Casale help

[sbcflatty]

Hi Guys!

Well I need alittle help here. Im new to the split case casale v-drives. I have a 1983 Hondo picklefork hydro. I just rebuilt a 468 for it as well as went through the v-drive. I put everything back in the order it was taken out of the v-drive. I replaced the gaskets and bearings. I seem to have a fairly loud chatter from the v-drive at idle in neutral. When I rev the engine beyond idle the chatter dissapears completly. Is this normal? I called a guy today and he said this was a common thing among these gear boxes. Any help would be appreciated guys. It is a 12 deg. v-drive.
Chad

[RiverRacer]

That would be the backlash in the gears that's normal, but did you check how much lash you have???, .008-.010 is all you should have!..

[sbcflatty]

Art you know I didnt do that. I dont remember it being to sloppy. The box seemed to feel very solid. Maybe I can check this in the boat? I also have another question: My Neovane pump just does not seem to be pumping well and I took the impeller out and it looks fine. The headers wont run because of no pressure. Made sure the lines are clear and the t-valve works. Is my impeller shot? It looks fine. Also is my -8 AN overboard dump allowing to much water out of the block and not to my headers? My small block seemed to have plenty of pressure with the same setup.

[RiverRacer]

What all did you do to the v-drive, did you replace parts????, if you did it all needs to be stacked up again!.. If everything checks out you should have water, pop the lines at the headers and check the restrictors, it's common for them to plug up especially when they sit and had water in the lines!...

[sbcflatty]

All I did was put new bearings in it. The gears and everything else is the same it had before. It has the whirlaway 2 in it, in case that matters. My restrictors are fine I checked them. My unrestricted overboard water line is not flowing all that well, that why I figured it was the pump.

[RiverRacer]

Did you measure the thickness of the bearings??, even though the numbers matched I've had some that were slightly different thickness, depending on the brand!..... Neovanes pump good, are you sure the impeller is in good shape, do the vanes spring out when you take the cover off???.... Did you check the lines from the pickup(and pickup itself) all the way to the dump, there could be something before the pump as well as after!..

[sbcflatty]

Thanks again for all the help Art. Well I found a piece of neovane impellor stuck in a hose. I replaced the impellor as well. Seems to pump alright but I still cant get enough pressure to overcome the t-valve. Will it overcome it when im "haulin' the mail" and the pickup tube increases in
pressure? Or should I be able to run the headers a higher rpms in neutral sucking from a bucket? I pees a stream about 3 feet. The v-drive clears right up a 900 rpms idle as well. I did use a caliper and all bearings were the same.

[sbcflatty]

Art,
How much do these Casales grumble? Can I check it in the boat or should I take it back out? Does yours make noise?

[gfinishline]

I don't know about "grumble" but I have NEVER LOST ANY PART of a Casale V-drive! I have purchased them new, repaired them 20 + years old, and NEVER LOST ONE OF THEM!!! Casale has made all of their products EASY TO USE, and I like that! "Clutch rattle" is common at idle, "gear rattle" is not part of the normal program. You really need to get a "V-drive guy" to listen/feel what you are describing, SOON! Maybe someone "altered or repaired" your Casale box and it's not to spec. How does the oil look? Pieces of metal in the oil? Mitch may come on here and correct all of us!

[sbcflatty]

Any guys around in the Chico area (Nor Cal) that are versed in these units?

[gfinishline]

WHY don't you contact CASALE????? They would be the most correct source for information!! Mitch is around here, or just PM him!

[sbcflatty]

Is there a techinical manual and parts list available for these units?

[RiverRacer]

Thanks again for all the help Art. Well I found a piece of neovane impellor stuck in a hose. I replaced the impellor as well. Seems to pump alright but I still cant get enough pressure to overcome the t-valve. Will it overcome it when im "haulin' the mail" and the pickup tube increases in
pressure? Or should I be able to run the headers a higher rpms in neutral sucking from a bucket? I pees a stream about 3 feet. The v-drive clears right up a 900 rpms idle as well. I did use a caliper and all bearings were the same.

You found a piece in a line, how many were missing on the old impeller??, you need to find all of them!.... The reason for the T valve is to stop the water at idle you don't want that, it should open once you get under way and you should see steam coming out the collectors after you're on plane!..

[RiverRacer]

Art,
How much do these Casales grumble? Can I check it in the boat or should I take it back out? Does yours make noise?

You said rattle in neutral, now you say grumble??????, they don't grumble at any time, backlash rattle in neutral is all you should have other than that no noise!... If you have a grumbling noise under power you have a problem and it needs to be fixed before any other damage occurs!..

[RiverRacer]

Is there a techinical manual and parts list available for these units?

Here ya go!.....

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=706&stc=1&d=1215924646

[RiverRacer]

Any guys around in the Chico area (Nor Cal) that are versed in these units?

Well, I was going to ask where you were at and you could send it to me, but since you're in NorCal, call Tom he'll take care of ya and it will be done right!.... 530-885-0531

[sbcflatty]

Art,
Got the header valve to work properly. Messed with the spring and it works great! The boat runs at 135 deg. Well I took the v-drive apart. No problems, no metal, and still all looks fine. Thank you for the list of parts and the drawing. I did realize however that NONE of the spacers were correct! Some were listed for the 10 degree box and I have a 12. I just put the thing back together the way I found it when I put bearings in. Should never trust other peoples work! Well Im going to give Tom a call tomorrow and see if he has the spacers and some tips on set up. Can I check the backlash with the gears exposed? Im just checking side-to-side movement of gears when one is held still? I believe from what I read this is how to do it.

[ABBOTTCRAFT]

http://www.menkensvdrives.com/

[sbcflatty]

Got some numbers too.....
the factory drawing and list calls for a .940 spacer on the bottom front of tapered gear. I had a .950 in it and I measured .002 backlash. As a test I tried a .820 spacer and got .009 backlash. I did this with the rear cover off so that I was sure that the bottom gear did not turn. I set the meter on the key way of the top shaft.

[RiverRacer]

Art,
Got the header valve to work properly. Messed with the spring and it works great! The boat runs at 135 deg. Well I took the v-drive apart. No problems, no metal, and still all looks fine. Thank you for the list of parts and the drawing. I did realize however that NONE of the spacers were correct! Some were listed for the 10 degree box and I have a 12. I just put the thing back together the way I found it when I put bearings in. Should never trust other peoples work! Well Im going to give Tom a call tomorrow and see if he has the spacers and some tips on set up. Can I check the backlash with the gears exposed? Im just checking side-to-side movement of gears when one is held still? I believe from what I read this is how to do it.

Glad to hear you got it working, no prob with 135deg just make sure the oil gets up to at least 185!.. Spacers are spacers don't matter what degree the v-drive is as long as it all stacks up, and for that they just about all have to be machined to get the proper fit, odds are yours would work!..

[RiverRacer]

Got some numbers too.....
the factory drawing and list calls for a .940 spacer on the bottom front of tapered gear. I had a .950 in it and I measured .002 backlash. As a test I tried a .820 spacer and got .009 backlash. I did this with the rear cover off so that I was sure that the bottom gear did not turn. I set the meter on the key way of the top shaft.

All those numbers are is a starting point, you machine accordingly to get the right lash, and whatever you do to one spacer you need to do the opposite to the other one!.. I highly suggest you take your v-drive to Tom, he'll make it right!...

[sbcflatty]

Thanks again guys for the help. You too Art for being patient with this novice :)
Well I talked with Tom today and he walked me through the whole process step by step and tought me the CORRECT way to set up a split case, its actually pretty easy! He is gonna make me some spacers and send them my way. He is one hell of a nice guy, glad to hear he is moving about 15 mins. from me. The top shaft was out .055" and the bottom was out .030". This is what was causing my grumbling and chattering. He said it would probably run fine but I figured we should make it the way it SHOULD be. But thanks again for all the input guys, the v-drive fraternity is a great thing to be part of.

[RiverRacer]

Glad to hear you got it squared away, they are pretty simple and Tom is a great guy he'll always help you all he can!..

[ABBOTTCRAFT]

Thanks again guys for the help. You too Art for being patient with this novice :)
Well I talked with Tom today and he walked me through the whole process step by step and tought me the CORRECT way to set up a split case, its actually pretty easy! He is gonna make me some spacers and send them my way. He is one hell of a nice guy, glad to hear he is moving about 15 mins. from me. The top shaft was out .055" and the bottom was out .030". This is what was causing my grumbling and chattering. He said it would probably run fine but I figured we should make it the way it SHOULD be. But thanks again for all the input guys, the v-drive fraternity is a great thing to be part of.

Where is Tom relocating too...

[pwderman]

Where is Tom relocating too...

Cottonwood near Redding.

[ABBOTTCRAFT]

Thanks for the info..I've been to Tom's place up in Auburn, He had a cool place up there...Tom's a good guy to listen to for sure..:)

[sbcflatty]

Well after extremely fast shipping and great advice, Tom Bentleys spacers are just what the Doctor ordered! My v-drive makes no noise at all other than a real faint gear backlash sound which is normal! This man is a great resource.... Well tom. is the first day for the Hondo Picklefork, wish me luck! We will see what happens with 800hp of Chevy and 22% gears with a Tom Black precision 11 1/2x16 prop??!!!........

[RiverRacer]

Congrats glad you got it together, good luck and be safe!..