NEED TRANNY HELP!!

[jleger98]

Just bought a 1997 PRE 2150wt. Engine has 264 hours, I've put about 6 on it.

Yesterday, we were out wakesurfing (6 adults and 3 kids in the boat) when the tranny started to slip. At first we thought it was cavitation, so we kind of ignored it. Then when we started to wakeboard it was still there and, because we were giving it more power it was much more noticable. Basically here's what it does: It idles fwd and back smooth and clean. When you apply throttle, like to get a boarder up, it grabs for a second, then the engine revs for about a 1/2 sec and then catches again. Once it grabs it seems to be ok, or at least if its slipping its hard to feel. If you accelerate slowly, it is fine.

My first thought was that the tranny fluid was low, so I got the boat back into my driveway and about as level as I can, then checked the fluid level. With the engine cold (sat overnight) the fluid level comes right up to the full (cold) mark on the dipstick. The fluid also looks very clean and there appears to be no sign of water in there. Previous owner says it was changed over the winter.

The tranny is a Velvet Drive 1:1 model#10-17-004 and the motor is a mercruiser GM 350 EFI. Outside of the tranny and the rest of the motor is very clean, no sign of leaks at all.

Anyone got any ideas what's going on and what I can do to test/fix it??

Thanks!

[mainiak1]

I was told to check fluid level after you shut it down like within 30 seconds. I guess if you wait the fluid drains from the cooler and hoses.

I would check again after running and if I doubted if the previous owner put the right fluid in I would suck it out and refill twice.

Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[jleger98]

the previous owner was not a DIY kinda guy. He had everything done at the shop, although he was never very confident. How red should that fluid be? It looks like clean oil to me, not very red I don't think.

Also, the prop is a 3-blade stainless....would that cause cavitation more than another?

I'll have to check the level on the water warm.

[kko]

it should be a bright red/pink. its dextron atf. if it looks like motor oil its either wrong fluid or burnt dex atf.

[jleger98]

I actually just walked out and put some on a white paper towel, then did some motor oil right next to it. The oil which is really clean is MUCH darker. That said, there is NO red in the fluid. Do you think its burnt or just the wrong stuff? Maybe synthetic?????

Here's a pic. Color is pretty accurate.

[jsz]

Besides the people was there any ballast? Have you tried accellerating without others in the boat? What is the condition of the prop?

[jleger98]

only other ballast was some gear and a cooler. Didn't try it with no people in the boat, but have not had the problem before. That said, its the most weight we've had in that boat.

Prop has some very small dings not even worth a file.

[lee]

Try changing the fluid and see if that will help you out. The fluid should be red in color not brown.

[jleger98]

Any chance its a synthetic or something?

[bfrank]

Only tranny fluid I've ever seen is always red!!! i would guess its the wrong fluid, how long do you think its been run with this fluid??

[jleger98]

I would guess all summer. probably 10-15 hours.

I'll contact the previous owner and see if he has any more info on what they did over the winter. In the mean time, I guess I'm pumping that stuff out.

[bneub]

Originally posted by jleger98
Any chance its a synthetic or something?

I run a synthetic atf in my expedition and it is red just like all the others.

[Tequilasun]

Tranny fluid can be green. I wouldn't expect it to look so thin though. Was it Frothy? or Foamy?

Transmission fluids

[jleger98]

No, not frothy or foamy. Kinda looks like really lite-weight oil. Going to call the shop that winterized it in a little while. We'll see what they say.


....

Actually, according to that pdf you just posted:

"Today, many manufacturers have begun to stray from
the traditional red color. Transmission fluids may be
green, yellow, some may even have a bluish tint. But
in virtually every case, clean fluid will look clean, and
smell clean. So checking the fluid’s color and giving it
a little sniff is a great way to determine whether your
transmission is in good shape, or in need of service."

[jleger98]

Just talked to Guy at the shop that did the winterization. Seems like a really good guy. He says they only put red ATF in there, and that it sounds like there is water in the fluid. So I'll change it out tonight and hopefully that will be that, otherwise, it sounds like a new tranny cooler and hope that no damage was done to the tranny. Ugh.

Anyone know how much fluid that tranny holds?