Project 31, gear selection problems

[elaine.smith]

I hope someone can help.  I recently purchased a Project 31, it has volvo engines and enfield legs.  The gear selection has been awful and will not get into gear at all.  

I had someone disconnect the cable running from gear selection control to the leg and this eased it off.  Which indicated to us that the problem was in the leg.  We was not able to lift the leg at all  to see what the problem is.

Does anyone know how to lift the legs on these or what the problem may be?  

I do hope someone can help, we have had one thing after the other since getting this boat.  Many thanks

[Momac]

Google found a little advice on enfield outdrives

http://www.chertseymeadsmarine.co.uk/enfield-drives/

Sounds like yours needs a service  which involves the boat being lifted out.

[WotEver]

36 minutes ago, MartynG said:

Google found a little advice on enfield outdrives

http://www.chertseymeadsmarine.co.uk/enfield-drives/

Sounds like yours needs a service  which involves the boat being lifted out.

From that link...

"It is essential that these units are regularly serviced, correctly set up and oil level maintained. Serious and expensive damage can be caused by neglecting regular service."

[cereal tiller]

1 hour ago, elaine.smith said:

I hope someone can help.  I recently purchased a Project 31, it has volvo engines and enfield legs.  The gear selection has been awful and will not get into gear at all.  

I had someone disconnect the cable running from gear selection control to the leg and this eased it off.  Which indicated to us that the problem was in the leg.  We was not able to lift the leg at all  to see what the problem is.

Does anyone know how to lift the legs on these or what the problem may be?  

I do hope someone can help, we have had one thing after the other since getting this boat.  Many thanks

Unusual to have Volvo Engines without Volvo Legs,are you certain that you have Enfields?

[Momac]

1 hour ago, cereal tiller said:

Unusual to have Volvo Engines without Volvo Legs,are you certain that you have Enfields?

Engines need not necessarily be the originals .

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

the legs rotate to access the prop, there is a locking pin inboard and a worm drive using what looks like a starting handle. If you remove the gear cable and push pull the leaver on the top of the legs you can check if the gear selector works if not then you probably need to remove the legs and have them serviced. The morse gear leaver has different slots or holes which you use to adjust the cable as they do stretch 

[Naughty Cal]

10 hours ago, WotEver said:

From that link...

"It is essential that these units are regularly serviced, correctly set up and oil level maintained. Serious and expensive damage can be caused by neglecting regular service."

This is the same for all stern drives.

People seem to forget this which is when they start having problems. 

[Alan de Enfield]

1 minute ago, Naughty Cal said:

This is the same for all stern drives. mechanical things - particularly 'moving parts'

People seem to forget this which is when they start having problems. 

Slight amendment to your post.

[elaine.smith]

Ok thank you everyone.  We will have a go at lifting the leg as described by Bagdad Boatman.  We had the engines serviced by a mechanic but this was not a problem then.  

There seems to be one thing after the other.  Never had this problem with boats before.  But saying that my Dad was alive and used to be able to sort out most problems.

I'll attempt to lift the leg and see what we come up with and then next option pull her out and let the marina service it.

Thanks for all you responses

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

video the legs from inside the engine bay and the top of the legs. and post. 

[WotEver]

19 minutes ago, elaine.smith said:

We had the engines serviced by a mechanic

When was the stern drive last serviced? I suggest that's the underlying cause of the problem. 

[elaine.smith]

I'll take pictures etc when I'm next there on Saturday, thank you, this forum is great

[Naughty Cal]

36 minutes ago, WotEver said:

When was the stern drive last serviced? I suggest that's the underlying cause of the problem. 

Exactly.  Servicing the engine has bugger all to do with the leg.

The leg should also be service annually or at the very least every two years. 

[elaine.smith]

[cereal tiller]

That Picture is  of a Perkins Engine,4.107/8

Edited August 12, 2017 by cereal tiller

[mrsmelly]

3 minutes ago, cereal tiller said:

Deleted

Whats " Deleted " I want to know

[elaine.smith]

Yes sorry!  I'm new to all this.  I have Perkins engines.

i can't shift the gear & after establishing the problem is in the leg.  Don't even know how to lift the leg 

[cereal tiller]

1 hour ago, elaine.smith said:

Yes sorry!  I'm new to all this.  I have Perkins engines.

i can't shift the gear & after establishing the problem is in the leg.  Don't even know how to lift the leg 

Your wind up handle for the leg is shown in the picture,it resembles an old fashioned Vehicle Starting Handle,it sits in a Cup which is attached to the Ringear Assembly.the Cranked end of the Handle will likely be under a Seat or locker top,as mentioned previously there is a Spring loaded Pin which needs to be pulled out (usually attached to a  Wire or pull Cable)and held out while the Wind up handle is Cranked. the Leg will only Wind up in one direction.REMOVE The Gear cable from the Leg before raising.

[elaine.smith]

Thank you.  I'll look cute the spring.

Thats been our problem not being able to locate this spring.  I'll have to hunt for it.  Thank you

[cereal tiller]

4 minutes ago, elaine.smith said:

Thank you.  I'll look cute the spring.

Thats been our problem not being able to locate this spring.  I'll have to hunt for it.  Thank you

The Release pin is Steel ,usually smothered in Grease it is Pulled toward the Bow of the Boat,best achieved with 2 Pairs of hands

A common problem with Outdrives is Gear Cable getting Furred up at the Leg end,the Inner and Outer sleeves can jam ,removal and Descaling can often free them up,maybe use a Small tub with Descaler Solution and disconnect the Control Cable from the Leg and Dip the end in the Tub for a while.

[elaine.smith]

Thank you so much.  I'll get someone to take a look at this or at least try to look myself.  

I need to try and find someone near us who specializes in this kind of thing.  We are on the River Lee and we don't really know of any who have experience of the legs, only mechanical side of things.

Thanks again, I'll let you know how we get on

 

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

www.chertseymeadsmarine.co.uk/enfield-drives/

lifting the z drive will not solve your problem. Disconnect the gear cable and attempt to move the leaver on the drive itself. The locking pin will be on the right side looking back level with the drive shaft. www.boatservicehaarlem.nl/enfield-outdrive.pdf . You can see the locking pin looking from the back of the boat. arrowed. 

[ditchcrawler]

On 02/08/2017 at 08:45, Naughty Cal said:

This is the same for all stern drives.

People seem to forget this which is when they start having problems. 

Yes, I allway look at the amount of work you do every year on yours. They seam quiet maintenance demanding 

[Phil Ambrose]

On ‎01‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 21:46, cereal tiller said:

Unusual to have Volvo Engines without Volvo Legs,are you certain that you have Enfields?

I've  found over the years that people use the term Enfield Drive in the same way the use Hoover I prefer to call them an Outdrive.

Phil 

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

The worm drive to lift the leg is on the left on the 2nd photo. I suspect that you will have to unbolt the steering arm when you start to swivel the leg. If you use a slipway it is important to swivel the leg to avoid damage. I removed my leg in the water but had to ballast the front of the boat to lift the fitting out of the water. Then I sent it by Red Star (rail) to Bob Knowl's at Leicester he repaired it, replaced the broken yoke and most of the gears drove down to Skipton and refitted cost £1000. 1985.