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please teach me on drives

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Old 12-27-2005 | 10:02 PM
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From: St-Hyacinthe, quebec, canada
Default please teach me on drives

What are the difference between speed master 3, 4, 5, and 6. I have TRS. Does speed master have the same upper a TRS has and just the bottom is different ? Thanks.
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Old 12-27-2005 | 11:04 PM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

No there not.
3s 4s 5s all have two sets of gears in the lowers & two
vertical shafts. 3s&4s came with either small or large prop
shaft. ( 19 spline or 26spline) The 3s were used on mostly
V hull design because of there longer X height,4s were
mostly used on cats at the surface with a larger prop shaft &
shorter X dimension.5s are are much like 4s but with larger
bearings and shafts.There Gimbel will also support more HP.
Same with 6s but the big advantage is that steering is built
in the gimbel assembly.Parts for 3s& 4s are getting hard to
come by.I'm not totally sure but I think production of the 5s
will also be coming to and end. All great drives in there time.
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Old 12-27-2005 | 11:10 PM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

good info
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Old 12-27-2005 | 11:17 PM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

Originally Posted by HotPursuit
No there not.
3s 4s 5s all have two sets of gears in the lowers & two
vertical shafts. 3s&4s came with either small or large prop
shaft. ( 19 spline or 26spline) The 3s were used on mostly
V hull design because of there longer X height,4s were
mostly used on cats at the surface with a larger prop shaft &
shorter X dimension.5s are are much like 4s but with larger
bearings and shafts.There Gimbel will also support more HP.
Same with 6s but the big advantage is that steering is built
in the gimbel assembly.Parts for 3s& 4s are getting hard to
come by.I'm not totally sure but I think production of the 5s
will also be coming to and end. All great drives in there time.

very good info... he left out dont blow em....
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Old 12-27-2005 | 11:19 PM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

Originally Posted by stecz20
very good info... he left out dont blow em....


i hate that when it happens
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Old 12-28-2005 | 08:46 AM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

SSM 3A's and 5's are the same drive with the only difference being drive height. The SSM3A's are longer. They are both still production drives that you can buy new and have no issues getting parts for.

SSM 3's and 4's are no longer in production.

The way to differentiate between a SSM 3 and SSM 3A externally is the 3 has a 19 spline prop shaft while the 3A has a 26 spline propshaft. Internally the 3A's have larger bearings and gears than a 3.

A good source for SSM info:

http://www.mercurymarine.com/drives4
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Old 12-28-2005 | 02:36 PM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

[QUOTE=clearcut3]

The way to differentiate between a SSM 3 and SSM 3A externally is the 3 has a 19 spline prop shaft while the 3A has a 26 spline propshaft. Internally the 3A's have larger bearings and gears than a 3.Quote]

Not always true we have a set of 3s and 4s in house.They
both have 26 spline prop shafts.In fact we purchased the 4s
from someone who claimed they were 5s.It's real hard to
see the difference until so split the cases.If you have the $$$
buy 6s look how fast even used ones sell.
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Old 12-28-2005 | 04:07 PM
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From: Chapin (Lake Murray), South Carolina
Default Re: please teach me on drives

[QUOTE=HotPursuit]
Originally Posted by clearcut3

The way to differentiate between a SSM 3 and SSM 3A externally is the 3 has a 19 spline prop shaft while the 3A has a 26 spline propshaft. Internally the 3A's have larger bearings and gears than a 3.Quote]

Not always true we have a set of 3s and 4s in house.They
both have 26 spline prop shafts.In fact we purchased the 4s
from someone who claimed they were 5s.It's real hard to
see the difference until so split the cases.If you have the $$$
buy 6s look how fast even used ones sell.
Someone changed the propshaft. In that case you would have to look internally.
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Old 12-28-2005 | 09:38 PM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

Originally Posted by clearcut3
Someone changed the propshaft. In that case you would have to look internally.
Very true but the average person would be sold on the large
shaft. Buy a set COD off classified section and see if the UPS
driver will hang around long enough to look at internals.
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Old 12-28-2005 | 09:39 PM
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Default Re: please teach me on drives

3s R 3as
Attached Thumbnails please teach me on drives-drives.jpg  
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