280 Drive: Worth The Effort or Not?

[Julian Murphy]

Hey Everybody,
So a wile back, I bought me a '78 Bayliner Liberty. The boat itself was in good shape. I knew the engine needed a complete rebuild. Its an aq140a.

The sterndrive(280) looked to be in decient shape, but I admit I knew little of what I was looking for at the time. The bellows seemed to be fairly new with no cracking. The only thing I couldnt check was the oil in the drive. The dipstick on top of the drive was so tight I couldnt bust it open!

I decided 'what the hey' and went for it.

Fast foward a year to the present and Im in the middle of the engine and started on the drive. When I seperated the drive from the motor and removed the bellows, it didnt take an expert to see a chunk of the bellhousing(?) was broke off and water penetrated into the bellows. Red flag! I poped the drain plug and wouldnt you know it; milky sludge oozed into the bucket.
The prop turns the universal joint smothly in forward and reverse with no felt play in the shafts, but I dont know what any other tell tale signs are that the water ruined the oil enough to toast the whole thing.

Any advice/insight would be great.
Thanks

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 280 Drive: Worth The Effort or Not?

How much water in the oil? Pics.
The Volvo drives can stand a lot of abuse.
Gotta figure out where the water came in.
It doesn't always mean the bellows is leaking then the front yoke is the spot.
Do a pressure test.
The good thing about water in the oil(if there is one) is that it's OIL it will still have some lubrication/protection qualities.
You can also remove the prop shaft bearing carrier and check for damage.

 

[Julian Murphy]

Re: 280 Drive: Worth The Effort or Not?

Ill try to get some pics, but Im new to these forums so bear with me. The oil is opeque yellow/white with no metal flakes. It looks like phlem! I thought the seal under the leaky bellows was the likely point of entry, but the more I read in these threads it sounds like the foward /reverse shifter arm seal(termiology?) is a more likely suspect. Given the shape of the motor, I will relpace all the seals for peace of mind. The pressure test is a great idea except I damage the seal that goes on the cover of the upper unit. Where would I hookup a test to?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 280 Drive: Worth The Effort or Not?

Use the search function key and look up pressure tester.
That will show you how to make one.
The top screw is where you test.
If it's still stuck?? a Vicegrip will get it off.
The front yoke if it's rusty that's probably the spot.
The shifter seal can and does leak often but if the bellows has failed?
I'd look there first.

A while back, someone posted a link to making a pressure tester.
I tried the search function and no luck.
Thanks,

I found this.
http://www.stevensinstrument.com/index.html
S-34 Gearcase Pressure Tester.133.00
Stevens instrument co.
I have this one.The vacum tester is there too same price.

 

[Wolf pack]

Re: 280 Drive: Worth The Effort or Not?

I had the shifter arm bolt get very loose & water got in from that.
Make sure that bolt is tight!