Velvet drive not turning- WTF!?!?!

mongo75 · Nov-08-2009, 11:44 AM

I rebuilt my velvet drive by the book. The pump is mounted so it turns in the same direction as he flywheel according to the arrow on the pump. I mounted it to my 440 today, and the damn thing won't spin, at least with any speed, it may turn a little, but like 10 rpms..... It has plenty of ATF, brand new soft-parts (seals and clutches) so I don't know what to do. I can't afford to get it re-done at a boat shop, and my manliness won't allow me to do it anyways. Can anyone throw me a bone here??

ALUMINATOR · Nov-08-2009, 01:08 PM

I remember you asking or saying something about you having a backwards engine????

I don't know how the arrow should point but I would start there. I think if I remember correctly that your engine is a standard one. Use the information I gave you and look up Tony Athens article on the boatdiesel.com site. If you can't remember call me!

mongo75 · Nov-08-2009, 04:24 PM

I installed the pump both ways, and nothing changed- I guess I might have to actually take it somewhere to get it looked at..... I'll take any suggestions on either what to do, or who to take it to....

Dirtguy · Nov-09-2009, 09:11 AM

Any priming issues? Did it fill with the proper amount?

Any flow through the cooler?

Maybe internal linkage came off during asssembly? I have one of these also but have never had mine apart, so I'm kinda just shooting at basics. But I did stay at a Holiday inn...

DG

mongo75 · Nov-09-2009, 12:03 PM

Hey Carl, thanks for the input. I have it filled just over the FULL mark, and I am not getting any flow, not through the cooler, nothing. I actually took the linkage off, and with a pair of pliers rotated it past both stops with the engine running to make sure it wasn't just out of adjustment. I'm wondering if I rebuilt it "wrong"? I might have to disassemble it and check every step again.

Dirtguy · Nov-10-2009, 11:11 AM

Maybe a gasket mismatch blocking the pickup hole. I have faith in you. You haven't stopped at anything yet. You will figure this out!!!

Carl

mongo75 · Nov-10-2009, 11:34 AM

Thanks again Carl! I've been reviewing the VD manual, and I can't see anywhere I may have screwed up. The only thing that makes me question my rebuild is because when you turn the input shaft, the output turns with it, and you gotta really hold on to the output shaft to make it stop turning when the input it turned- feels like the clutches are somewhat binding- but when it's mounted to a running engine, the damn output shaft WON'T turn with engine power ???? So last night I started to dissassemble it, and I'll look at the clutch spring once again, I'm thinking that's the only thing that may be ef'd up (possibly up-side down, but I really doubt it). Also, I realized that I DIDN'T install the pump gasket that is between the pump case and the gear face, so that may be the issue right there. SO.... hopefully tonight I'll do a quick once over, put it back together, and cross my fingers as I crank the engine!

mongo75 · Nov-11-2009, 09:54 AM

Last night I took it apart, found out that I had the drive clutch plates in the worng order, so I flipped them, got the clutch spring on the right way, and put the damn pump on with the arrow pointing the same way as the crank rotation, and put a pressure gauge on the point indicated in the manual, at the top forward section of the case. Optimistically started the engine, and NOTHING. The pressure gauge read ZERO, so I took it off, and put my finger on the hole. It felt like a pulsing, suction, pressure, suction, pressure, or it could just be pulses of suction. I think I might swap the pump one more time, but if that doesn't work, I don't know what to do. Is there a proceedure for priming the pump?

Fishbones · Nov-11-2009, 04:05 PM

Danny, I'm sorry I can't help you out but I do know the frustrations of doing your own boat work. I hope it is something simple. It sucks not making any foward progress when you have to go back and do something over.Hopefully tonight you will post that it is working.

mongo75 · Nov-11-2009, 04:25 PM

OK, well I got to wondering WHY whenever I put the tranny back on, that I ALWAYS manage to get it to mesh with the flexplate on the first try??? SO, I lift up the inspection flap on the bellhousing, put the tranny on, and lo and behold, the damn input shaft doesn't go it!! I figured out that I put the flexplate on BACKWARD like a jackass.... either way, I'm glad I had these problems because I found that while dissassembling the velvet drive that I musta had too many beers while putting it back together and had some stuff in the wrong way. So long story short, it works like a champ now! Thanks everyone for the help and support!

fishnazzi · Nov-11-2009, 05:11 PM

Congratulations....And fitting and perfect. Have a great Veteran's day. Thank you for your service.

Dirtguy · Nov-12-2009, 12:50 PM

you da man!