Transmission fluid--steps for changing?

Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
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Mechanic said time to change the transmission fluid on my Westerbeke 27. His brief description of the process made it sound very straight forward.
– Remove dipstick from a warm (stopped) engine.
– Pump out old fluid
– Fill with new fluid up to line on dipstick
– Replace dipstick

Is that it, or is there more to it or something to watch out for?

For a pump, would something like this that West Marine sells work?

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=313820&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50366&subdeptNum=50396&classNum=50402

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343 - Galesville, MD
Morgan 26C #138 - Annapolis, MD (Looking for a new good home)

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Just about anything that will pump fluid will work. Double check your manual, but I believe that you do not screw in the dipstick to check it.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221 (1984)
Sea Harbour Yacht Club
Oriental, NC

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Hi Jim,

First of all, I would certainly ask the “scoundrel” who sold you a boat with dirty old transmission fluid for some sort of concession on this job! We know who I mean!

But I wanted to write because I just did this job myself last week, and it is very easy once you gain access, get set up, and if you have the right equiptment.

Like Joe Valinoti says, most pumps ought to work, and I used a 3qt., manually-operated vacuum pump/recepticle I purchased from West Marine a couple of years ago. Again, like Joe says, and assumming your engine is like mine, you check the level on the Hurth transmission with the “dipstick” resting its lowest threads on the top threads of the filler hole, i.e. don’t screw the dipstick in.

Ed Cook
Chat-eau N26c #173

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I just did a transmission oil change, using the equipment, (which I borrowed from the Club yard), that your URL showed as on sale at West Marine, and it was that simple. Note that the engine manual instructions make it clear that when assessing the oil level, just drop the dip stick in. Do not screw it down. Some mechanics might argue that the transmission fluid is thin enough that warming is not necessary. Some argue that running the engine for a bit stirs up any crud in the transmission, which comes out with the fluid.

Doug.

Douglas Y. Caldwell,

Toronto, Canada

Nonsuch 30 U, #353, 1986

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Doug is absolutely correct !! Just drop the stick to read the level.
There should be a drain plug on the bottom of the transmission, but it’s not worth messing around with, as long as you have a method to extract the fluid from the top. Also replace the fluid with a DEXRON III ATF fluid as recommended by Hurth manufacturer.

Jack Dokter
Nine Lives 1983 26C W21 #099
Penetanguishene, Ont