skipjack27
Petty Officer 3rd Class
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2009
- Messages
- 79
I've got a 27' cabin cruiser powered by a single 200hp Volvo Penta and Duoprop sterndrive. I've recently replaced both upper (flying bridge) and lower (saloon) controls with Morse Controls. The controls on the upper station connect to, and move, the controls on the lower station - which in turn go to the engine and gearbox.
My problem is this: the gear shift on the lower station (which connects directly to the gearbox) works fine, but the gear shift on the upper station is quite a problem. It works, but is very sticky and unreliable. Very often, I will push the lever to forward or reverse, and it will stay in neutral. This is annoying, but can become downright dangerous when manoeuvring in tight situations.
I've tried to take up the problem with the mechanic who installed it, but - wouldn't you know it? - he seemed to be able to work the gears without trouble. There is definitely a problem when I try to use them, though, and so I am left wondering: is there some trick to using gear shifts that connect second-hand through to the gearbox? Some trick that the mechanic is using unconsciously and of which I'm unaware? e.g., is it better to ease it in slowly, or slam it in fast? Is there some trick to jiggling the controls, as some have hinted in the past?
Or is there something that can be done to lubricate things so that they work better. Keep in mind that these are brand new controls, and that the mechanic who installed them doesn't think there is anything wrong. He did observe, though, that I should not expect the upper station to be as smooth and reliable as the lower station, given that the upper station acts on the gearbox only indirectly through the lower station.
Any comments would be much appreciated.
Jeff
My problem is this: the gear shift on the lower station (which connects directly to the gearbox) works fine, but the gear shift on the upper station is quite a problem. It works, but is very sticky and unreliable. Very often, I will push the lever to forward or reverse, and it will stay in neutral. This is annoying, but can become downright dangerous when manoeuvring in tight situations.
I've tried to take up the problem with the mechanic who installed it, but - wouldn't you know it? - he seemed to be able to work the gears without trouble. There is definitely a problem when I try to use them, though, and so I am left wondering: is there some trick to using gear shifts that connect second-hand through to the gearbox? Some trick that the mechanic is using unconsciously and of which I'm unaware? e.g., is it better to ease it in slowly, or slam it in fast? Is there some trick to jiggling the controls, as some have hinted in the past?
Or is there something that can be done to lubricate things so that they work better. Keep in mind that these are brand new controls, and that the mechanic who installed them doesn't think there is anything wrong. He did observe, though, that I should not expect the upper station to be as smooth and reliable as the lower station, given that the upper station acts on the gearbox only indirectly through the lower station.
Any comments would be much appreciated.
Jeff
