Empathy List Archives

BH

Brent Hodges

Thu, Oct 23, 2003 5:41 PM

Jim wrote:

The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil
change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours.
Does that seem too frequent to others?

Hi Jim,
I don't think that's too frequent at all. I change mine at least every other
time, sometimes every time I change the engines. With most BW trannys only
holding a couple of quarts, its pretty cheap & easy insurance. I recently
installed the new oil lines from American Diesel on the transmission to
cooler. While I was at it, I installed a T & ball valve on the lower oil
line fitting where all I have to do is hook my Oil-X-Changer to that fitting
& suck the oil out. I figure the easier I make it on myself, the more likely
I am to do it. It's easy to ignore those transmissions when everything is
working just fine, but if they work that hard, & have those plates running &
wearing in that oil, it makes sense when you think about it that they would
need new oil just as much as the engines.
Just my opinion.

Brent Hodges
M/V Friendship (135 Lehmans with BG velvet drives)
Seabrook, Tx

Jim wrote: > The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil > change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours. > Does that seem too frequent to others? Hi Jim, I don't think that's too frequent at all. I change mine at least every other time, sometimes every time I change the engines. With most BW trannys only holding a couple of quarts, its pretty cheap & easy insurance. I recently installed the new oil lines from American Diesel on the transmission to cooler. While I was at it, I installed a T & ball valve on the lower oil line fitting where all I have to do is hook my Oil-X-Changer to that fitting & suck the oil out. I figure the easier I make it on myself, the more likely I am to do it. It's easy to ignore those transmissions when everything is working just fine, but if they work that hard, & have those plates running & wearing in that oil, it makes sense when you think about it that they would need new oil just as much as the engines. Just my opinion. Brent Hodges M/V Friendship (135 Lehmans with BG velvet drives) Seabrook, Tx

JA

jim.ague@att.net

Thu, Oct 23, 2003 6:10 PM

Regarding:

We've had the fluid in our BW Velvet Drive transmissions
changed once since we acquired the boat,

The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil
change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours. He claims that the X
fluid works just as hard as the engine oil, but since it doesn't change
color, must folks don't realize the need to change it so often.

Does that seem too frequent to others?

-- Jim

Jim & Rita Ague
Shipwright Harbor, Deale, MD
M/V Derreen, Monk 36

Regarding: > We've had the fluid in our BW Velvet Drive transmissions > changed once since we acquired the boat, The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours. He claims that the X fluid works just as hard as the engine oil, but since it doesn't change color, must folks don't realize the need to change it so often. Does that seem too frequent to others? -- Jim ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jim & Rita Ague Shipwright Harbor, Deale, MD M/V Derreen, Monk 36 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BT

Brent Trathen

Fri, Oct 24, 2003 1:03 AM

Reply:

When the transmission is in gear and you are cruising are not the plates
locked up (no relative motion). It seems to me not having worked on a BW
unit that the only wearing surfaces when underway are the various bearing
components and gear tooth interfaces, not the clutch packs.

Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 10:41 AM
To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com; jim.ague@att.net
Subject: Re: TWL: Re: Grand Banks Transmission

Jim wrote:

The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil
change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours.

It's easy to ignore those transmissions when everything is
working just fine, but if they work that hard, & have those plates running &
wearing in that oil, it makes sense when you think about it that they would
need new oil just as much as the engines.

Reply: When the transmission is in gear and you are cruising are not the plates locked up (no relative motion). It seems to me not having worked on a BW unit that the only wearing surfaces when underway are the various bearing components and gear tooth interfaces, not the clutch packs. Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 10:41 AM To: trawler-world-list@samurai.com; jim.ague@att.net Subject: Re: TWL: Re: Grand Banks Transmission Jim wrote: > The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil > change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours. It's easy to ignore those transmissions when everything is working just fine, but if they work that hard, & have those plates running & wearing in that oil, it makes sense when you think about it that they would need new oil just as much as the engines.

BL

Bob Lowe

Fri, Oct 24, 2003 2:12 AM

The clutch plates are alternating copper/bronze and steel, and as such, wear
during shifting, but assuming sufficient fluid, do not wear while engaged
unless there is insufficient hydraulic pressure. There are two sets of
needle bearings and cluster gears, one set in the transmission and one set
in the reduction gear. Since needle bearings are more prone to wear and
failure than ball bearings, clean fluid is desirable. From my experience, I
think the transmission is one of the most overlooked and taken for granted
pieces of machinery on a boat.
Good luck,
Bob Lowe

Brent wrote:

When the transmission is in gear and you are cruising are not the plates
locked up (no relative motion). It seems to me not having worked on a BW
unit that the only wearing surfaces when underway are the various bearing
components and gear tooth interfaces, not the clutch packs.

Jim wrote:

The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil
change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours.

It's easy to ignore those transmissions when everything is
working just fine, but if they work that hard, & have those plates running &
wearing in that oil, it makes sense when you think about it that they would
need new oil just as much as the engines.<<<

The clutch plates are alternating copper/bronze and steel, and as such, wear during shifting, but assuming sufficient fluid, do not wear while engaged unless there is insufficient hydraulic pressure. There are two sets of needle bearings and cluster gears, one set in the transmission and one set in the reduction gear. Since needle bearings are more prone to wear and failure than ball bearings, clean fluid is desirable. From my experience, I think the transmission is one of the most overlooked and taken for granted pieces of machinery on a boat. Good luck, Bob Lowe >>>Brent wrote: When the transmission is in gear and you are cruising are not the plates locked up (no relative motion). It seems to me not having worked on a BW unit that the only wearing surfaces when underway are the various bearing components and gear tooth interfaces, not the clutch packs. Jim wrote: > The local mechanic advises changing the transmission fluid every other oil > change. For me, that would be every 200 to 300 hours. It's easy to ignore those transmissions when everything is working just fine, but if they work that hard, & have those plates running & wearing in that oil, it makes sense when you think about it that they would need new oil just as much as the engines.<<<

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

Re: TWL: Re: Grand Banks Transmission