ZF Trans. Running hot

[jim rosenthal]

Fluke make reliable infrared temp guns. At least mine has been. Usually they come with a Fluke meter in a package deal. Meters are also very reliable.

My first boat had opposite rotation engines, and the gears were set up so that reverse was used occasionally- not for full throttle, just for backing at idle. Those were BW Velvet Drives, I think. Next boat had Twin Disc gears, 6-71s which were set up so that one drove straight through, the other reversed the spin direction.

If there IS always a temp difference, which I am not sure I believe, it might have to do with one transmission using gears to reverse rotation and the other one not. Since the transmission always have gears working (they are not 1:1 units) regardless of whether they are in "forward" or "reverse", I doubt that the temp difference is because of which direction they are running.

I am more inclined to think that there is another reason for your one trans running hotter- either it isn't cooling properly, it has more internal friction (not oil shear) or the IF gun isn't accurate, or the gauge is off. Does the trans fluid in the hotter trans look or smell burned?

 

[Top Hatt Craig]

You know more about transmission design and their capabilities than Twin Disc, who's been in the business for quite some time? These transmission are designed to operate this way. In the old days, it was the engines that ran opposite direction.

No need to be snide, just expressing an opinion. If you could say what is in the design to allow operation this way that would be a useful response. I haven't seen anything on the forward Trans outlasting the reverse Trans so it's just a minor inefficiency... that bugs me.

 

[mykim]

Revives the discussion re removing HE for cleaning or cleaning in place. I tend to not disturb stuff that's working to keep from disturbing other stuff. Therefore, when I clean the HE in place I also get intercooler, transcooler and everything in the loop. That's why I asked if you did the HE's in my initial response. Something as mild as barnacle buster set up in a loop through the gear ought to have you shined up in a couple of hours. Send me a PM if you need the setup. Robert

I'm with you on that. Try and take off nothing if it's not broke. You'll often be opening Pandora's box. She can be a messy box