[AIR INTAKE ROAR]

What, you don't like the sound of my SR3 chugging along ..?

It's ok for about 30 seconds but if I liked it that much I'd buy a cd of "My Canal Noises" and play it on my HI-Fi....with head phones on.

[AIR INTAKE ROAR]

But is it worth spoiling the sound?

 

The sound????

It's like the kids in their cars with 6000 watts of "music". They like it, so they open their windows so everyone else can admire(?) it.

[AIR INTAKE ROAR]

Yes you are. Being a mainly bumpy boat engine supplier they do not seem to think that their engines will ingest much in the way of dust and dirt so in may cases do not fit a filter. Once again I am tempted to observe that they may not be fit for purpose inland, but then again many older engines do not use filters.

 

I have seen Vetuses with "frying pan" air cleaners so measure the intake pipe and see if your local motor factors can supply one to fit.

Thanks Tony. I remember using K&N filters on cars. Maybe worth a try.

[AIR INTAKE ROAR]

Hi all, anyone any ideas?

Vetus 4.17. How to stop the induction roar from the empty air box, that Vetus saw fit, not to put a filter in.

[Noisy Gearbox Update]

Bod. I bought the boat with 2500 hours on the clock.

It's now on 6200 hours.It's the first thing I've had to change.

[Noisy Gearbox Update]

Hi Catweasle.

Yes R&D plate. Apparently R&D use to use the 22AA69 drive plate but after Vetus/Technodrive having a few problems with them, they changed the design to 43AG136 which is the one I've got.

[Noisy Gearbox Update]

Drive plate fitted and tested on a short cruise. Hooray!! "The bag of nails noise" has stopped

and the "Clunking" on engaging forward or reverse is noticeably quieter.

Thanks every one for your input.

[Noisy Gearbox Update]

Hi.

The drive plate is now off of my Vetus 4.17.

Not having seen one of these before I'm not sure if it's in good, bad or very bad condition.

 

I have a new plate on order from R+D but this will take a couple of days.

Then once it's fitted I'm hoping the noises will stop. If not.....it's a new box.

[Noisy Gearbox]

Hi.

 

 

Starting a new post..Noisy Gearbox Update.

[Noisy Gearbox]

Thanks everyone for your input.

 

I'm going to fit a R&D drive plate and see if that stops the bag of nails noise.

If it doesn't then it's a new gearbox.

In case you're interested I'll let you know......

[Noisy Gearbox]

pm = 'private message'. You need five posts to be able to use it. Click the little down arrow next to your name at the top of the screen and select 'messenger'.

Thanks. This should be my fifth post.

[Noisy Gearbox]

The mounting on the back of the engine is identical - six bolts and a sort of keyhole mating surface. The PRM has a difference of 9mm on the length and 5 mm on the height. The latter can probably be accommodated by adjusting the engine mounts and the latter by moving the propshaft slightly.

 

I would recommend a standard R&D drive plate - one with a bit of movement but not as much as the special one I mentioned earlier. I believe Dave Mayall can quote R&D part numbers - or just ask them what they would recommend. The splines are the same on the PRM150 as the TMC60.

 

One thing to watch for - the engagement lever works the opposite way - after fitting the PRM I engaged forward on the Morse and the boat went backwards! Easily sorted by changing the cable fitting on the Morse (Teleflex in my case).

 

You will also need to fit an oil cooler - again a pretty simple job. The "2:1" ratio is also slightly different - 2.09:1 rather than 2.0:1. Actually in my case a benefit.

 

If you are interested, pm me and I will email you a draft of the article I wrote for WW a couple of years ago covering the swap.

Thanks Dor. I would be interested but being new to the world of forums,I don't know what you mean by "pm me".

[Noisy Gearbox]

The standard Vetus drive plate fitted to the M4.15/7 & Technodrive 60 is a solid piece of crap. There is a special R&D drive plate with extra flexibility to help reduce the TMC60 clunk (as supplied by Mick Sievewright) but this is prone to the rubber bits getting distorted which negates any benefits. It also tends to clunk when you stop the engine as it unwinds.

 

My solution was to replace the TMC 60 with a PRM 150 hydraulic box. it is more or less a straight replacement, just a few mm difference in length and drop. The joy of putting it into gear and having to look behind you at the wash to confirm it has actually engaged is wonderful for anyone with a trace of mechanical sympathy. (I also fitted a Python drive which enhanced it even further...) There were times when I half expected the engine to come up through the deck boards due to the ferocity of the clunk going into gear with the Technodrive.

 

Vetus also say that the engine should not be run out of gear for more than 20 minutes. I believe this is due to the oil circulation in the gearbox being driven from the output shaft. I'm not convinced about this as it only needs a bit of oil splashing around if the gearbox is not under any load.

 

Vetus did offer the PRM150 as an option - but a very expensive one as they didn't seem to give any credit for the TMC that wasn't used and added a substantial premium on top. Trade price for a PRM150 is about £600.

 

I understand that Vetus are now fitting a different gearbox to the TMC60.

 

You have to remember that only about 4% of Vetus' production goes into inland waterway craft. Most are used in inshore boats which are put into gear, cruise for an hour or two, then go out of gear. One trip in a narrowboat up the Audlem flight probably results in more gearbox engagements than a couple of years in an inshore boat. Hence Vetus have never shown much interest in the past in improving their gearboxes.

Thanks for that DOR. You say "more or less straight replacement" Does it involve cutting and drilling different things or just bolting on? Also what drive plate would you suggest?

[Noisy Gearbox]

Thanks Catweasel and RLWP. Do you know if there's an easy way to check if it's the driveplate or do I have to remove the gearbox?

RobDen

[Noisy Gearbox]

I have a Vetus 4.17 with a Technodrive TMC 60 gear box- these have now done 6000 hours. The gear box has the usual "clunk" going into forward or reverse - which it has always done. However, recently it seems to have developed what I can only describe as a "rattle" - sounds like a box of nails - when in forward between 900 and 1500 revs. This doesn't happen in reverse gear.

I changed the oil in the gear box and put the correct amount of ATF Dextron II oil in and it now sounds quieter - now I'd describe this as a smaller box of nails! If I replaced the ATF with a thicker oil I have a feeling it would reduce this noise, or possibly even eliminate it altogether. However, would using a thicker oil have a detrimental effect on the gear box? Your thoughts, ideas and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Rob