One thing gets fixed, another falls from grace. My fan problem on the refer--solved---fan gave up the ghost and a new one from RParts works. Now, though, this happened: There we were Saturday coming back to the slip---no wind---until all of a sudden the transmission began to make a knocking noise like crazy. I jumped down to see if anything was obvious and it appeared that the rpm's had slowed. It sounded like bolts in a tin can that some kid was rattling until then everything stopped. The engine continued to run, but there was no way to engage the forward gear. At first I thought it was the linkage, but no. Nevertheless, I am not certain what to do regarding the transmission. I can take it out, but do I get it fixed or replace it with a new one? It is a Hurth gear, so they are around AND was rebuilt in Miami five years ago, so I don't know. The transmission is attached to a Universal 5444. The boat is a 1982 Pearson cutter. The engine is now called an M-50, owned by Westerbeake, and has gone through some iterations. The Hurth unit is now the HBW-150, though mine is not that. I actually don't know what the number on the transmission is. I can shift into reverse, no forward, though. In the meantime, if you have an idea, I'd like to hear it.

Mike Meier