We took the boat out on the water yesterday for the first time this year. This morning I went out to the driveway to check the stern drive and saw mysterious water on the exhaust bellows. Probing the U-Joint bellows was rewarded with a squirt of water. On closer inspection, a tear was found and the bellows were full of water. I just cut a hole in the bellows to drain them.
Engine: Volvo 8.1 Gi-F (2004-2005)
Transom: SX-MHP
Drive: DP-SM 1.78 (M22)
We take our boat to Lake Powell each year and camp on the lake in some very remote places, so reliability is extremely important to us. A breakdown 30 miles from the nearest marina blows the vacation and the wallet. Thus, if there is any significant chance of a part failing on the boat, it is replaced. OEM parts are almost exclusively used. I have done almost all of the mechanical work on the boat since we bought it in 2005 and plan to do all of this work myself.
The plan at this point is to pull the stern drive off and see the damage. The gimbal bearing, rear seal and bellows are likely to be replaced (along with necessary o-rings, nylon washers, etc. per the Volvo service manual). The U-Joint may also be replaced depending on what it looks like. Of course we will do an alignment too.
Q1) Are there any other parts that should be carefully inspected/replaced in this circumstance (i.e. could have been damaged by the water, or are simply easy to replace with the Pivot Housing removed)?
I am a big believer in buying the best tools for the job at hand (within reason) so that the project goes as smoothly as possible. I have all the tools necessary for the job except a puller/installer for the gimbal bearing and rear seal. They have been replaced once before on this boat, but this will be the first time I have done it myself. Looking at a lot of videos and other info on the web led me to this tool:
MBS Manufacturing Gimbal Bearing Installer Puller + Align tool
http://mbsmfg.com/alpha-bravo-omc-volvo-gimbal-bearing-installer-puller-align-tool-mercruiser/
https://youtu.be/HoJQ002CUEY (video of tool in use)
Q2) Is this the best tool to get, or are the better ones for the job of removing/installing the gimbal bearing and rear seal?
We have a family reunion in 2-1/2 weeks on the lake, so I will have to get cracking to get all the parts ordered and replaced in time.
Thanks in advance for your sage words of advice.
- Brad
Engine: Volvo 8.1 Gi-F (2004-2005)
Transom: SX-MHP
Drive: DP-SM 1.78 (M22)
We take our boat to Lake Powell each year and camp on the lake in some very remote places, so reliability is extremely important to us. A breakdown 30 miles from the nearest marina blows the vacation and the wallet. Thus, if there is any significant chance of a part failing on the boat, it is replaced. OEM parts are almost exclusively used. I have done almost all of the mechanical work on the boat since we bought it in 2005 and plan to do all of this work myself.
The plan at this point is to pull the stern drive off and see the damage. The gimbal bearing, rear seal and bellows are likely to be replaced (along with necessary o-rings, nylon washers, etc. per the Volvo service manual). The U-Joint may also be replaced depending on what it looks like. Of course we will do an alignment too.
Q1) Are there any other parts that should be carefully inspected/replaced in this circumstance (i.e. could have been damaged by the water, or are simply easy to replace with the Pivot Housing removed)?
I am a big believer in buying the best tools for the job at hand (within reason) so that the project goes as smoothly as possible. I have all the tools necessary for the job except a puller/installer for the gimbal bearing and rear seal. They have been replaced once before on this boat, but this will be the first time I have done it myself. Looking at a lot of videos and other info on the web led me to this tool:
MBS Manufacturing Gimbal Bearing Installer Puller + Align tool
http://mbsmfg.com/alpha-bravo-omc-volvo-gimbal-bearing-installer-puller-align-tool-mercruiser/
https://youtu.be/HoJQ002CUEY (video of tool in use)
Q2) Is this the best tool to get, or are the better ones for the job of removing/installing the gimbal bearing and rear seal?
We have a family reunion in 2-1/2 weeks on the lake, so I will have to get cracking to get all the parts ordered and replaced in time.
Thanks in advance for your sage words of advice.
- Brad