Empathy List Archives

BA

Bob Austin

Wed, Jul 20, 2005 1:39 AM

Are there better transmissions than the BW Velvet drive? Yes, Is it a bad
transmission? No. I have had one failure on one--due to a broken engine
mount--and put a total of well over 100,000 miles on these transmissions.
That is pretty good service!

I don't happen to own one currently, but certainly would not replace one on a
boat I purchased.

Bob Austin

Are there better transmissions than the BW Velvet drive? Yes, Is it a bad transmission? No. I have had one failure on one--due to a broken engine mount--and put a total of well over 100,000 miles on these transmissions. That is pretty good service! I don't happen to own one currently, but certainly would not replace one on a boat I purchased. Bob Austin

T

trawlerphil

Wed, Jul 20, 2005 1:52 AM

I got over 6,000 hours on my starboard unit before it went Tango Uniform.
The Starboard unit has to run back-asswards so it will fail first. Replaced
it with one of Bob Smith's Twin Disks and it's great. Port Velvet drive is
still humming along after 7,000 hours.

                                      Regards....

Phil Rosch
Old Harbor Consulting
M/V Curmudgeon MT-44TC
Currently lying Bond Creek, Pamlico River, NC

I got over 6,000 hours on my starboard unit before it went Tango Uniform. The Starboard unit has to run back-asswards so it will fail first. Replaced it with one of Bob Smith's Twin Disks and it's great. Port Velvet drive is still humming along after 7,000 hours. Regards.... Phil Rosch Old Harbor Consulting M/V Curmudgeon MT-44TC Currently lying Bond Creek, Pamlico River, NC

BH

Brent Hodges

Wed, Jul 20, 2005 12:51 PM

Port Velvet drive is still humming along after 7,000 hours.

Regards.... Phil Rosch

So, I take it that your port tranny doesn't burp fluid out the vent like so
many of ours do?

So far, other than this little "burping problem", My velvet drives have been
flawless, despite BOTH sitting and running with salt water intrusion due to
leaking coolers. That was about 1000 hours ago, and I think that if it was
going to cause a major problem, I'd know it by now. I do worry about them
some, due to all the problems I HEAR about, but my experience hasn't
warrantied it.

Brent Hodges

Port Velvet drive is still humming along after 7,000 hours. > Regards.... Phil Rosch So, I take it that your port tranny doesn't burp fluid out the vent like so many of ours do? So far, other than this little "burping problem", My velvet drives have been flawless, despite BOTH sitting and running with salt water intrusion due to leaking coolers. That was about 1000 hours ago, and I think that if it was going to cause a major problem, I'd know it by now. I do worry about them some, due to all the problems I HEAR about, but my experience hasn't warrantied it. Brent Hodges

B

blkswn@telus.net

Wed, Jul 20, 2005 8:11 PM

Aha! I on the other hand, have had nothing but continuous problems with my
Borg Warner vee drives, or more specifically, the starboard vee drive
gearcase. I am the first to admit that I have had no real issues with the F/R
unit, designated as a 72C, or the Port transmission, but the starboard
veedrive has caused me nothing short of 5 years of intense frustration. To
make a long story short, the starboard gearcase has a tendency to crunch final
drive bearings and gears. The "cascade failure" that follows has devastated
numerous rebuilds. For the full story, see "Living Aboard Forums" maintenance
issues an repairs section. You may have to search the archives, it's been a
while since I posted there.

I have since given up and resloved to convert my 30 ft. Reinell Sedan cruiser
with the "Swedish Twins" (2 x Volvo TAMD40 diesels), to waterjets. All that
stuff that hangs down magically goes away! This propulsion system will better
suit our primary cruising grounds of the Fraser River anyway. Now we just have
to save up for the conversion. Our best estimate, around $20K Cdn.

Port Velvet drive is still humming along after 7,000 hours.

Regards.... Phil Rosch

Aha! I on the other hand, have had nothing but continuous problems with my Borg Warner vee drives, or more specifically, the starboard vee drive gearcase. I am the first to admit that I have had no real issues with the F/R unit, designated as a 72C, or the Port transmission, but the starboard veedrive has caused me nothing short of 5 years of intense frustration. To make a long story short, the starboard gearcase has a tendency to crunch final drive bearings and gears. The "cascade failure" that follows has devastated numerous rebuilds. For the full story, see "Living Aboard Forums" maintenance issues an repairs section. You may have to search the archives, it's been a while since I posted there. I have since given up and resloved to convert my 30 ft. Reinell Sedan cruiser with the "Swedish Twins" (2 x Volvo TAMD40 diesels), to waterjets. All that stuff that hangs down magically goes away! This propulsion system will better suit our primary cruising grounds of the Fraser River anyway. Now we just have to save up for the conversion. Our best estimate, around $20K Cdn. Port Velvet drive is still humming along after 7,000 hours. > > > Regards.... Phil Rosch

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trawlerphil

Thu, Jul 21, 2005 3:13 AM

My remaining velvet drive doesn't use much ATF. I add an ounce or two every
few hundred hours. I fill it to the full mark cold without the engine
running and have for the last 14 years.

                                      Regards....

Phil Rosch
Old Harbor Consulting
M/V Curmudgeon MT-44TC
Currently lying Bond Creek, Pamlico River, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Hodges [mailto:vbhodges@cableone.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 8:52 AM
To: trawlerphil@earthlink.net; 'Trawler world'
Subject: Re: T&T: velvet drive reliability

Port Velvet drive is still humming along after 7,000 hours.

Regards.... Phil Rosch

So, I take it that your port tranny doesn't burp fluid out the vent like so
many of ours do?

So far, other than this little "burping problem", My velvet drives have been
flawless, despite BOTH sitting and running with salt water intrusion due to
leaking coolers. That was about 1000 hours ago, and I think that if it was
going to cause a major problem, I'd know it by now. I do worry about them
some, due to all the problems I HEAR about, but my experience hasn't
warrantied it.

Brent Hodges

My remaining velvet drive doesn't use much ATF. I add an ounce or two every few hundred hours. I fill it to the full mark cold without the engine running and have for the last 14 years. Regards.... Phil Rosch Old Harbor Consulting M/V Curmudgeon MT-44TC Currently lying Bond Creek, Pamlico River, NC -----Original Message----- From: Brent Hodges [mailto:vbhodges@cableone.net] Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 8:52 AM To: trawlerphil@earthlink.net; 'Trawler world' Subject: Re: T&T: velvet drive reliability Port Velvet drive is still humming along after 7,000 hours. > Regards.... Phil Rosch So, I take it that your port tranny doesn't burp fluid out the vent like so many of ours do? So far, other than this little "burping problem", My velvet drives have been flawless, despite BOTH sitting and running with salt water intrusion due to leaking coolers. That was about 1000 hours ago, and I think that if it was going to cause a major problem, I'd know it by now. I do worry about them some, due to all the problems I HEAR about, but my experience hasn't warrantied it. Brent Hodges

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

velvet drive reliability