Water in Velvet Drive

[sanibel sailor]

I bought an engine with a BW Velvet drive transmission. The fluid in it looks like Pepto Bismol. I don't know if it is salt or fresh. It turns easily and does not seem to grind by hand. I do not have any way to run it to tell if it works, Is the water in it fatal?

[capt-couillon]

Probably salt if you have a separate cooler for the gear.... Bearings and planetary gears will probably survive, but clutch discs swell, and eventually you will no longer be able to shift out of gear. DIY rebuild is possible, but clearance setup on the clutch packs is critical and a bit tricky at times. Good smooth box and worth a rebuild in my opinion.

[zeehag]

you will need to disassemble it and clean it and probably rebuild it so it will continue to function, if it does, or function at all, if it doesnt.
water does not belong inside engines and transmissions. remove the old goo and make new.
i believe these take dextron tranny fluid. (mine does) have fun.

[OceansFive]

If it's water mixing with the tranny fluid, then you should find out where it is coming from as your priority. Is there a pinhole leak in the heat exchanger? A pressure test can determine that.

If not, your hard work and $ will be wasted.

[sanibel sailor]

Engine was sitting in a yard with out cover, had hoses off and no cooler in sight. Possible rainwater into exposed hoses vs cooling leak.