Abstract: An apparatus for driving a lifter reel in a machine for wet processing of fabric in endless rope form having a jet for directing a flow of liquid to the fabric rope to cause circulation thereof is disclosed and contains a rotatable lifter reel upstream of the jet and over which the fabric rope travels to the jet. The apparatus includes a baffle wheel affixed coaxially to one end of the lifter reel out of the path of the fabric traveling over the lifter reel. The wheel has radially extending baffles against which a liquid flow nozzle directs a flow of liquid in a direction to drive the lifter reel in the direction of rope travel to the jet. The liquid flow nozzle is adjustable radially with respect to the baffle wheel to vary the driven rate of rotation of the lifter reel. The nozzle is commonly connected with the jet to a source of liquid under pressure for use of liquid from the same source by the jet and the nozzle.