The NEW Transmission - INSTALLED

ZF Hurth 25M transmission installed.

New Transmission $2,357.23 from Transmission Marine, Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale.  

To get it here, you need a Customs Broker and pay local tax of 7.5%, plus freight.  

That's another $500.  New Tranny - Priceless.

The new transmission arrived naked.  No paint, just raw metal.  I drug it over into a field across from the dock and put down a coat of primer then 2 coats of paint.  Today Ray and i installed it.  (Ray my 71 yoa neighbor)  I'm tired, bruised and sore from leaning down over the engine tightening bolts.  It has 8 bolts that hold a larger flange onto the Tranny, then 6 bigger bolts that hold the flange onto the engine and 4 more bolts holding the 9' drive shaft onto the other side of the transmission.  Lastly 4 bolts that hold the bearing on the other end of the drive shaft.  Finally 2 hex nuts hold the drip-less seal in place.  Put all that together and tighten to 20 ft lbs each.  The TRICK is twofold.  #1.) you are so bent over and almost out of reach lifting a hunk of steal at your finger tips.  #2.) you have to lift the hunk and 'blind' twist the entire thing till it lines up with the engine and magically slips in.   (note:  Ray has changed his transmission before and told me it took him an hour to get the "damn thing to just slide on.")

I got a few cuts on my arms from hitting other stuff on the motor and in the engine room, but no bruised knuckles.  (to you landlubbers, this is almost a miracle)  We fired up the engine and tested it.  It slipped into forward and reverse.  When this windy Norther blows through end of the week I'll be able to pull up the anchor and go out in the Sea of Abaco and really give it a big test and thorough run through.  It's a big day here on s/v Prodigal.  Now, what will break next?

I hope your transmission is working as well as mine!             

- Diesel Mechanic Skip