Help! My transmission won't go into gear

[BobL]

And how did you slide the shaft back in were any bolts loose? My boat is in the water and everything seems fine from the bilge side

[lesterbutch]

Originally Posted by BobL

And how did you slide the shaft back in were any bolts loose? My boat is in the water and everything seems fine from the bilge side

My shaft slide out of the coupler leaving the outboard half of the coupler attached to the drive train and a naked shaft lying in the bilge. A real good reason to keep a spare key.😊

[BobL]

Rumlater;
I have no idea what caused the seal to start leaking, but it is clearly shot. Oil just runs right out after filling. Sounds like too big a job for me (at 74 years) to remove the tranny with the very tight quarters on my boat.

Lesterbutch;
Still don't quite understand the "slide the shaft back in" concept? That would be an easy fix it that's the problem.

tdh1849
Thanks for the tip on the yanmar dealer in Ft Lauderdale.

[duefocena]

Coming into Lahaina harbor with following waves I went full reverse to keep behind the swell. The shaft parted from the coupler and the 3 blade prop pulled it aft pinning the rudder to port. As the boat broached the 8' wave in the channel entrance she drove hard to starboard and into the harbor by the grace of God.
Regular maintenance for the last 30 years dictates checking the tightness of the coupler screws every time I change oil...

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by duefocena

Coming into Lahaina harbor with following waves I went full reverse to keep behind the swell. The shaft parted from the coupler and the 3 blade prop pulled it aft pinning the rudder to port. As the boat broached the 8' wave in the channel entrance she drove hard to starboard and into the harbor by the grace of God.
Regular maintenance for the last 30 years dictates checking the tightness of the coupler screws every time I change oil...

Really? Lahaina without steerage with that tight dog leg to starboard. You are one lucky dude! Well done!

I had the same thing happen backing out of a slip in Kaneohe at the Yacht Club. Luckily I was still in the harbor, could tie off to a mooring post and could borrow some tools and dive down to see what was happening. It was a friends boat that I was taking to Pearl Harbor for him (a Celestial 46). I made it by slipping the shaft back in place and tightening the keeper bolts but was very skeptical about it the whole way.

[BobL]

Lesterbutch and others
Found the problem!!! Loosened the flanges at the transmission and found a big (1") nut had worked itself loose and thus allowing the trans/spline flange to slip back about an inch. This let all the fluid out of the trans and disengage the shaft.
Put the nut back on tight and whadda ya know...it works. Whew!!!

Thanks to all.

[BobL]

[QUOTE=BobL;1832026]Lesterbutch and others
Found the problem!!! Loosened the flanges at the transmission and found a big (1") nut had worked itself loose and thus allowing the trans/spline flange to slip back about an inch. This let all the fluid out of the trans and disengage the shaft.
Put the nut back on tight and whadda ya know...it works. Whew!!!

Thanks to all

Seems the biggest problem with sailboats is their motors

[SkiprJohn]

[QUOTE=BobL;1832030]

Originally Posted by BobL

Lesterbutch and others
Found the problem!!! Loosened the flanges at the transmission and found a big (1") nut had worked itself loose and thus allowing the trans/spline flange to slip back about an inch. This let all the fluid out of the trans and disengage the shaft.
Put the nut back on tight and whadda ya know...it works. Whew!!!

Thanks to all

Seems the biggest problem with sailboats is their motors

Glad you got it straightened out. That certainly wasn't too costly.