SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => V-Drives => Topic started by: Beaveretriever on September 14, 2010, 06:39:12 AM
-
What is the velvet drive for, when hooked up to a casale with a whirl-away? Doesn't the casale have a in gear- out of gear option?
Thanks
The beav
-
A Borg Warner Velvet Drive is a very small transmission (about the size of a basketball) with forward and reverse capability controlled by a set of planetary gears and a "band" they were /are used in Vdive and direct drive boats that have no other reverse capability I have on in my cruiser works very well They're very spendy and a little tough to work on Tom
-
so as long as i dont want reverse then im good to go? the casale im looking at has a handle with a lock, im assuming that the handle would lock it forward right? so there would only be a forward and neutral?
The Beav
-
Pretty much, YUP! The Casale (and the Nicson, and others for that matter) is an in/out of gear box, as I understand it. If you want reverse capability, and in a pleasure craft, not a race boat, I cannot imagine why you wouldn't, it's going to involve a transmission of some sort mounted on the engine on a V-Drive boat.
I've seen TH350's and 400's mounted, HDrider has a Powerglide, but many options are there. As Tom stated, the "velvet" drive is an expensive option, But a LOT depends on the length of the boat, where the V-Drive location is in relation to the engine, what degree the drive is......etc, etc, etc. as to what you can get away with.
A "whirl-a-way", and correct me if I'm wrong here guys, PLEASE. As I understand it, simply disconnects the engine from the propshaft when engine RPM's drop below prop-shaft RPM's. In other words, you lift, the prop shaft is disconnected (and how is beyond me, I would guess spring loaded pawls engaging an advanced loaded gear which would be VERY HP limiting) .
I know in HDRider's boat, 2nd gear on the Pglide is 1:1, so it runs just like his flatty was originally intended to. He only uses low gear in the NWZ. Dunno how reverse works for him, but IMO, as a safety/navigational feature, HAS to be worth something. Just my .02
Ray
-
You dont really want to run a reverse in a low profile boat.You could,but you might sink the boat. :banghead:
-
It comes in handy once inna while. I didnt use it the first three years. My Sanger flatty has more freeboard than Nordies Tahiti Jet. Ya just dont wanna start it up in R and throw a big rev. Some of the v-drive boxes had reverse also, but with the box you have to shut off engine to shift
-
Reverse in a flatbottom is useless pretty much. Learn to fire in gear and turn off before you get to the dock, also get a good paddle.
Where velvets shine is in cruisers, can be had cheap and can be built up strong. Ive run blowermotors and high hp n/a thru them with no problems. Its nice to shift in nuetral while docking or manuvering and to use reverse like brakes. places like BAM and Teauge will do up your velvete drive.
Ive ran th400s before and they take lots of room and you have to shift them (usally reverse pattern and thats a bitch when manuvering). First is useless if your making any good power. Where th400 or other trannys shine is with turbos to get them spooled up with the tall gears. Have fun with what ever you do.