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Identify your transmission
Most questions start here: which transmission is this, and what ratio is it?
ID tagHow to Read a Velvet Drive ID TagThe Velvet Drive ID tag shows the model number, ratio and serial number.
RatioIdentify Your Velvet Drive or ZF Transmission and RatioThe part number prefix tells you the series (1017=71C, 1018=72C, 1004/1005=V-drive, 1013/1014=CR-2, 2001/20...
Part numbersBorg Warner to Velvet Drive Part Number Cross-ReferenceOn a cast-iron Velvet Drive, the number starts with 10-17 (71C in-line), 10-18 (72C in-line), 10-04 (71C V-...
Parts diagramVelvet Drive 71C/72C parts diagramThe factory exploded view with item numbers, part numbers and the kits each part comes in.Browse by model
Pick your transmission family for its guide, videos and parts.
ParagonService and rebuildsRead the guide →
▶ 10 videos
CR-21013 / 1014-xxxShop parts →
Series guide▶ 13 videos
Series guides
Browse by symptom
Start from what the boat is doing. Each page covers the likely causes and what to check first.
Start here: symptom to causeVelvet Drive Troubleshooting: Symptom to CauseVelvet Drive's own service manual sorts problems into five buckets: leaks, no drive either way, drive in only one direction, trouble in neutral, and noise or vibration.Open the guide →71/72 Front Seals Blowing Out: OEM vs. Aftermarket PumpsChris has never had a current Velvet Drive 71/72 pump blow its front seal: it has a guard and the seal is pressed in...Creeping Neutral and Selector Valve ProblemsA little creep in neutral on an old Velvet Drive that stops when you hold it can be normal.Finding and Fixing Transmission LeaksTrace a leak to its source with gray primer or baby powder before fixing anything.Impact Damage vs. Normal WearNormal wear leaves indentations where steel plates ride on the clutch gear teeth.Lost Reverse: Overheated or Shattered Reverse ClutchesLost reverse in a 71/72 series Velvet Drive is usually shattered reverse plates that take out the springs, most often...Low Transmission Pressure and Slipping: CausesLow pressure is what makes a Velvet Drive feel like it's slipping.Metal on the Dipstick: When to WorryA few small metal particles on the dipstick are normal wear.No Forward but Reverse Works: Velvet Drive CausesReverse working while forward doesn't should start with the cheap checks: fluid level, pump rotation, the shift cable...Noise in Gear: Damper Plate or Transmission?A knock or clatter at idle or low rpm that clears up above about 1,000 rpm points to the engine or a worn damper plat...Output Nut Backing Off: Coupling DamageA backed-off output coupling nut lets the coupling move in and out and cut a groove in the bearing.Overheating Transmissions: Signs and CausesOverheating leaves signs: bluing, burnt or welded clutch plates, graphite in the clutch drum, a melted baffle, a brit...Paper vs. Bronze Clutch PlatesBorg Warner used paper clutch plates in Velvet Drives from about 1980 to the mid-80s; bronze is used today.Pink or Milky Transmission Fluid: Water ContaminationPink, red or milky fluid means water got into the transmission.Snap Rings Installed Wrong: What Goes WrongSnap rings have an up side and a down side and a specific spot in the clutch pack: two on a 71 series, three on a 72.Velvet Drive Clunks When Shifting: What It MeansA clunk or bang shifting into gear is usually the idle set too fast, not the transmission.Velvet Drive Stuck in Forward: Causes and ChecksA Velvet Drive that's truly stuck in forward, meaning it won't shift to neutral or reverse at all, usually has warped...Velvet Drive Whine, Rattle or Clunk: What's NormalA whine in reverse is normal on a 71 or 72 series cast-iron Velvet Drive; it's the reverse planetary gearing, and it...Won't Shift? Check the Cable Before the TransmissionDisconnect the shift cable at the transmission and move the lever by hand before you assume a shifting complaint is t...
How-to guides
How we do the common jobs, from changing pump rotation to a full rebuild.
RotationChanging Pump Rotation on a Velvet DriveOn a cast-iron 71C, 72C or 1004/1005 V-drive, loosen the pump bolts, tap the pump loose, rotate it 180 degr...RotationVelvet Drive Rotation: LH vs RH Engines ExplainedVelvet Drive calls a counterclockwise-at-the-flywheel engine "left hand"; ZF's paperwork calls that identic...
AlignmentVelvet Drive Shaft Alignment: The Factory MethodVelvet Drive's coupling alignment spec is 0.003 in maximum, about the thickness of a piece of paper.
FluidVelvet Drive Transmission Fluid: What to Use and WhyWe recommend a Dexron III-type ATF, no synthetics, additives or stop-leak.
MaintenanceVelvet Drive Maintenance by ModelEvery Velvet Drive needs a Dexron III-type fluid, a cooler replaced on time, a clean coupling face within 3...
CoolersWhen to Replace Your Transmission CoolerReplace the transmission cooler about every 5 years in fresh water or the Great Lakes and every 2 years in...CoolersTransmission Heat Exchangers & CoolersReplace transmission coolers about every five years in fresh water and every two years in salt water, and r...
FiltersTransmission Filter Locations by ModelFilter service depends on the model: a 71/72 series unit may have a spring and washer, a small screen or no...SailboatsCan You Freewheel a Velvet Drive While Sailing?Yes. Velvet Drive's manuals say its transmissions can be freewheeled without damage while sailing or trolli...
RepowerRepowering With a Velvet Drive: Ratio, HP, RotationA repower has to let the engine reach its rated rpm: the engine, ratio, transmission and prop are one package.Rebuild kitsWhich Velvet Drive Rebuild Kit Do I Need?On a 71C/72C, seals and clutch parts are separate factory kits: A4867HA covers seals, A4867AE/AB covers the...
RebuildsVelvet Drive Rebuild Mistakes We See on the BenchA lot of the rebuild mistakes we see on the bench are small substitutions: grease where silicone belongs, c...
RebuildsHow We Rebuild a Marine TransmissionFull teardown and inspection, a brand new pump on every transmission, cleanup and primer, then an hour and...
ShiftingThe Five-Second Shifting Rule for Marine TransmissionsTake five seconds going from forward to neutral to reverse and you'll never break the reverse clutches.
Safety switchVelvet Drive Neutral Safety Switch: Where and HowThe neutral safety switch keeps the starter from cranking the engine unless the shift lever is in the neutr...
SpacersCollapsible vs. Solid Output Shaft SpacersSome late-70s and early-80s Velvet Drives used a collapsible output spacer crushed at the factory to set to...
RotationRunning a Velvet Drive in Reverse for ForwardDon't run a cast-iron 71/72 series Velvet Drive in reverse to go forward; it melts and destroys the gears.
CouplingDon't Paint the Coupling FaceVelvet Drive's spec is 3 thousandths of an inch maximum between the transmission coupling and the prop shaf...Specs and reference
Factory numbers, each with the document it came from.
TorqueVelvet Drive 71C/72C Torque Specs (1017/1018)Table 4 of the 1988 Borg-Warner service manual gives dry torque values for every 71C/72C (1017/1018) bolt a...PressureVelvet Drive Oil Pressure Specs by SeriesAt 140°F, a 71C, 72C or 1004/1005 with the current black control-valve spring reads about 115-180 psi from...SpecsVelvet Drive Specs: Weights, Capacities, RatiosWeights, capacities and ratios differ by series: a 71C direct drive is 95 lb and 2 qt, a 72C V-drive is 203...Rebuild specs71C/72C Rebuild Specs: Clearances and Snap Rings71C clutch clearance runs 0.018-0.053 in for bronze and paper packs; 72C is 0.035-0.055 in bronze and 0.021...HorsepowerHow Much HP Can a 71C or 72C Handle?Per the 1988 factory service manual, a 71C's maximum input is 310 hp gas / 182 hp diesel; a 72C's is 475 hp...ManualsVelvet Drive Manuals: Service and Owner's LibraryVelvet Drive's factory manuals are mirrored as public PDFs by parts distributors, split by unit: 71C/72C in...GlossaryVelvet Drive Glossary: Parts and Terms ExplainedA plain-language glossary of the Velvet Drive terms used across this site, from AS numbers and assembly num...
History and buying
HistoryVelvet Drive History: Paragon to Correct CraftParagon Gear Works patented the reversible marine transmission pump in the early 1950s; Borg-Warner copied...Rebuild costWhat Does a Velvet Drive Rebuild Cost?A Velvet Drive rebuild costs more or less depending on the model, how much is damaged inside, and whether i...Buying a boatBuying a Boat with a V-Drive? Read This FirstCast-iron Velvet Drive V-drives (1004/1005 series) are obsolete.Velvet Drive vs ZFVelvet Drive vs ZF/Hurth: The Differences That MatterVelvet Drive and ZF/Hurth describe the same engine rotation with opposite names, publish duty ratings diffe...
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