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Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 2:19 pm
by Tacoma Cavalier
I have a question regarding my starboard Paragon P 32a transmission in 68 CC cavalier. I have not been able to find the an exact answer in the post, so here it goes.....The Cavalier was re-powered with Chevy 350's several years before I purchased it this summer, the starboard engine number 8 cylinder rings and piston gave way and badly scored the cylinder walls. I have a freshly rebuilt 350 marine engine I can use but it is a left hand rotation engine. I have read that the Paragon"s rotation can be reversed by reversing the pump and changing the reverse bands location. I have not been able to find any technical information on this procedure. So my question's are this, can I use the Left hand rotation engine for the starboard (right) engine by changing the rotation of the Paragon P 32a trans? If so does anyone know of any info/manual that covers this procedure? and last does anyone know of a shop or mechanic in the Puget Sound area of Washington state that might be able to do this ?
I got a deal on the boat, a 33 foot 68 Cavalier, in good shape other than the starboard engine and got a better deal on the rebuilt 350, so I am keen on using it, Plus no more counter rotation concerns (at least with the engine).
Thank you in advance and thanks to "keepers" of this post. This Cavalier if my first foray in to the wooden boat world and I have learned much cruising the posts.
Mike in Tacoma

Re: Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 5:13 pm
by drrot
Is the engine in the boat flywheel forward or flywheel aft? If both props spin the same way it's gonna steer funky.

Re: Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 5:17 pm
by Tacoma Cavalier
Flywheel aft.
thanks

Re: Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 8:24 pm
by jim g
Your setting up the pump to match the rotation of the engine. Your doing it so it will pump fluid through the trans to operate. Its not going to make a left hand engine into a right hand engine. There are transmissions available today that will do that.

Now if you want to use the left hand engine in place of the right hand engine. You will have to change the rotation of the pump to match the engine and you will have to put a left hand prop on the boat.

At that point you will no longer have counter rotating engines. So steering in marinas and docking is going to become a lot harder as you will no longer be able to steer the boat with throttles.

My recommendation would be to just change the cam and timing gears in the left hand engine to make it right hand. You also might have to change the front and rear oil seals.

Re: Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 9:07 pm
by drrot
Starboard engine in flywheel aft should be opposite rotation.

Re: Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 9:33 am
by jfrprops
above post are right on. Comment: I am surprised that boat had those trans? Would have expected HF7's?????
Did a lot of work on my 1966 33' Cav.....glad to share any info.

John in Va.

Re: Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:55 pm
by Tacoma Cavalier
Thanks for the information, I will end up getting the starboard 350 rebuilt and selling the left hand rotation rebuilt engine, doesn't matter how good of deal it was if I can't use it. Slowly getting to know this boat with the help of this site and all the other wooden chris fanatics in the Tacoma area. The goal is to have her seaworthy by spring and finish her, we'll to be honest, never. There will always be something.

Re: Paragon 32a rotation

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 3:05 am
by bflaherty
May I suggest a consultation with a professional? Everyone needs good advice now and then. My father has been working on boats for 35+ years in the Seattle area, he has also been a go-to mechanic for the ACBS-PNW group since joining in 1982. Give him a call and he can offer advice, services, and likely have reccomendations on best shops for marine engine rebuilds (I know from experience that automotive shops can easily wreck marine engines). His personal business is Yacht Specialists (206)7-three-0-nine-8-five-3