Transmission trouble

Lou R

Lou R

Member
May 24, 2022
78
Boston
Boat Info
330 Sundancer 1996
Engines
Twin 454
Hey all, I own a 1996 searay 330 Sundancer with vdrives, today, as I was coming back from a short ride, I couldn’t put the port engine in neutral, the shifter seems fine but the engine remain in forward gear. I shut the engine off and restarted in forward gear. Any ideas?
Lou
 
Those symptoms indicate the forward clutch packs have fused together and will not disengage. Did you perform a high rpm shift from reverse or neutral into forward?
 
I may have, is there a way to disengage the clutch packs without removing the transmission? :(
 
Can’t Wait said:
I may have, is there a way to disengage the clutch packs without removing the transmission? :(
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I’m going to say no. If the packs are fused that would entail tranny out and a rebuild.
I see you are in Boston. You are in luck. Peter Nopper from Nopper Marine is located in Fairhaven MA. I had him rebuild 2 Hurth v drives for me. One was a stuck clutch pack. The other had other issues.
im surprised your engine does not stall when you try to go in reverse
Nopper is truly an expert. Most of the go fast boats on the East coast use him. His prices are fair and he is a good man.
 
That’s a bit of good news, I appreciate the referral and I will surely give him a call. Out of curiosity did you bring him the tranny or did he remove and install? Again thank you.
 
Riptide is correct the clutch plates are fused together and transmission removal and rebuild is required. Good referral to Nopper Marine.
 
Can’t Wait said:
That’s a bit of good news, I appreciate the referral and I will surely give him a call. Out of curiosity did you bring him the tranny or did he remove and install? Again thank you.
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You must bring to him. Where do you store your boat for the winter
 
Thanks again for the info, my follow up question is has anyone removed the transmission off a SeaRay 330 sun
 
Thanks again for the info, my follow up question is, has anyone removed the transmission off a SeaRay 330 Sundancer? Does the engine need to be lifted or can it be pulled out?
 
Maybe I missed it, did you go into the engine compartment and confirm the cable is working correctly, maybe manually try to shift it?

Can’t Wait said:
I may have, is there a way to disengage the clutch packs without removing the transmission? :(
Click to expand...

Did you type this with a sheepish grin? Or are you guessing?

Can’t Wait said:
Thanks again for the info, my follow up question is, has anyone removed the transmission off a SeaRay 330 Sundancer? Does the engine need to be lifted or can it be pulled out?
Click to expand...
From (bad) memory on my 95' 330DA the engine will have to come out. I am not an expert though.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Maybe I missed it, did you go into the engine compartment and confirm the cable is working correctly, maybe manually try to shift it?



Did you type this with a sheepish grin? Or are you guessing?


From (bad) memory on my 95' 330DA the engine will have to come out. I am not an expert though.
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At this time it’s a guess, I only had time to look at the cable with a flash light and when I move the shifter the cable moves fine with it, everyone seems to think it’s fused clutch plates. Definitely not taking anything apart until I make sure it’s not the cable.
 
Can’t Wait said:
Thanks again for the info, my follow up question is, has anyone removed the transmission off a SeaRay 330 Sundancer? Does the engine need to be lifted or can it be pulled out?
Click to expand...

It may be easier to take the entire engine transmission assembly out to gain easier access to the components. While it's out address other pending issues such as raw water pump, belts, alternator, manifolds, risers, plugs, etc. While your at it check the oil pan for rust/corrosion as the shaft logs tend to throw water all over the bottom of the engine and rust out the oil pan.
 
hottoddie said:
It may be easier to take the entire engine transmission assembly out to gain easier access to the components. While it's out address other pending issues such as raw water pump, belts, alternator, manifolds, risers, plugs, etc. While your at it check the oil pan for rust/corrosion as the shaft logs tend to throw water all over the bottom of the engine and rust out the oil pan.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the info, makes sense to check those things while I have easy access to them. Got to look for someone willing to do that work now. Thanks
 
One thing about the cable actuated gears, it is important to ensure the shift levers are fully engaged when running the boat.
If not fully engaged then the gear's hydraulic pressure is not compressing the clutch packs with the correct force and they will slip causing huge heat and eventually warping the clutches and pressure plates.
It is also important to check that when the shift levers are fully engaged the gear lever is properly in the detent ensuring hydraulic fluid is routed to the clutch pack and not bleeding off.
 
Don’t wait. friction material I.e. clutches are going up in price and availability could become an issue. Don’t wait until spring. i got that from a conversation with Peter Nopper yesterday
 
Thank you, I’ll call Peter Monday. Maybe he’ll know someone to take the tranny out?
 
ttmott said:
One thing about the cable actuated gears, it is important to ensure the shift levers are fully engaged when running the boat.
If not fully engaged then the gear's hydraulic pressure is not compressing the clutch packs with the correct force and they will slip causing huge heat and eventually warping the clutches and pressure plates.
It is also important to check that when the shift levers are fully engaged the gear lever is properly in the detent ensuring hydraulic fluid is routed to the clutch pack and not bleeding off.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
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