I don't see how leaving the transmission in gear can hurt, provided that the shaft does not turn, unless the clutches are somehow prone to getting stuck. Perhaps that is something that could happen on a long passage? It always seemed to me that free wheeling was just unnecessary wear and tear, never mind the drag. I intend to continue putting it in reverse when sailing.
I met an engineer in Bahamas a couple of years ago who had built an alternator around his prop shaft, and free wheeled it to charge the batteries when sailing. He had the stator tied with small diameter line that was intended to break if the rotor was to somehow get jammed with the stator. Reminded me of those centrifugal emergency bilge pumps that can be installed around propeller shafts. No bearings required, just very careful alignment. They act as a not-very-good bilge blower unless the boat is flooding. Steve Thomas C&C27 MKIII Port Stanley, ON C&C36 Merritt Island, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary Russell via CnC-List To: C&C List Cc: Gary Russell Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2016 11:52 Subject: Re: Stus-List Transmission in forward or reverse while Dave, Using your argument, then reverse with a folding prop should not be a problem. Gary S/V Kaylarah ~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~ On Wed, Jun 8, 2016 at 10:55 AM, Dave Syer via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Hi All, Have seen question pop up a few times. Does anyone know the "why" involved in Yanmar's recommendation of neutral? My thoughts, having had to disassemble and deglaze the cones on my Kanzaki 'box: - If in neutral and the shaft is rotating you wear bearings, stuffing box, shaft, but you do not transmit any load to the gearbox, clutch, crank. mounts etc. -If the shaft is not rotating you transmit some load via the drivetrain, esp with a fixed prop.. - IF the gear is engaged AND the shaft is rotating, (whether forward or reverse) you risk polishing/glazing the mating clutch surfaces, which are touching but are not forced together by the thrust load (the opposite in fact, in fwd). This is indeed debilitating wear, and is well worth avoiding. I'm not an expert but the latter case is the only thing that makes sense to me. Thoughts? Dave Message: 5 Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2016 07:04:32 -0700 From: Paul Baker <pjbake...@hotmail.com> To: <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Subject: Re: Stus-List Transmission in forward or reverse while sailing? Message-ID: <col126-w18e849c1ebbb5a56855251b4...@phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" It depends on your transmission and engine. Yanmar had a bulletin a while back for their engines with Kanzaki transmissions stating that they should always be in neutral when sailing. Damage or wear to the transmission would occur otherwise. Cheers, Paul. > Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2016 06:36:50 -0400 > To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com > Subject: Stus-List Transmission in forward or reverse while sailing? > From: cnc-list@cnc-list.com > CC: ghnewt...@gmail.com > > Which gear is recommended (forward or reverse) while sailing? When the transmission is in forward I can feel the shaft turning while sailing. When it is in reverse I don't feel it. Which is preferred? > > Sent from my iPad > _______________________________________________
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