What Does a Velvet Drive Rebuild Cost?

What changes the price

A few things move the number up or down on any rebuild:

• Which model it is. A cast iron 71C/72C in-line, a 1004/1005 V-drive, and a 5000/Liberty are three different parts inventories and three different amounts of labor.
• How much is actually damaged inside. A transmission that only needs clutches and seals costs less than one that also needs a new input shaft, pump or planetary.
• Whether parts are still available. Velvet Drive stopped making some parts outright; when we have to source, machine or adapt something instead of ordering it new, that adds time.
• Exchange versus rebuilding your own unit. An exchange unit is already built and tested, so it's the quicker route, but it carries a core charge; rebuilding the one you send in takes longer, start to finish.
• Shipping and a gear cooler. Every rebuilt transmission needs a new gear cooler installed to keep the warranty valid, which is a separate cost from the transmission itself.

By model

Here are current exchange listings for a few common models. Prices render live from our store, so what you see is what it costs today, not a number from an old video or comment.

• 71C 1:1 direct drive: rebuilt 1017-004 ($2,231.25 $1,599.99)
• 72C 1:1 direct drive: rebuilt 1018-002 ($3,500.00)
• 72C 2.91:1 reduction: rebuilt 1018-012 ($3,718.75)
• 5000A 2.00:1 (2.04 actual): rebuilt 2001-004 ($4,750.00)
• 5000 V-drive 2.5:1: rebuilt 2002-005 ($8,737.50)

Exchange units vs. rebuilding yours

Buying an already-rebuilt exchange transmission is the fastest option: we ship a unit that's been run on our test stand, and you send your old one back as the core. Each store listing spells out its core charge and terms, including that cores have to be in repairable condition and that core return shipping is on you. Rebuilding the transmission you already have takes longer, since it has to come out, get torn down, and go back together, but it's the option when your model isn't one we keep rebuilt exchange units in stock for.

V-drives

1005-005 2.5 Velvet Drive transmission

V-drives cost more to rebuild than an in-line 71C/72C, and it comes down to two things: parts and time. Working through a 1005, Chris put it plainly: the parts are no longer available, and it takes days to do one properly, with the shimming work as the main example. Velvet Drive had also stopped making V-drive gear sets by August 2021, so a worn gear set on an older V-drive may not have a factory replacement at all. Call us for a quote on your specific unit; we'll tell you up front if parts availability is going to be the long pole.

Cores

If you're sending in a core for exchange credit, pull the drain plug and look at the fluid before you ship it. Chris's rule: don't send us a rusty core. Cores have to be in repairable condition, so a transmission that's been sitting full of water or rust for a long time may not count as a core at all. Call us before you ship anything if you're not sure what you've got.

Get a quote

Every rebuild is priced against the actual unit, not a guess. Call us at (804) 333-3677, Monday through Friday 9 to 3 Eastern, or email sales@halemarine.com, and we'll tell you what your transmission needs and what it costs.

Related reading: buying a boat with a V-drive and how we rebuild.