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Transmission Maintenance

I believe this is a transmission issue. The other day, after 2-3 months of non-use my engine (Perkins 4 108) made a "grinding sound" when I put it in forward gear. The sound stopped immediately when I went to neutral, and didn't make a sound in reverse either. After a minute it stopped making sounds and worked fine the rest of the day.

Low on transmission fluid maybe?
 
I believe this is a transmission issue. The other day, after 2-3 months of non-use my engine (Perkins 4 108) made a "grinding sound" when I put it in forward gear. The sound stopped immediately when I went to neutral, and didn't make a sound in reverse either. After a minute it stopped making sounds and worked fine the rest of the day.

Low on transmission fluid maybe?
How’s your cutlass bearing?
 
That happens to me in reverse, I figured out it was barnacle growth on the shaft/propeller area. Once I left it in gear for a minute or so, it went away as it ground the barnacles off.
 
Your stuffing box may need to be loosened. Had the same issue with mine and got super nervous, but realized it was bone dry.
 
Either way change your trans fluid every couple years. It only holds a little more than 1/2qt.
Mobil 1 synthetic ATF is what I used.
 
Hey Marc, long time no see....I have had the same thing happen before, especially when I was in Clearwater where the marine growth was quite heavy.... It would go away after about 20-30 seconds... I attributed it to barnacles, etc. Since I moved down to Palmetto on the Manatee River, I have never had the problem again and I figure it's from the water being brackish and not having the current/nutrient flow as heavy in the yacht club basin as it was in the marina in Clearwater.
 
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