Hi guys:
I was wondering if someone has had a similar experience: after motoring for 2-2.5 hours, the wind finally picked up. We turn the engine off and started sailing. Then we started hearing a tac, tac, tac noise below the cockpit. Not sure if it was outside the hull or within the engine compartment. After 10 minutes the sound was gone. The next day, the same thing. We lifted the boat and nothing was there. This seems to happen only while sailing and also only after motoring for quite some time.
Any ideas? Somebody has suggested a problem with the transmission. By the way, should the shift level be in FORWARD, NEUTRAL or REVERSE while sailing?
Thanks,
Juan
Neutral or Reverse, never Forward. I leave mine in Neutral, so the shaft free-spins while sailing.
I think that your noise will go away if you shift into Reverse after shutting down the engine. What you are hearing is most likely the shaft spinning. I always sail with the transmission in reverse as that was what was recommended and because when I forget I hear your sound. Try it!
Hurth recommends the shift be in reverse while sailing.
The tic, tic tic often reminds me to shift it to reverse after the admiral shuts it down, you know the rules, rule one, the admiral is never wrong, rule two, if you think the admiral is wrong, see rule one.
Ralph
Ciao Bella
Ralph : The original tags when I got my C34 in 1989 said:
"When sailing or in tow NEVER leave the transmission in "FORWARD" position, as transmission damage will result ". I have posted a picture of this red colored tag on our web site!!!
It further states "To lock propellor shaft put shift lever in "REVERSE" or otherwise in "NUTERAL".
Many racers put their transmissions in neutral while racing!!
Juan : My above post should answer one of your questions. I'm wondering if your shaft Zn is tight or sliding up and down the shaft?? - that may be your noise as it touches the strut?? or Your shaft could be slightly bent and in neutral the turning shaft is touching the though the hull pvc pipe?
Thanks for the inputs.
Ron, I don't know the answer to your questions, but if the shaft if vented and touching the pvc, for example, wouldn't be noisy also while motoring? I don't hear anything while motoring..
Sorry, I meant bent!
Juan,
When the iron genny is running that tic, tic, tic would be a nice respite. No way you would hear it when under power.
Juan, you can use the "Modify" to correct spelling or remove posts.
Straight from the horse's mouth:
http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/faq-transmission-position-sailing.html
Juan,
Couple things...transmission in reverse when sailing if a couple tenths of a knot don't matter. If speed matters, go to neutral. If speed really, really matters, get a folding prop. Otherwise, I would think the "thunk, thunk" could be either the cutlass bearing or your shaft alignment. I have a mild "thunk, thunk" in neutral...and honestly, I've been meaning to assess my shaft alignment for some time! I'll get there...I believe +/- .003 is the magic number?
Regards!
Juan,
If I forget to turn the Key to the off postion and my ignition alarm not working I hear a Tic Tic or call it a click click coming from the electronic fuel pump under the head sink. When I had a knock knock sound like some one taping a hammer on the hull my shaft was out of alighnement. When it just sightly out of alignment I can hear it when sailing when it was further out of alignment I could hear as it was louder when the engine was running. If putting it in reverse stops the noise while sailing you will know its probabily the shaft need some alighnement in previous posts. When you haer the noise again try going into the aft cabin and looking at the log and see if the sound is more pronounced there. When you were out did you check your cutlass bearing for wear?
From the "Owners Manual HBW
CAUTION. Idling position of the
propeller: gear shift lever must be
in «O» position. Use the shift
position opposite to the direction
of travel for locking the propeller
shaft, otherwise the transmission
will be damaged.
So I guess if you're sailing or being towed backward you lock the transmission in Forward
Ralph
Juan,
Do you have a PYI dripless shaft seal?
Rick : If the engine is OFF and the key switch is ON, your "ignition alarm" is telling you there is NO OIL PRESSURE !!
The 86/87/88 C34s also had a "starter engage" alarm, but the oil pressure is more important.
That's an important alarm and if it isn't working, I'd strongly recommend you fix it immediately!!
Thanks for the responses.
Some answers: while I did not check the cutlass bearing (it was just a short haul over water), i changed it two years ago...
and yes I have a PYI dripless shaft seal..
Juan...in light of the PYI, have you "burped" it lately? Could be some air in here...sometimes I get more vibration than others...burping seems to help...
But I'm still gonna' get to dialing in my alignment...sometime...I know I'm closer to it than I've ever been...I swear it...
OK, since you do have the PYI seal. Here's what you might want to check. I noticed with mine, the carbon section would jump/vibrate, as the shaft is turning, making a loud knocking sound. Sounded like someone was hitting the shaft with a hammer. At the time, I had the unit hooked up to my exhaust, where water would flow into it to cool it (it's the 'high speed unit'). Since then, I changed it by removing the direct injection of water, to running a hose from the nipple to a spot high above the water line. This is now how PYI suggest it be mounted, and I believe they don't sell the unit without the water cooling injection port anymore (the 'low speed unit'). No problems with the tapping noise anymore.
Noise is probably caused by turning prop. 35B manual says no need to put engine in gear, but it does stop shaft from turning while under sail.
Hint, you can look at shaft (aft of engine) under aft birth to see if it is rotating when you hear the noise.
Also, if you sail with a spinacker, you definately will want the engine stopped, else you will sooner or later wrap the lazysheet onto the shaft.
Jim-of-Meerkat
Quote from: Meerkata on November 01, 2011, 01:44:06 PM
35B manual says no need to put engine in gear,
Just a reminder: the engine manual is NOT the transmission manual. Neutral or, preferred in reverse. NEVER in forward for Hurth transmissions.
As I have posted before, the noise could be from a loose shaft zinc that has slid down and rattling against the strut. You won't hear it when motoring. Has happened to me and others.
Jack