Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: Tom Glennon on April 23, 2006, 11:53:20 AM

Title: transmision fluid
Post by: Tom Glennon on April 23, 2006, 11:53:20 AM
Gentlemen:  A little bug in my ear kept telling me: "Change the tranny fluid.... change the tranny fluid"  so, I dove in began what I thought would be a reather straight forward operation; I discovered that to remove the dipstick, I had to remove the heat exchanger, as the cradle-to-dipstick clearance was not sufficient to raise it out. Having searched various postings here, I also thought it might be good to change some hoses as well, since my vessel is a 1987 vintage, with M25XP, and the hoses have the original paint on them.  Preventive maintenance!

Here is my dilemma: I was able to suction out 8 ounces of fluid from the transmission housing.  Proir to removal, the dipstick was giving me a reading well over the ring on the lower portion that is the full indication.  I then put the new fluid into the housing, until I got a reading to the ring.  There is nothing I can find that gives the proper fluid amout in ounces anywhere.  I jsut want to make sure I am replenishing with an adequate amount. 

The tranny was functioning without any problems whatsoever, but I just wanted to be sure the fluid was clean and fresh.  The old fluid seemed to be a little thicker than the newer, as well as a little darker in color, but no sediments of any kind.  SHould I have been able to remove more than 8 ounces of fluid? Should I remove what I put in, and remeasure? The heat exchanger was clean, no deposits to mention, other than a couple of old fins from a past impellor, and a very little seaweed strands. I will clean it up, repaint it and replace the gaskets and zinc. Then, with the new hoses, All should be well.  8)

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Title: Re: transmision fluid
Post by: Jeff Kaplan on April 23, 2006, 12:22:27 PM

tom, i too just replaced most of the engine hoses on my 1986, with m25, as well as 17' of wet exhaust hose. heat x cleaned last season. i just drained t fluid and found it took about 11oz to fill to mark on dipstick. fortunately, i could remove dipstick without removing heatx. after you run the engine, be sure to check antifreeze level. i lost some when changing hoses and the engine will overheat, as i found out, if level is low.
Title: Re: transmision fluid
Post by: Tom Glennon on April 23, 2006, 03:19:46 PM
Thanks Jeff.... I plan on checking/filling the coolant when all is back together.  I just don't think I took as much as 11 oz to fill to the indicator on the dip-stick.  I'll be sure to check it again before reinstalling the heat exchanger.  I may just suck it out as much as possible, and refill again to try and be sure to have all new fluid, instead of a mixture of old and new.
Title: Re: transmision fluid
Post by: Jeff Kaplan on April 23, 2006, 03:31:51 PM
tom, it  was less than 11oz, as the info i got on line called for .29 of a quart for the hurst 50 coupled to the m25. whatever .29 of 32oz is, i figured to be about 9 or 10 oz. remember to check it with the dipstick in, but not screwed down. good luck...jeff
Title: Re: transmision fluid
Post by: Mike Vaccaro on April 23, 2006, 06:31:08 PM
The Hurth HBW-50 only uses 9.25 ozs of fluid.

Cheers,

Mike
Title: Re: transmission fluid
Post by: Ron Hill on April 25, 2006, 06:28:42 PM
Tom : Rather than worrying about how much fluid the transmission holds here's what I did:
With the correct reading on the stick(at the line just setting in the hole) suck out as much fluid as you can.  Put it in a jar and with a file make a mark on the side and discard the old fluid.  Then fill that jar to the mark and you should be good to go.   :thumb: