TMP gearbox trouble

irishejit

Hi folks. Been an avid watcher of this forum, but normally post in a dedicated Freeman owners forum I'm also a member of, but would appreciate any help any of you could suggest. I;ve a Freeman 23, with a Perkins 4108 and a TMP RH offset gearbox.

So was out for our first trip over Easter from Thursday night past, all was going well until Easter Sunday afternoon when without warning I completely lost all drive. I tried to initiate forward drive again but the engine would complelety cut out. Thankfully I was on a narrow stretch of the River Erne, having just come off the broad part of the lake and managed to get the boat pulled in to safety without any mishap to me or my partner, bit of a scary time with winds gusting from 15-30mph at the time.

So after a bit of investigation it turned out the gearbox had run dry, complete novice mistake and one I'll be kicking myself over for years to come. Got it refilled with oil and started again, but after 10 seconds the engine would just stall.

I've had an engineer look at it and the bearing has completely collapsed inside, and I've been quoted £2,500 at least to get the box reconditioned by TMP and then fitted over here. Unfortunatley this is way out of my price range, I just don't have that sort of cash to hand.

As I see it I've a couple of options. First of all (and I probably know the answer to this myself) is there any possibility that there would be a 2nd hand gearbox floating about? I think its a Mk IV TMP but I'd need to double check. I've been trying online and can find nothing at all, and I'd imagine 2nd hand boxes are like hens teeth. This would drastically reduce the engineers fees.

2nd would it be feasible to attempt to fit a reconditioned box myself? Then i'd just be out the price of the box from TMP, but being over here in Ireland as you know the cost is greatly increased due to transportation of a 70kg box across the water. I've been in touch with a few specialists over here and none of them will even consider touching it. The problem is here is I haven't a feckin clue what I'm at lol. Even with doing the work myself the cost is looking to be prohibitive at this time.

3rd, which will probably be the option I'm least keen on but will more than likely have to go with is would anyone be interested in purchasing the boat at a reduced fair price and want to undertake the gearbox work? We've been throwing money at it trying to get it up to scratch and I'm honest I think we've done as much as we can, this last mishap was a complete kick in the teeth after all the work that we've done so far.

Sorry to be so pessimistic for a first post but i'm at my wits end and just can't see a good option out of this.

fergal.b

Sorry to hear your problems it's a tough one, if it was me I would look for a new engine and gearbox and flog the old engine. The TMP's are hard to come by and to get parts for and by the sounds of it very expensive to get repaired you could try someone local and see if they could repair it maybe http://www.truelightmarine.ie/gearbox.html

Best of luck, Don't give up yet.






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reidyj

what part of the country are you in? Guy down near me here in tipp who's fsirly handy with all things marine mechanical that would be worth a chat with. I can pm you his number if you like

Skuxx

As the lads said, don't give up yet! A similar thing has happened me before, gearbox leaked oil through a worn seal and lost all drive! Thankfully no permanent damage to the gearbox! I removed it myself and changed the seal with some guidance from a friend of my dad who was a marine engineer!
I had a slightly different set up to you, being a 4.236 with a borg warner box, but it wasnt a big job to remove!!

fergal.b

"Yacht agencies" might also be worth a call https://www.donedeal.ie/boats-for-sale/marine-gearboxes-borgwarner-new-amp-2nd-hand-ya/3955522 if you do get it reconditioned you should be able to fit it yourself as it's just a nuts and bolts job. I think Beta marine can build you a gearbox with legs to match your angle and offset it might be another option.




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irishejit

Thanks so much for all the advice.

I'd looked into getting a whole new engine and gearbox but keep getting stopped by the offset. If at all possible I want to avoid having to change engine mount positions.

I'm waiting to hear back about a possible 2nd hand box, but failing that I'll give those other fellas a call. I'll have to double check with the guy that originally looked at it as to who he has tried first.

The more and more I look into this I think I'm gonna end up attempting the whole job myself, it's not as if I can really cause any more damage lol

fergal.b

There should be a number on the bearing that you can look up on line to find one the same if no other damage was done it might be a cheeper fix than you think





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Ferris

There were a lot of those boxes in boats on the Shannon over the years. Ex emerald star seamasters had them, usually mated to Perkins 4107/8's so try to find a replacement. Getting the existing one out isn't too big a deal for somebody with average mechanical ability. You'll need to undo the shaft and lift the back of the engine to separate the g/b. We did this in a seamaster 30 with a chain hoist and the g/b was a heavy lift in itself but it'd be easier in your boat as now aft cabin. Use a forklift? Also will be easier to do in the water. Getting the gearbox out yourself will reduce costs and then you can get it repaired by any competent workshop, these are simple g/b's.

Beta engine g/b's can be indexed around to provide an offset iirc. Expensive job but would be lovely in your boat as the 4108 is a rattler. Unlikely to be economically viable however. I'll ask my da if he still has bits for the old tmp.

irishejit

Thanks again guys, sorry it took me so long to get back, was away on a well earned trip minus wifi, great to get away from technology for a wile. The serious business of getting sorted starts now. We may have sourced a 2nd hand box in England to let us away, patiently waiting for them to check if its the correct one that I need.

Cheers too Ferris, if he had any parts that'd be great, and save having to get stuff sent over from England at the same time.

We've been toying with buying a new boat and just taking our time until the right 2nd hand one comes up, rather than lose a pile of monay on it selling it as is now.