velvet drive

[Hawk78]

I just bought a 1974 sea ray srv240. I have been repairing engines and drives for a while done my share of old alphas and bravos some volvos and omc. I have never messed with one of these velvet drives. Are they any good how do they compare to a bravo for reliabilty? Whatever feedback you have on this I would appreciate since I know very little about them.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: velvet drive

They are very good transmissions, built much like a cars automatic transmission, except single speed and no torque converter.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: velvet drive

If you have the velvet drive trans than you must also have the TR or TRS drive. This is a heavy duty bullet proof set up. The shafts and gears in them are much larger than the others. Note the size of the drive compared to the Alpha's or Bravo's. Most likely it's a TRS drive which uses a 14 1/2" prop compared to the TR which uses a 19" prop. The velvet drive applies clutches hydraulically for a smooth transition into gear. No clunking into gear like the others. Also the u-joints and shafts in the drive are only turning when in gear and not all the time the engine is running, there fore it uses a belt driven water pump on front of the engine. These are rated for approximately twice the horsepower of an Alpha.

 

[Hawk78]

Re: velvet drive

Thanks for the insight guys. Is there oil in the lower unit of the TR drive if so how do you change it, i see no plugs like the alpha and bravo drives?

 

[picklenjim]

Re: velvet drive

Thanks for the insight guys. Is there oil in the lower unit of the TR drive if so how do you change it, i see no plugs like the alpha and bravo drives?

There is a plug . It's on the port side of the nose in the lower unit. Also there is a reservoir in side the boat on the transom. It has a dipstick in it. You always check the level in the reservoir.If it's a TR it holds 4 qts. of lube. If it's a TRS it holds 3 qts.. Then the reservoir holds 1 qt.. You can download the manual in the Sticky Adults Only at the top of the merc section. Just follow the link below. Go down to Mercruiser Service Manuals and download Manual #5 TR/TRS Drives. The transmission will be in one of the other manuals. Probably #2 or #3. Not sure.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

Props go out to all the fine people of this forum who made access to these manuals possible!