454 Crusaders. Starboard will not go forward but will go reverse

[Gazookas]

Quite a pickle. On my last trip out found that my starboard engine will not go forward but still goes reverse. The cable seems to move forward and reverse. Checked the transmission fluids and starboard was black and port was pink. Clearly replaced fluids in starboard. Still starboard will not go forward. Any advice?

[RGrew176]

I had the opposite problem with my transmission a few years ago. Mine was stuck in forward and would not go into reverse. In my case it was not the cable it was the transmission. The clutches fused and it would not go into neutral or reverse. A transmission rebuild took care of the problem.

Others here with more knowledge will be able to help. The black transmission fluid definitely scares me that it is something serious. Good luck.

[km1125]

Black fluid is not a good sign (of course!). Probably means it was slipping in you wore your FWD clutches out.

If you're really handy it's not too bad of a job to do. I did mine (also a 3607) about 25 years ago. The worst part is getting the trans and reduction gear out. I pulled them apart to help alleviate the weight.

A couple things you can check first though. One is a line pressure test (screw a gage in one of the top plugs) and the second is the screen at the bottom of the case. IIRC, you have to remove the lower hose and the fitting down there and pull out the screen inside. The screen may be plugged up (but that would probably affect reverse as well).

Also, check the cable adjustment and make sure it's PROPERLY going into the FWD and REV positions... it could be a bit off and only PARTIALLY going into FWD but enough into REV that it's engaging.

[mjk1040]

Black fluid, smoked clutches would be my guess too. R&R the tranny appears to be in order.

[Viper]

Dark fluid is a bad sign. As KM mentioned above, pressures can be checked and ensure you're getting full travel by the cable to engage the gear. You could disconnect the cable at the tranny and shift the lever by hand to ensure you're getting full travel.

Don't know which unit is being used here but if it incorporates a filter, the pump would be affect by a filter restriction in both fwd and rev, but you never know, I've seen stranger things happen.

Do you get shaft creep - shaft turning even when she's in neutral?

Keep us posted.

[Pit stop]

If your fluid is black it is time for a rebuild or new one.
Sorry
Eric

[Cliffm]

Ours was a lack of neutral, it would go forward/reverse, but when in neutral, continued to spin forward. This was teh port side ZF63A trans which was operated "reverse" in order to have LH pitch prop.

I've researched and found that most of the cases of "trans" issues are related to "port" trans, operated in "reversed" mode. Things that make you go Hmmmm? Replaced trans, every thing working great!

I have the original trans, and will attempt a "rebuild" in the future as it only had 239hrs on it.