. A rebuild (or replacement with a like unit) would be a temporary repair. It would just go bad again later.

[BjarneK]

Thanks for the suggestion to go with PRM. I also have a feeling that getting a new ZF would be a temporary fix. It seems that the biggest mechanical PRM is the 125 which has a maximum rating of 1.39 hp per 100 rpm, so 39 hp at 2,800 rpm. My engine is a 60 hp Nanni, so the PRM 125 would be too small for that.

The alternative would be to use a PRM 150 which is hydraulic. I see a few issues with that:

• It would not be a direct replacement, so I would have to reconfigure the shaft connection etc.
• It will need an oil cooler.
• I always lock the propeller when sailing. I am pretty sure that the noise from a freewheeling prop would drive me nuts. To do that with a hydraulic transmission, I would need some sort of mechanical prop brake.

Regarding the last issue, I know of the vice grips trick, but I would aim for something a little more sophisticated.

Suddenly my simple replacement becomes a lot more complicated. What do you all think of the work involved with the issues above?

[BjarneK]

Another issue: The existing ZF 25MA transmission has an 8 degree down angle, so the engine is placed horizontally, while the prop shaft has a downward angle. How would you handle that with a PRM transmission with no downward angle?