Transmission Dilemma....

More of a question on my transmission.

I stored my boat last year and this year have just put in the water here in Wisconsin.

Took it out for the first run and everything was working fine. Then, took boat into dock it and it would not go into reverse. I lifted the motor cover and tried moving the transmission arm into reverse and that seemed to work so I thought it might be a cable.

Checked cable out, nothing wrong with its movement. No binding at all. I then tried to move the tranny by hand again and it will not go in reverse at all.

Any clues here? I checked the lube and everything seemed ok. I didnt notice water or anything. I also have NOT changed the tranny lube for about 5 years either. Dont know if that is a problem. It always looked good every year.

Any help would be appreciated.

Dave

I had the same thing happen to me last year and when I took the trans off to get it replaced I noticed the damper plate was destroyed. The part holding the springs together on the damper plate had broken off and started to chip on most of them. I do not think I needed my trans rebuilt but just a new damper plate. I'd ask Eric

I am in Waterford, WI. Got a 1981 25 anniversary edition ski nautique. Forgot to post that before, sorry.

I kinda figured it would not matter if the tranny fluid was 5 or 15 years old. Looked good and didnt smell burned or anything. Just topped it off a little bit and that was it. Yes, I manually shifted the mechanism or lever on top of the tranny. I know the cables are good. Even adjusted a little bit to get more of a positive movement to reverse.

It was strange. First go around on the lake/river this year and then it did shift manually in reverse. Now, nothing. Someone told me that the tranny was hydraulic and I was thinking that there is some type of stuck valve?????? Either way, I am guessing this might not be the best of situations. Fortunately, it is still cold here and no big worries to get on the water yet.....

Also, I have put in a new motor two years ago myself. Was a kind of fun project as well. I think I gained a good 70 horses from the old worn out motor. I do know how to remove the transmission from it. Not too hard. Dont think I will need to re-align it if I am careful. It just stinks, but you know what boat stands for.....

I can get some pics up here. Love the boat. Other than the fact that there are zero cup holders. Got the ol' cigarette lighter working even. Buffed it up and looks like new. People love the boat though. I dont see any others like mine out there. I got the fancy one, with the teak on the bow.... HA.

All new interior three years ago, as well as paint. Cracked the bottom open a couple years back and had to get fiberglass done. Dont hit rocks or do "underwater roto tilling" As I like to say.

yes the transmissions are hydraulic, what you are experiencing is snapped reverse clutch plates, very common problem, its a pretty good idea to also replace the damper plate while in there because the torsionals from a weak plate have been known to snap the plates. some assume by popping the front cover and just replacing the plates is a good repair, and end up pulling the trans again