At last I’ve been able to pay attention to my “new” Volvo MSB gearbox. My hope is that it will shift in and out of gear properly unlike the one fitted to Rosie right now (see https://centaurfree.home.blog/2019/06/02/gearbox-grind/).

For the last month or so, this new gearbox has been sitting in our garage unloved. That is, until today!

It is a lot heavier than I remember from my trip to Gillingham, but I am confident that it was worth it.

Aside from it’s corroded exterior, the new gearbox turns easily by hand smoothly and shifts between ahead, neutral and astern easily.

Remembering the fun I had dropping springs inside our gearbox, I thought I’d take a look inside to compare new vs old.

First thing that jumped out (apart from the colour change) is that the cone shift thing in the new gearbox is a different metal, kind of brassy.

Second thing was the total absence of digs, or wear inside. No accumulation of metal particles in the oil either.

Oh for good measure I accidentally dropped the cone shift dog inside (It was inevitable) but had a good look at it after getting it back out with the help of a stiff paperclip (all the grabby magnets are at the boat)

So based on my untrained eye, this new gearbox seems to have had far less wear than my current one.

At the weekend I’m planning to head up to Rosie and to some experimental grinding of fibreglass bits (maybe grind out the osmosis blister on the rudder blade) with my new mini belt sander and Henry Hoover for company. While there I’ll remember to bring home my tin of green engine paint and then I’ll get going with a wire brush back home on the new gearbox.