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4.108-Hurth Transmission Question

Mitchell S Allen

Active Member
To anyone who may know, is the Hurth trans supposed to have detents between Neutral and Fw'd and Reverse?
Something to make it obvious whether it's in gear or not? I can't "feel" anything and not knowing if in gear or out can and has created problems. The engine/trans has about 1650 hours on this combination for what it's worth. Runs and behaves great otherwise.
Thanks,
Mitchell
 
On my pedestal, the gear shift stops when the boat is in forward or reverse and is level with the cockpit sole when in neutral. If you shift the gears below, similarly the fwd and rev are obvious because the throw stops. The neutral position is also obvious, that is, it has a "detent" as iit slips into neutral. My trans is a ZF 150. If I recall correctly, ZF took over Hurst.
 
Thanks Terry. That makes sense, but there is nothing on mine that gives any indication of changing gears in or out of N. Not sure if something is damaged, missing or not. It has been this way since we became Sonata's caretakers. I had one incident some time ago when I thought it was in N and was actually still in R. Not good.
M
 
You can have it rebuilt or replace with a new. It is a one person job to remove. I easily replaced mine several years ago. And at the same time you can inspect or replace your shock absorbing drive plate. The springs break after a few years.
 
Mitchell. I just replaced my stuffing box by removing my Hurth HB150 transmission. The shift lever on the transmission actuates a cam that moves the shift fork in the transmission forward or back to engage the clutch plates. If you remove the shift cable connection and actuate the lever by hand you will feel the transmission engage. I really can't feel this through the shift cable. As a new Morgan owner I have also either not fully engaged the transmission in gear or made the shift in the wrong direction.
 
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I have a Volvo engine and trans which has detent.
However, I could never feel it until I replaced my cables. They felt OK to me, but there was enough friction to hide the feel of the detent.
So maybe you just need new cables.
 
Warren, great insight. I hadn't considered that issue with cables, and an easy fix possibley. Thank you.
This trans and engine just work too good for me to feel comfortable really tearing into it.
Thanks,
Mitchell
 
Thank you everyone!
Next time I'm at the boat, I will disconnect the cable and feel the lever movement on the trans itself. Hopefully it is friction in the cable as Warren suggests.
Mitchell
 
Mitchell, there is a Hurth/ZF manual on this site. If you read through it, I believe it says the transmission can be shifted from forward to reverse while under power. (Emergency situations sometimes require a quick retreat). A strong detent between FNR would hamper that action. It's possible I am confusing my old Atomic 4 trans & the H-Z/F but I don't think so. IIRC, there is clutch pack in the trans that allows a no grind shift.
There are service manual instructions as to how to properly adjust the cable, throw length, and trans lever positioning. But if it is otherwise working properly, leave it alone. One of my great life lessons is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
I believe your trans is functioning normally as you described the shifting feel.
 
Dave,
This all makes sense. I will search for the manual here. I have the Perkins manual but not the Trans. manual.
Yes, the transmission works perfectly, other than no way to feel the shifts. It once created a frightening problem for me.

I am of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mindset too. There are always plenty of things that really NEED fixing. And yes you are correct in being able to shift F to R without adverse affect. Although I keep that to a minimum. ;)
I think I'm just going to have to live with the "no feel". I'll check the lever movement too.
Thank you
Mitchell
 
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