Frozen Transmission

[budted]

My 1999 Catalina 36 MkII has been stored for over a year. The Hurth 100 transmission seems frozen. I can't shift it into either forward or reverse. I didn't fill the transmission with transmission fluid before storing. There is only the amount of fluid in the transmission for normal cruising. If I now fill the transmission to the top and carefully move the transmission back and forth is there a chance I will be able to unfreeze the gears? Any suggestions will be appreciated. The boat is still on the hard, but I will be going in the water in the Spring.

[ctl411]

Need more info. Is it below freezing? Did you try shifting at the trans or just at the pedestal? Any water in trans?
Things to try, spin over engine and or prop while working lever on trans.

[a64pilot]

Does this tranny have clutch plates? If so maybe they are stuck, seriously doubt the gears are stuck.
Disconnect the shift cable to see if the cable maybe what is stuck and not the transmission

[ontherocks83]

I don't think we've ever topped off our trans fluid for winter and we store in NH. 2nd what the above posts state.

[budted]

Thanks for responding. The temperature is 25 degrees F. The engine starts easily. I only tried to shift the transmission at the pedestal. I'll try it at the transmission. I can spin the propeller easily by hand. I have never had a problem with the transmission in the 15 years I've had the boat. However I've never topped up the transmission after storage in the off season as recommended by the operator's manual.

[a64pilot]

Hopefully water has gotten in the shift cable and has frozen

[Island Time O25]

I had the same issue when prepping the boat for spring launch this year. Turned out it was the frozen cable and gear levers were very sticky at the bottom. I worked the cable free with the help of PB blaster and also liberally PB blasted the levers down below. Worked fine all Summer long. Now that you reminded me I need to go down to the yard and put some more lube on the levers for the Winter.

[wingless]

Here is the Owner's Manual for the transmission.

As others have stated, determine if the problem is w/ the linkage or the transmission, then move forward.

[a64pilot]

For a cable lube, this is excellent. It's a moly based lube with a solvent carrier that flashes off leaving the moly as a dry lube, the needle makes lubing cables real easy.
From my old dirt bike racing days, same stuff used to come in a can with a ball bearing in it to mix it, it does need to be mixed really well as the moly settles out in the bottom.
Amazon.com : Bike Aid Dri-Slide 4oz. Lube with Needle Nozzle : Bike Oils : Sports & Outdoors

[HappyMdRSailor]

Eeeeets de sheeeft cable mon....

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

I had the same issue when prepping the boat for spring launch this year. Turned out it was the frozen cable and gear levers were very sticky at the bottom. I worked the cable free with the help of PB blaster and also liberally PB blasted the levers down below. Worked fine all Summer long. Now that you reminded me I need to go down to the yard and put some more lube on the levers for the Winter.

Both ya...
Buy yourself a new cable ....

If you don't feel like replacing it right now... HAVE A SUPER BACKUP PLAN, up to date insurance premiums, for when you have a cable break in gear...

[budted]

Thanks to everyone who responded so promptly. The weather has been terrible here for the past week, but I will be going to the boat on Tuesday (100 miles away) and I will follow your suggestions in dealing with my transmission situation. Thanks again!

[HappyMdRSailor]

Good luck bud!

Don't forget your toolbox full of miracle unsticking sprays...
Let us know what ya find....

[budted]

Sorry I've taken so long to rely. I filled the transmission with transmission fluid; then, I used long handled pliers on the transmission arm at the transmission. I slowly worked the arm back and forth. After about five minutes I began to get some movement. Eventually I could move the arm easily back and forth (forward to reverse). Then I went on deck and tried shifting at the helm. All was well. In the spring I will drain the excess transmission fluid from the transmission. The final test will be with the boat in the water. Thanks again to all who made suggestions.