'83 Velvet Drive Transmission Problem

[indypopeye]

I think the trany is going on my 1983 corinthian trimaran. The velvet drive trany is making a loud sandy or gravel sound for the past two days. It also now is getting harder to go into gear when you shift it in, you must raise the r p ms to get it to grab into gear. In reverse it reacts very normal. Is it a bearing or worse?

[Chief Engineer]

The good thing is that thee are a blue million velvet drives out there...and a lot of people who rebuild them. You can get the rebuild kits from www.marinegears.com they are in Fort Laudersale

[captain58sailin]

If you are a careful, meticulous type, you can rebuild it yourself, they are not that difficult. I rebuilt one and it was my very first transmission rebuild of any sort, and it worked fine, until the motor in my boat crapped out. A clean place to work and a manual is a must. And an air compressor.