Trolling Valve

[WoundUpMarine]

I'm curious about putting a trolling valve on my gear. I have a zf63a, and dont really know much about the valves. I know they make one for my gear, and the gear already has a cooler, is there anything else i need for the valve? Is it just a bolt on application, besides getting another single lever control. And if anyone has a trolling valve laying around let me know!!!

thanks!

 

[Tuna Pursuit]

You need a thermostatic valve. I believe mine is an amot. Make sure you get straight threads & use face seal fittings with o-rings. they might try to sell you an amot valve with NPT threads. You won't get them to seal. The trolling valve unit is tricky to install but I did my own. I used a push pull throttle unit like you see on a tractor. It has a fine adjustment by turning it. You can get that on www.mcmaster.com. I would also suggest a pall hyraulic filter in the loop. You can get fine metal shavings from letting the gear slip. The filter will take them out. So not a cheap job to do it right. If you need brackets made I can help you out on that. I have a folder with all the stuff I bought if you need more info.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

To install a trolling valve in a ZF 63a transmission you have to swap out the valve body assy. The valve body is the assy. that the shift lever is bolted to. It only takes about an hour to change. ZF has an optional thermostatic cooler but it is not needed. You also need a vernier control cable. The cable end that attaches to the trolling valve needs to have 10-32 threads like a stanard cable would. You will have to google it to find them.

 

[Tuna Pursuit]

What happens if you don't have the thermostatic valve is when you use the valve the oil temp drops so the viscosity changes & you will have to adjust the valve throttle constantly. On my twin disc the oil wants to run at 150 degrees. Weather you have a trolling valve or not everyone should have an gear oil temp gauge. If you have a gear problem by the time you loose oil pressure the gear is fried. If you have an oil temp gauge, preferably a murphy gauge switch with an alarm, you can see the temp rising & shut it down & save your $5000 gear. Acctually I beleive they have a thermostatic valve with a built in filter now. So you need to control the oil temperature, monitor the oil temp and filter the oil.

 

[CEShawn]

Anyone know where you can easily get Murphy gauge's anymore? Man was so tough a few years ago when I looked...

 

[Tuna Pursuit]

Anyone know where you can easily get Murphy gauge's anymore? Man was so tough a few years ago when I looked...

Try this link


FW Murphy - U.S. Sales Distributors

 

[captainlarry84]

I installed on my ZF 220A gear. It is strictly that a trolling valve. If you plan on using it to slow you down for other reasons such as docking or in land water cruising it is not a good idea.

I use the valve for bass trolling and slow speed shark trolling on windless days and it works great.

I use a Morse single lever control to zero it in plus I installed a transmission pressure gauge to help me zero in on the desired speed. The trolling valve lever is the red knob to starboard. I also installed a large red light which goes on when the trolling valve is in use. The last thing you want to do is forget it is on and throttle up. If you do you will destroy the gear in seconds.