Velvet Drive V-drive shifting?

[jakevader95]

I have a 2000 310 Sundancer with 350/300 inboards (~650 hours) with Velvet Drive Model 20-02-003 V-drive transmissions.

The port transmission shifter feels gritty and requires mmore effort to shift, especially reverse. The starboard one is fine.

I checked and lubed the detent balls, and then disconnected the shift cable from the transmission. I thought that the port cable may be worn out and need replacement, so I disconnected the port shift cable from the transmission and the shifter feels fine. Very little resistance, so there is nothing wrong with the shifter, the cables, or the routing.

Does anyone know about why the transmission might be difficult to shift? Can the shifter assemby be removed easily and rebuilt to improve the feel?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Check for free movement of the shift lever , maybe an oil and filter change. Check oil condition and level
http://www.svsarah.com/Sarah/Manuals/Mechanical/warner_velvetdrive_70c_71c_servicemanual.pdf

 

[jakevader95]

As previously stated, the shifters work fine when I disconnected the cable from the transmission.

The transmission oil was changed about 2 engine hours ago, and is full and crystal clear (Dextron III). I do not see an filter. Where is the filter?

The condition did not change when the oil was changed.

Going into forward is OK, reverse is much rougher. The grease in the shift bracket at the transmission was dry and caked, 20 years old. The boat was bult in late Summer, 1999. No one has ever removed this bracket.

I removed the shift lever bracket and polished and lubed the sliding surfaces with fresh grease. I will reinstall the bracket and see if it is any better. TBD

Possibly the next step, if this is not successful, is to remove and clean the control valve, and replace the O-ring.

 

[jakevader95]

The control valve was removed and cleaned. Everything related cleaned and lubed. The shift feel is barely improved.
It seems to be inherent to the transmission.

There may be a possible improvement in repositioning the shift cable jacket to optimize the angle with the reverse position of the transmission shift lever.

 

[Charpone]

The control valve was removed and cleaned. Everything related cleaned and lubed. The shift feel is barely improved.
It seems to be inherent to the transmission.

There may be a possible improvement in repositioning the shift cable jacket to optimize the angle with the reverse position of the transmission shift lever.

 

[Charpone]

My 85 weekender has the same problem on the starboard transmission. It came on suddenly in august and despite efforts at lubing the cable and brackets, no better movement. I have to wait for spring to continue the job.