Hurth ZF 63 removal

Into The Mystic

New Member
Sep 18, 2013
3
Lake Cumberland
Boat Info
370 sundancer
Engines
454 Mercruiser with Hurth V Drives
I have a 1996 370 sundancer with Hurth ZF 63 transmissions. My starboard is acting up and I think the clutch plates are warped as even in neutral, the prop shaft turns. I checked linkage and it is correct.

I have a spare transmission I'd like to install but don't know if I can do this work on the water or if the boat must be pulled. Does the prop shaft have to come out of the boat first in order to allow the transmission to be pulled?

I have a competent mechanic but he hasn't done one of these before.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
I'm not sure how it was done because I wasn't there but my buddy just had his changed out in his 400 DB without pulling the boat out of the water. Different set up but I would imagine it could be done in the water. Good Luck and sorry I couldn't be more help.
 
This has been done...see this thread http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php...-removal-without-pulling-engine-thread.90540/

If you have a ZF 63IV the shaft comes through the transmission and must be slid out out the boat a certain distance. I'm looking at the same thing and once I get this far, I'm thinking shaft seals and cutlass bearing.

My thinking is 90% off the prep work could be accomplished in the water, but it would be easier to slide the shaft out of the water.
 
I have a 370DA as well so I know the prop or the rudder must be removed and the shaft has to be pulled back far enough to pull transmission. I had a shaft seal leak a few seasons back and while I was at it I had the shafts re-tuned, it was a mother to get the props off so to try to do this job while wet I think would not be an easy fix. For the $200 to get it pulled it’s worth pulling the vessel out!
 
This has been done...see this thread http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php...-removal-without-pulling-engine-thread.90540/

If you have a ZF 63IV the shaft comes through the transmission and must be slid out out the boat a certain distance. I'm looking at the same thing and once I get this far, I'm thinking shaft seals and cutlass bearing.

My thinking is 90% off the prep work could be accomplished in the water, but it would be easier to slide the shaft out of the water.

This was a 340 and this post is about a 370...different animal!
 
This was a 340 and this post is about a 370...different animal!


Not really...process is the same. Props off and shaft slid back are required. What has to be removed and how much room you have to work will be specific to the boat. Frank did the job on a 450 in a couple days as I recall, I’m planning to to it on a 410.

It going to be easier on land no doubt, but possible in the water for a very handy person and a few talented friends.

While possible in the water, I think easier on land, and possible pulling the entire engine/transmission. I’m planning to do it on the hard, and may consider pulling the engine.

Dave
 
Do not try to do this in the water....for many of the reasons listed above. Additionally, any of the prep work you might do before a haul out also disables the engine which means moving the boat to the haul out location and docking it usually twice on one engine. A Sea Ray Sundancer can be a bear to precisely handle on one engine.

What do you save anyway? In my case, a 450DA and Hurth HSW-800 transmissions, We hauled the boat late one afternoon, pressure washed the hull and running gear then went home for the evening.......the next morning, 2 of us, both pretty decent mechanics, had the engine jacked up, the engine mounts all marked and loose, the transmission uncoupled, the shaft moved back, the starter removed and all wiring loose and marked and had the transmission out and in the shop on the floor by 8:30AM. There isn't that much to it so I wouldn't run my boat 1/4 mile and dock it twice on one engine for the 15-20 minutes you might gain on the actual bailout day.
 
Haul the boat. Why chance a shaft sliding out. Boat sinks while saving a few bucks. Your insurance person might just kick you between the legs... just say'n. Let alone the admiral just looking at you with that look... you know the one...
 
Wow, you learn something new everyday. I knew it was a different set-up but didn't realize it was that much different. Sorry for the kinda miss info above. Good Luck
 
Wow, you learn something new everyday. I knew it was a different set-up but didn't realize it was that much different. Sorry for the kinda miss info above. Good Luck

Joe,

The biggest difference is your friends 400DB has the coupler positioned behind the transmissions so all he has to du is to uncouple, remove the coupler bolts then lift the transmission out. The boat in question is a 370DA where the shaft passed thru the output housing on the transmission and couples in front of the transmission. That means he has to move the shaft aft 12"-18" to free the transmission. There isn't room to do that with the prop in place and the shaft will hit the rudder so it probably has to come off as well.

Frank
 
Thanks Frank,
I read through this thread and the one dtfeld shared and learned quite a bit. One of the reasons I love and Platinum sponsor this site. Now back to the "Correct Sealant" thread.
 
Thank you all for your info and advice. We're locating a trailer so we can do the work in a shop. I have a spare transmission that was prepped for storage so I plan to use it. It has never been in service and I've owned it as long as I have the boat. Any input on what to do and/or check on the spare before install? I work in a shop that does large hp electric motors and gearboxes so my concern would be any possible seals that would dry over the years or bearing condition. It was stored with fluid so hopefully no internal rust.

I figure it would be somewhat of a risk using this spare not knowing everything about current condition but I do know it is basically unused OEM stock.

Any further insight would be appreciated on the spare unit.
 
Plans are to pull the boat and do the work in the shop. Our mechanic is locating a trailer large enough. Not sure if it will be done over the winter (Lake Cumberland in Southern Kentucky) or next spring. Once we get it going, I'll update on how it went.
 

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