Knocking outleg

[pollyc]

First of all, well done Mick for setting up the forum. I hope it is well used and generates some healthy discussion.

Thought I would start the ball rolling on a problem that's been troubling me for a number of months.

When we bought PollyC in 2005, the steering link to the out drive was seized up so that we couldn't raise it out of the water. As we have a Transa-drive, this is a headache as the steering needs to be disengaged in order for the leg to be raised.

Last summer we freed up the link and fitted a replacement prop. However the leg started to 'kick' under power. This only happens in forward gear, and at about 2200 revs. The leg has a tendency to throw in an intermittent but frequent kick under load - it sounds like the rear of the vessel is being hit with a sledgehammer and the leg jumps in the water. It doesn't happen in reverse. We are reluctant to use her until this is sorted.

Now we've had a mechanic look at her on a number of occasions, but don't seem to be making any progress. The most recent theory is that she is trying to jump out of gear, however as this wasn't happening before the repair, I am a little skeptical.

We've replaced the gear change cable, steering link and box, fitted a new top arm and gear selection arm (inside the outleg), but haven't made much progress. Work continues over winter, and I have emailed Mick for a copy of the service manual. However we are REALLY keen to get this sorted and would be grateful for any and all suggestions. We have spent such a long time (and alot of cash) bringing PollyC back to life, and are really upset that we can't use her. So all help would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Geoff & Pauline

[lazyoldriverer]

I am sorry I cant offer a "Real" answer, as I have not heard of this before.

However as it is described as "Kick" under power, I would think it was highly unlikely that it is suddenly giving more power, so the obverse must be true, and you lose drive, however before you notice the loss of drive it comes on again, like gogs missing and then re meshing, hence the trying to jump out of gear description.

You may need to consider a replacement
A call to these peps may help
http://www.sterndrives.co.uk/

[Arthur Wyvern]

re knocking..altho I'm not too familiar with the tranza drive..I hope I can offer up some thoughts re your problem..first of all..and dont laugh..have you checked that when it kicks youre actually engaging foward gear..and not reverse, tranza drive are similar to any outdrive/outboard motor in that if it hits an underwater obstruction hard enough, it will "kick up" in order to prevent serious damage. This is enabled by a spring loaded "claw" thats attatched to the transom plate and clips onto the leg.If this claw or spring is defective and you put the drive into reverse, it will then "kick up" and lift right out the water. Hence I ask if you are actually engaging forward or reverse. Hope this helps a mite...let me know..its worth remembering.

[Arthur Wyvern]

a ps to my last post..again..dont laugh..but look at the obvious first..do you have a left or right handed prop..not being a genius.. but one goes foward in forward gear..and the other goes in reverse in forward gear..I think..lol.

[pollyc]

Thanks for your thoughts Arthur.

The boat is definitely in forward gear (as I have had the boat running whilst it happens). I'm happy that the prop is the right one, as I have compared it like for like with one that was taken off.

You are absolutely right about the anti-collision mechanism, however the kicking happens even when she is being run on the mooring.

Baffling really.

I think I'll give sterndrives a call, see what they can suggest

Thanks guys

Geoff

[dccruiser]

I had exactly the same thing with my transa drive shortly before xmas on the trent, it started to knock then the whole drive bounced (i was in deep water at the time) and i lost all drive!
So not being one to panic i put the kettle on and waited untill the current got me close enough to the bank to pull myself in with my grapling hook.
A friend came out and towed me into Sawley marina, on inspection , the drive had lost the nut holding the steering arm to the leg, the gear selector had also come out ( it has a pin which locates at the rear of the leg acting as a fulcrum for the operating lever.
I am taking the boat out the water in a couple of weeks to sort it out , fortunately i have an enfield drive i recently rebuilt along with a fully reconditioned sonic drive ( sonic took over transa and rebranded the drive under their name and upgraded it). So if all else fails i will change the complete drive in which case i will have one for spares that only had a new forward gear and prop fitted last year, so if you get stuck or sterndrive want 3 arms and 2 legs , feel free to give me a shout geoff , i may be able to help

Rick

[pollyc]

I had exactly the same thing with my transa drive shortly before xmas on the trent, it started to knock then the whole drive bounced (i was in deep water at the time) and i lost all drive!
So not being one to panic i put the kettle on and waited untill the current got me close enough to the bank to pull myself in with my grapling hook.
A friend came out and towed me into Sawley marina, on inspection , the drive had lost the nut holding the steering arm to the leg, the gear selector had also come out ( it has a pin which locates at the rear of the leg acting as a fulcrum for the operating lever.
I am taking the boat out the water in a couple of weeks to sort it out , fortunately i have an enfield drive i recently rebuilt along with a fully reconditioned sonic drive ( sonic took over transa and rebranded the drive under their name and upgraded it). So if all else fails i will change the complete drive in which case i will have one for spares that only had a new forward gear and prop fitted last year, so if you get stuck or sterndrive want 3 arms and 2 legs , feel free to give me a shout geoff , i may be able to help

Rick

Rick - sorry to hear about your outleg - glad that you have a solution in hand though. I'll be speaking to my friendly mechannic over the next week or so, and will see how he's getting on with the knock.

If we need the parts, I'll be in touch.

Cheers

Geoff

[trickydicky]

Firstly thanks to Mick for setting up this forum and what a good opportunity to share ideas.
I have had First Light for 12 months and this problem has just appeared on her. It's also a Transadrive unit and to begin with she would occassionally spring out of the water in reverse accompanied by a thump. Now it does it all the time, only in reverse as you would expect because of the action of the prop against the flow, under normal operation this is prevented by the claw mechanism.
However at around 2000 RPM in forward gear it has also developed a clunk like yours Geoff .
I have been told by the owner of our boat club that this is not uncommon with Transadrive units and in some cases it can be caused by loose grub screws that secure the selectors inside the top cover. The adjustment of these is critical. Also the claw mechanism could be worn but apparently is easily fixed.
However I intend to have her out of the water in the next week or two and will let you know how I get on, hopefully it wont be too expensiv.

Cheers
thingy

[pollyc]

Firstly thanks to Mick for setting up this forum and what a good opportunity to share ideas.
I have had First Light for 12 months and this problem has just appeared on her. It's also a Transadrive unit and to begin with she would occasionally spring out of the water in reverse accompanied by a thump. Now it does it all the time, only in reverse as you would expect because of the action of the prop against the flow, under normal operation this is prevented by the claw mechanism.
However at around 2000 RPM in forward gear it has also developed a clunk like yours Geoff .
I have been told by the owner of our boat club that this is not uncommon with Transadrive units and in some cases it can be caused by loose grub screws that secure the selectors inside the top cover. The adjustment of these is critical. Also the claw mechanism could be worn but apparently is easily fixed.
However I intend to have her out of the water in the next week or two and will let you know how I get on, hopefully it wont be too expensive.

Cheers
thingy

Thanks RichC - sorry you're having the same problems as me, but in some respects it's good to know I'm not alone. I have replaced the claw mechanism, but haven't felt any benefits yet. The mechanic on the marina is due to remove the outleg this week, and I think he has been thinking along the same lines. I'll copy your advice to him.

I managed to get hold of a copy of the service manual for the leg from Mick Fowler (cost me

[trickydicky]

All,
Update on the knocking leg from First Light.
Having removed the top cover from the outdrive I found the problem was twofold. Firstly the retaining screws on the yolk mechanism that moves the clutch from forward to reverse was loose. On mine someone had modified the original grub screws with normal hex bolts but there is no locking mechanism to keep the bolts tight so they had worked loose under vibration causing lack of full engagement in either gear. This could be accessed with the outdrive still in the water on the Transadrive unit.
The second and main problem was the locking pin protrusion that prevents the claw mechanism from moving when selecting reverse, being out of adjustment. In other words the pin did not fully extend before the clutch engaged. I had to adjust the lever that operates pin so that the pin came out at the same time as adjusting lever until the clutch was fully engaged.
It sounds complicated but when you see how it works it is pretty basic. This adjustment has to be done out of the water unfortunately.
Anyway she is back in the water and working fine at the moment. I hope this proves helpful to you, and if you need any more info please feel free to ask.

Best Regards

RichC