Velvet Drive Repair Tips

Velvet Drive Transmissions, a division of the Regal-Beloit Corporation, manufactures marine and industrial transmissions, or gearboxes, in South Carolina and Wisconsin. The company's marine transmissions are suitable for ski boats, cruisers, fishing boats, trawlers and yachts. It also designs industrial transmissions for off-highway vehicles such as forklift trucks, cranes, airport tow tractors and mining and forestry equipment.

  1. Disassembly Tips

    • The disassembly process is specific to individual transmissions, but certain general tips are applicable to many models. First, place the transmission on a clean bench in an upright position, then loosen the main shaft nut. Remove the reduction housing and attached parts, such as the ring gear and the main shaft assembly. Remove the pinion cage assembly, then the reduction adapter and attached parts, such as the sun gear assembly. Disassemble the ring gear, main shaft, coupling and bearing from the reduction housing, followed by the forward and reverse transmission.

    Cleanliness

    • The Velvet Drive marine transmission service manuals stress the importance of cleanliness during disassembly, inspection and reassembly of their transmissions. Remove the plugs from the transmission case passages so that you can clean them thoroughly. Use compressed air to dry parts rather than wiping them dry with a rag or cloth. These may leave lint behind, which can foul the valves and compromise their action. Compressed air is available in spray cans with a trigger and drinking straw-type attachment for targeted application.

    Replacement of Defective Parts

    • Carefully inspect all parts for wear and damage and replace any defective parts. Replace gaskets, oil seals and rubber parts except in the case of new units. Make a judgment about whether these need replacing. When you install the oil seals and bearings, do not hammer them into position as this can damage them. Instead, use an arbor press. This is a small, hand-operated press, usually made of cast metal, with a ram driven by a rack and pinion to supply the force. You will need to use suitable fixtures and tools in conjunction with the arbor press to properly align the parts being assembled.

    Lubrication and Reassembly

    • You should reassemble your transmission in the opposite order of how you disassembled it. This may seem obvious, but sometimes gets overlooked. A good tip is to use automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to lubricate parts as they are assembled. This fluid is usually green or red in color so that it does not get confused with motor oil and other fluids. Use petroleum jelly on gaskets or other parts that need to be held in position during reassembly. You will find that lubricated parts assemble more freely than dry parts. With reference to the recommended torque, tighten all bolts and screws evenly.