[C320-list] Question regarding transmission fluid

[Beau Black via C320-list]

Probably silly question; when checking the transmission fluid level do you screw the plastic gauge in or not?
Beau Black
#344
Sent from my iPhone

[Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list]

Do not screw in and be gentle. I think the replacement was around $50.
Thanks,
Mike Stumpfoll

On Oct 15, 2025, at 5:14 PM, Beau Black via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

Probably silly question; when checking the transmission fluid level do you screw the plastic gauge in or not?

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

What engine did you have?  Helps to be clear since you get the correct answer.
For the Perkins M30, you just sit the transmission dip stick down without screwing it in. Pick it back up to read the stick (very hard to see the fluid especially if the fluid is new/fresh).
Dave Hupe 
1994 C320 #32

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

On Wed, Oct 15, 2025 at 6:13 PM, Beau Black via C320-list<c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: Probably silly question; when checking the transmission fluid level do you screw the plastic gauge in or not?

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

Replacement of what Mike?

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

On Wed, Oct 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM, Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list<c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote: Do not screw in and be gentle. I think the replacement was around $50.

[Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list]

The orange plastic top to the dipstick/vent. Age, heat, and oil turns the plastic soft. There is a guy that is making them out of aluminum, but i just bought a replacement Yanmar part hoping they have better plastic. But if the first one lasted 25 years, the replacement should outlive me. It is a clever design, the hollow tube allows the transmission oil to expand and vent out of the small hole in the plastic top.
Thanks,
Mike Stumpfoll

On Oct 15, 2025, at 5:46 PM, Dave Hupe via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

Replacement of what Mike?

[Bob Wyllner via C320-list]

Going back to the original question, I have read conflicting information on whether the cap should be screwed in or set on top to properly measure the level on my 3ym30.

Historically I measured by setting on top, but more recently I’ve measured by screwing in all the way based on the fact that much of the mixed researched leaned more towards that direction. (The transmission owners manual that I found on line did not cover this unfortunately. Mine is a Kanzaki / KM2P-1)

I be interested to see what others are doing.

The other challenge as we are all no doubt painfully aware is being able to see the level on the dip stick so clear is the oil. :)

Bob Wyllner. Hull 1039

On Oct 15, 2025, at 7:20 PM, Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

The orange plastic top to the dipstick/vent. Age, heat, and oil turns the plastic soft. There is a guy that is making them out of aluminum, but i just bought a replacement Yanmar part hoping they have better plastic. But if the first one lasted 25 years, the replacement should outlive me. It is a clever design, the hollow tube allows the transmission oil to expand and vent out of the small hole in the plastic top.

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

I think I read a tip somewhere to spray paint/coat the dipstick (cleaned very well first) with a white heat resistant paint that makes it much easier to see the level of the red trans fluid. I have not done it so still struggle trying to evaluate the level on my Perkins engine (Hurth transmission). 

Dave Hupe 
1994 C320 #32

[Brian McLamb via C320-list]

I have always screwed it back on gently. No need to secure like you were
preparing to motor away. Agree that a flashlight is needed to see the oil
sheen on the dip stick

S/V Serenity #1075

Brian McLamb

[Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list]

In the yanmar service manual chapter 10 it says “when checking the oil level with the dipstick do not screw in the oil filler screw; it should rest on top of the oil filler hole”

This can also be verified the next time you sick the oil out and replace it with the measured amount.

This is also consistent with every other screw in type dipstick I have come across. Screwing it in is to secure it, not to measure it.

Thanks,
Mike Stumpfoll

On Oct 16, 2025, at 11:21 AM, Brian McLamb via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

I have always screwed it back on gently. No need to secure like you were

[Bob Wyllner via C320-list]

Thanks for the input folks! Good stuff!

On Oct 16, 2025, at 11:56 AM, Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

In the yanmar service manual chapter 10 it says “when checking the oil level with the dipstick do not screw in the oil filler screw; it should rest on top of the oil filler hole”

[bobwyllner--- via C320-list]

Hello Folks

On my 2005 hull number 1039 I have water that collects just in front of my stuffing box. I also have water that collects in the compartment just to port where my fresh water pump is located. Water here collects in the forward starboard corner of that compartment.

Does anyone know how or if this water is to drain into the main bilge? I suspect there may be small drain holes that have become blocked that I can't get eye on because they may be under the fair amount of hoses or the raw water strainer.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

[Jack Brennan via C320-list]

On my 1998 boat, there is a hose that runs from starboard of the drive shaft to the main bilge. Usually, it keeps water from building and running into the pan under the diesel. However, it has clogged periodically and needed to be cleaned out.

As for the water near the freshwater pump, there are a couple of possibilities. The most obvious is a drip somewhere in your water system. That should be easy to detect once you turn on the pump.

Less obvious is if the copper line for your fridge is not sealed properly in the exit hole as it runs back from the compartment to the compressor. I had a drip there from fridge condensation when the plumber's putty that provided the seal failed.

Lastly, water could be getting in from the port cockpit locker, although mine has a good drainage system that prevents that.

What puzzles me is how the water collects there on your boat. On mine, the water seems to drain automatically down to the main bilge through a path near the fridge and the sink.

Good luck.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.

________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of bobwyllner--- via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2025 12:35 PM
To: C320...@catalina320.com <C320...@catalina320.com>
Cc: bobwy...@comcast.net <bobwy...@comcast.net>
Subject: [C320-list] Bilge Drain Question

[Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list]

I had a small leak in the air conditioning pump that let water into this area. The water eventually jumped over the dam and then into the engine tray and then into the hole where the battery cable enters. Then to the bilge. These areas aren’t supposed to drain to the bilge since you are trying to keep oil out of the bilge. Since fixing my leak there is no water in these locations. The stuffing box drips so little with modern flax, it is almost leak proof. I also run a small AC dehumidifier in the cabin 24/7 that keeps the boat dry and fresh smelling. For a 25 year old boat, I have almost no rain leaks.
Thanks,
Mike

On Oct 27, 2025, at 12:38 PM, bobwyllner--- via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

Hello Folks

[bobwyllner--- via C320-list]

Thanks for this Jack!

The only lines/hoses that run starboard of my drive shaft are the raw water from filter to pump and the two (supply and return) fuel lines. I'll look again closer for another hose as you've described next time I'm on board.

Regarding the port compartment: I've watched my water pump while both bumping and static under pressure and have not noted any leak. l don't see my refrigerator line and assume it must run between the inner and outer hull. I'll need to look for that and the possibility of the cockpit locker leak although I've never noted any sign of water inside.

Thanks again

Bob


________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Jack Brennan via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2025 1:10 PM
To: C320...@catalina320.com <C320...@catalina320.com>
Cc: Jack Brennan <jackbre...@outlook.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge Drain Question

[bobwyllner--- via C320-list]

Thank Mike

You are onto something here as when I run my AC (which was almost constantly at the dock this past summer), my bilge pump kicked on every 3 or 4 hours assumingly from condensation from the AC unit. I assumed this was normal but I'm unclear how the water makes it from the starboard rear compartment (where my AC is located) to the main bilge, but it does. Perhaps this water is pooling in my rear compartments as noted.


________________________________
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Michael Stumpfoll via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2025 1:18 PM
To: C320...@catalina320.com <C320...@catalina320.com>
Cc: Michael Stumpfoll <mi...@stumpfoll.com>

Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge Drain Question

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

It may seem like a far distance away, but I have had problems over the years with leakage from the emergency tiller port. I have replaced the whole port/housing twice (including just recently). Leakage here can drip down and then migrate forward on both sides and show up in the front, low corners of the 2 compartments on both sides of the central shaft/packing gland area. 
Another very significant leak that could migrate forward on the port side was from the propane tank "pan" (the compartment that the tank sits down in). The whole pan is held down with 4 screws from the top and the seal on the top of mine was all dried out leaking significantly.  The way this compartment is designed is not like your other compartments.  It does not have a lip to prevent leakage from rainwater, etc. 

Dave Hupe
1994 C320 #32

[surprise thompson87.com via C320-list]

You may be looking too far to starboard. On my 1999 boat the drain for the stuffing box compartment is more or less in line with the shaft at the very bottom / forward end of the compartment. It looks more like a drain that runs forward under the engine pan. It may be a hose, but all I see is the opening.

T. Scott Thompson
Catalina 320 "Surprise," #653 (1999)
surp...@thompson87.com

[Dave Hupe via C320-list]

I too only have an open hole at the rear end of the engine pan that leads forward under the engine. I understand a hose/pipe should have been installed there to route any drainage from the packing gland under the engine pan and directly into the bilge. On my early boat with the shallow bilge (and without that hose), water gets into my structural grid which is not good. Therefore, I am really diligent to not allow water to collect near my packing gland and possibly drain down into my structural grid. Using Gore GFO packing allows me to really minimize any dripping while motoring and have zero dripping while idle. 
Dave Hupe
19954 C320 #32

[Charles Munro via C320-list]

Bob
I also had fresh water collecting in the compartment near the freshwater
pump
After much searching I recently found that the source was the emergency
tiller cover in the deck (in heavy rain events)
I replaced the O Ring and cover seals, together with using silicon sealer
liberally to try and keep the rainwater from collecting
This seemed to stop the problem, but I do check the compartment after each
major rain event. So far it has been dry
Good Luck
Charles Munro
2005 #1011

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of
bobwyllner--- via C320-list
Sent: Tuesday, 28 October 2025 3:35 AM
To: C320...@catalina320.com
Cc: bobwy...@comcast.net

[Colleen Clay via C320-list]

Our boat is a 1995 and had rubber plugs between all the various bilge compartments. Colleen. Legacy 273
Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 27, 2025, at 10:27, bobwyllner--- via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks for this Jack!

[WindSwept via C320-list]

I have a 1995 too. Catalina issued a drawing for the shallow bilge
Design showing where to drill holes in the stringers so that trapped water could flow to the bilge and be pumped overboard. If water gets into this area I use a wet vac with I piece of tubing to suck it out. When empty I put rubber plugs in the holes to keep water out.

Larry
WindSwept #246

> On Oct 28, 2025, at 11:20 AM, Colleen Clay via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
> Our boat is a 1995 and had rubber plugs between all the various bilge compartments. Colleen. Legacy 273

[Bob Wyllner via C320-list]

Larry, Jack, Charles, Dave, Scott and Colleen

Thank you all for weighing in and providing your input and guidance. I’m anxious to get back on board and hunt this down.

Bob

On Oct 28, 2025, at 3:12 PM, WindSwept via C320-list <c320...@lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

I have a 1995 too. Catalina issued a drawing for the shallow bilge