R-21EC Going from Forward to Reverse

[baz]

Subject: R-21EC Going from Forward to Reverse

My R-21EC is a 2016 model with the Volvo 30HP engine.

I understand that when moving the throttle from Forward to Reverse that it is advised that one pause a short while in Neutral as the lever is moved from Forward to Reverse. Not doing this can cause gear tooth grinding/mismatching/clunking.

Just how long should the pause in Neutral position be ?

I try as best I can to pause maybe a second, but wonder if this is enough. Of course, moving from Forward to Reverse is required at times to be rapid to help with boat navigation in close quarters and this kind of prevents sufficient pausing in Neutral. How do others deal with this situation when Reverse is needed in short order ?

Thanks. 🙂

 

[SGIDAVE]

Subject: R-21EC Going from Forward to Reverse


Just how long should the pause in Neutral position be ?

I try as best I can to pause maybe a second, but wonder if this is enough. Of course, moving from Forward to Reverse is required at times to be rapid to help with boat navigation in close quarters and this kind of prevents sufficient pausing in Neutral. How do others deal with this situation when Reverse is needed in short order ?

Thanks. 🙂

Hello Barry,

when Reverse is needed in short order ?

I do this by ANTICIPATING the need for reverse, as when approaching a dock, and ensuring my approach is a idle speed, so I can quickly apply reverse.

The "pause" needs to be long enough to allow the engine to return to "idle" speed before shifting into F or R. So, as you can imagine, the length of the "pause" will vary depending if you have just revved the engine in, say reverse, and now you need to return to Forward gear. OTOH, if you are ALREADY at idle speed, then you can shift from F to R with a VERY brief pause.

Look here for further discussion; you ask the same question in September 2015 and several good comments are contained in that thread.

dave

 

[baz]

Dave: Yes.... it was just a follow-up to see if any more useful advice was available. I'm careful about this issue as I hate to hear the gears clashing and making a nasty clunking sound. I'm training my son and son-in-law on using the boat and this situation is one I want them to be proficient with and understand why pausing in neutral is sometimes necessary.

Thanks.

 

[REO6205]

A slight clunking noise isn't anything to worry about but if you're hearing any kind of grinding noise when you shift you need to get the transmission looked at. Soon.

 

[Scuffy]

I usually at an idle bump the transmission back and forth between neutral and forward or reverse and neutral when going in stern first into a slip. If it's not a current or in a windy situation. I like to go to neutral to see how we are doing and then just go in and out of gear. Never going faster than what speed that you would want to have contact with docks ,pilings etc. At an idle I don't think you need to do more than a brief pause if any when switching from forward to reverse. I think Volvo recommends changing the transmission oil and filter at about 250 hours.