On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 06:16:23 -0500, "Charles T. Low"
wrote:

I've had my 1978 Trojan 26 for three seasons now, and can't for the life of
me decide for sure whether the transmission has always done this or not. My
mechanic thinks it's OK. The AT lubricant is full and looks crystal clear to
the naked eye, and I do change it (rarely). It's a Borg-Warner Velvet Drive,
original with the boat, to my knowledge.

When put into gear, there is a slight pause, a fraction of a second only,
but easily visible that the prop tranny/shaft does not start turning
immediately - then it catches and away it goes. (Idling just above 600 rpm
indicated.) It does so with a very soft audible clunk, and I seem to
remember it being noiseless when "new" (to me).

I have shifted it into gear at above idle speed, very infrequently, count on
one hand, etc., because I'm kind of clumsy. Other than that, I can't think
of anything that might be considered abusive.

It is still so much smoother than the Bravo II I/O I used to own, which
itself was so much smoother than the Alpha 1 before that. Passengers have
never noticed or commented - it's quite a subtle clunk. I think I may just
be listening too hard.

What is normal behaviour for these transmissions? Thanks.

It sounds like normal wear - the "clunk" is probably gear lash and/or
a bearing or shaft just slightly out of spec. It's close to thirty
years of service - that's pretty good on an inboard transmission I
would think.

I wouldn't worry about it until it gets to being a "thunk" instead of
a "clunk" or you start hearing gear noises while underway. At that
point, it would be worth looking at.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
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"Fisherman are born honest, but they get
over it." - Ed Zern