1 question before outdrive install

[LaDawns money pit]

Little nervous my first time doing this. Just want to cover all my bases. Besides the u-joint bellows is there any other way water can seep in. Had new gimbal installed and now salt water ruined everything. I took off the bellows and there are no splits. I don't understand how the water got in.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
LaDawn

 

[insttech1]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Please tell us what you have first.....and not just generic terms.
Full model number off the drive ID plate and year/serial number is helpful.

What do you mean by "ruined everything"?

Do you mean it was ruined "after" your gimbal was installed, or you just got your new gimbal put in because you found damage?
Was there water inside the drive itself? Or just in the gimbal/bellows/housing area?

Were the bellows installed with the recommended adhesive?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Were the bellows installed with the recommended adhesive?

Which of course is NO adhesive.

To the OP, there is a chance that the grease tube that lubes the gimbal bearing leaks. There are other posters that have had that issue. Other than that, could have been a bad install by whoever installed your bellows. Did they use an OEM bellows?

 

[insttech1]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Bruce,
Why the generalized statement of "no adhesive" for ujoint bellows?

VP mandates use of adhesive for bellows for my drive, and Don S. had reaffirmed that in the past.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Latest install instructions that come with them do not specify adhesive. You have a link to a post where Don S states this? I actually have used bellows adhesive on the transom side of the bellows before but since latest instructions don't specify to use it, I don't. You never use it on the side facing the drive.

Its possible non OEM ones would still use it but, then again, I think its foolish to use non-OEM u-joint bellows.

I am curious what drive you have. Its an SX? The reason I ask is that your other post said you had a engine pan drain plug which SX never has had.

 

[LaDawns money pit]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Sorry for the wait. Here's what I have 2009 Larson Volvo penta 305 with the sx-a outdrive--4202219683
I only have 51 hours and the mechanic said the gimbal bearing was going out. That was all that was replaced. Everything else is original to the boat. After reading in this forum I think there was nothing wrong to begin with. Anyway he just changed the bearing and said the bellows were fine. This was the end of last summer and we have had such a rainy summer the boat hasn't been used but maybe 10 hours. I wanted to learn how to pull the drive myself and do pm's. Well it was very hard to get the drive off because of rust from the salt water. The bottom of the bellows was full . No water in the drive itself the fluid still nice and clean. I have the drive shaft that the whole thing has to be replaced, not just the u-joints. But, the joints are fine nice and smooth with no binding just lots of surface rust. My neighbor sand blasted and repainted them. The front shaft does have pitting so not for sure if its going to be ok to use. I took the bellows off and no splits no damage at all. That's why I had the question where else could the water have entered the bellows. The new gimbal bearing was ruined and took a while to get it out. Keep in mind I'm a female trying to do this stuff myself as I can't afford to take it to the shop right now. I like to learn new things anyway.
Wow sorry for writing a book, but hope this helps.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

did the engine compartment ever fill with water high enough that it could enter the drive from the inside?

Are you absolutely sure there are no openings in the bellows? Have you ever run your engine with the drive tilted all the way up?

 

[LaDawns money pit]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

No water on the inside I have accidently trimmed up to high beaching the boat, trim gauge was stuck. Could that be what happened

 

[LaDawns money pit]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

 

[insttech1]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Bruce,
Just to clarify--I have the 1999 SX-M 1.97. To drain that, I just have the screwdriver plug at the bottom of the lower unit.
My SX was at the end of the Volvo/OMC transition, and does not have the squared off OMC style trim cylinders. It has the non-rebuildable VP cylinders.

Even though my boat was bought second-hand, it was originally purchased at my local marina, and they still had the original bill of sale, which they sent to me, and all of the drive/engine serial numbers match, so nothing has been replaced. Regal boats verified numbers too.

And the drain plug I'm referring to is on the engine oil pan of a VP factory '99 3.0 with a drain plug. I'm not talking about a drain plug on the drive. I made, perhaps, an assumption that the larger engine blocks may also (conveniently) have utilized an automotive style oil pan, and kept an oil drain plug in there as well. (Doesn't hurt to ask...) My block also has the hose fitting on top of the oil dipstick tube to attach a garden-hose-style pump fitting. I just found it way easier not to use it to drain engine oil.

As for the adhesive...that was recommended by Don in a post from about two years ago....I'll see if I can find it. Don also chastised me for putting adhesive on the exhaust bellows, as I did not know any better (at the time...) so I'm just trying to help some of these people with ideas that may put them on the right track until others (like yourself) can chime in.

Perhaps the instructions for the SX A and SX M are different in where they specify to use adhesive?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Very possible. When you run at a high trim like that, its possible the ujoints scraped the bellows. I would take a closer look at it.

Your shaft is pretty corroded and it looks like its corroded where the seal rides. Am surprised you didn't get water in your gear oil.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

My block also has the hose fitting on top of the oil dipstick tube to attach a garden-hose-style pump fitting.

If it has that hose threads, the dipstick tube goes to the bottom of the oil pan where there is a special fitting. The bolt that holds on that fitting is a special hollow bolt. Its not really a drain plug. I have a powered oil pump that sits on top of a 5 gallon pail. I can suck the 9 qts of oil out in minute or 2. No mess and no container under the engine.

I am sure adhesive on the transom side of the bellows is probably ok. I just don't believe its a requirement anymore. You definitely don't use it on the lip facing the drive.

 

[LaDawns money pit]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Should I replace the shaft and u-joints.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

I would if the sealing surface has corrosion.

 

[LaDawns money pit]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

I was afraid of that. So what your saying the bellows is really the only way water can get in. As long as it didn't come from inside the boat.
I want to say thanks for all your help, I figured the shaft was bad just hoping it wasn't. Anymore advice just send my way.
Thank you.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Or the gimbal bearing grease tube.

 

[LaDawns money pit]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Mine is a sealed bearing I don't know if that's good or bad

 

[insttech1]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

Thanks for the info Bruce.
I'll keep it in mind when I winterize in a month or so...as I'm 99% sure my bolt isn't hollow, and it's mounted to the slope of the oil pan about 30 to 40 degrees off angle from the dipstick. But it's very possible someone did replace that.

As to the original post:
You say it's all original, and a sealed bearing.
However, there should still be a grease zirk on the side of the drive to grease that bearing.
So does it look sealed, or is there a portion on the outer edge about 1/4 to 3/8" wide that allows grease in?
(Maybe where your bearing looks all chipped up?)

That would also point to evidence that the grease fitting is letting water pass by, if the worst tearup of the bearing is where the grease entry point is.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

The tube can possibly leak. Has nothing to do with the type bearing.

 

[LaDawns money pit]

Re: 1 question before outdrive install

I looked at the boat and in the manual for a grease fitting. From what I've been reading they changed some things. I can't change just the u-joints have to replace the whole thing and they did away with the grease fitting and went to a sealed bearing. The # 3555888 is for the bearing. I will keep looking the mechanic said nothing about greasing the bearing. Let me say this, I'm going by what I read and hear say. You figure living in Florida there would be mechanics everywhere. The only place here that works on Volvo penta has a 6 month wait. U-Joint Driveshaft Yoke Kit 3860842 This # replaces the old # 3852384. Please if you know something I don't let me know.
Thanks Ladawn