Posted: July 07 2008 at 01:09 | IP Logged

Hi Jsever,

Velvet Gears are Hydrolic. No chains. The thing is that as long as the engine is running the engine driveshaft out the back of the engine is turning a hydrolic pump bolted to the front of the gear. The  propulsive power is hydrolic, there is not a gear running directly from the engine to the prop-kapish? Whether the hydrolics are driving internal parts causing the noise, can't say, but is may help to know a little theory of operation. One thing to try is to see if the gear is in neutral, where the shaft out the back of the gear to the prop is or is not turning.  See if the the shifter arm on the gear can be rotated. it may make no differance, but if you can start the engine without the noise, you're doin' good. Try and see if the problem is the engine or the Gear...

Good luck! Diver

Posted: July 20 2008 at 22:58 | IP Logged

Yah, I think that is a good idea. Checking out replacement cost of major components is a wise thing to do. I should have tried it, oh well. I wnet over to the boat this weekend and did some more snooping around in the engine compartment and pulled all of the hatches off and right at the top of the bellhousing where the inspection hole or window is ( on the little door it says open for timing?) the bellhousing is busted out. Then I found a spring at the bottom of the bilge next to the bilge pump. I looked down into the bell housing and the tork plate or whatever it is called on a boat is all busted up. So now I know where all of the busted metal sounds came from and why I can't get the motor to turn over. Have you had any experiece with this kind of probem, this keeps getting better all the time. Thanks Jeremy

(the trannys on e-bay are the wrong model. I did however buy a boat once on ebay and it was a great boat. Selling it on ebay too)

Posted: July 20 2008 at 23:55 | IP Logged

Jeremy,

Who knows, maybe you're lucky...a busted bell housing and a torsion disc...? Frankly I don't know there was a tortion disc- what else could it be? In any case, guess you going to find out! Again, you may have lucked out!

Diver

Posted: July 21 2008 at 00:55 | IP Logged

jeremy,

Figures to be $100 hr. 'bout the same here for a mechanic. You might price the bell housing and tortion unit and get a ball park price. Suggest the yard buy the materials after you review their warranty policy on parts supplied by you or them. Mercruiser dealer anywhere where you buy a Boat Us Membership (if not already a member) to tow you or maybe trailor it?  I think they'll have to pull the engine.  Z drives are under the engine. Question: can they uncouple the tortion unit and tranny, reseat the engine and start it to check it? Perhaps a disinterested second mechanic to inspect when the major components are at a point where it can be inspected but restowed in case you decide to hire someone elso to do the work...

I've always found there's a silver lining to stuff like this... it'll be ok... take your time, think it out step by step- maybe the damage is less that you think.

diver