TRS - how to tell the difference between Merc and BW trannies?
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Going to look at a 1986 Formula 357. Boat has 400 Cyclones and TRS drives. I'm *assuming* that since it has the hi-po motors, it has BW trannies but I want to be able to know that when I look.
Any advice?
Any advice?
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The Merc-trans and the flywheel housing are a one piece unit. The B-W trans and flywheel housing are 2 separate pieces.
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Starter mounted on top of bell housing, B/W trans. Starter mounted on side of engine,MercTrans.
Last edited by marinetrans; 01-04-2005 at 02:35 PM. Reason: miss spelling
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The velvet drive will loo like the left side of this pic (w/o reduction gear).
http://www.marinegears.com/catalog/cat-bw-dr1.html
There should also be a tag on the left side (i think it's on the left) that says velvet drive.
Gary
http://www.marinegears.com/catalog/cat-bw-dr1.html
There should also be a tag on the left side (i think it's on the left) that says velvet drive.
Gary
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That Merctrans was basically a Ford C-6 modified for marine use. Years ago when Ford and Mercruiser were in bed together, that tranny came with the smaller horsepower set-ups. Marc Berman told me years ago that they didn't steal as much horsepower as the BW's and the engine could be closer to the transom.
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Ed, that's interesting - never heard that before. Funny how we think of the Merc tranny as the "weak" one in a TRS set-up, but the Ford C-6 is actually a pretty stout unit. Shows the difference in road vs. marine use...
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The weak link in the MercTrans is the front pump gear. It tends to split right at the keyway. They are a pretty good unit as long as you don't over power it.
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I am suprised that no one ever came up with a fix for that pump gear problem. I had a few of them apart and 25 years ago I did a few C-6s, I never made the connection between the 2.