drive shaft moves in and out 1/2 inch

[JESSIELSMALL]

on a volvo penta v-8, the drive shaft has give about a half inch. the place that has the boat says its the flex plate, but he hasnt pulled the motor. is it possible to come to this conclusion without pulling the motor.

if not does anyone have any ideas of what is going on?

 

[Don S]

Re: drive shaft moves in and out 1/2 inch

What year and model Volvo Penta V8?

 

[JESSIELSMALL]

Re: drive shaft moves in and out 1/2 inch

its a 1985 AQ260, will this movement prevent the boat from getting full throttle

 

[Don S]

Re: drive shaft moves in and out 1/2 inch

I don't know why they say the flex plate is bad, it may be, but if that shaft moves any direction at all the bearings (there are 2) in the flywheel cover (aka engine bellhousing) are shot big time, if they move 1/2" then the flywheel cover is probably bad also. That thing must have made a lot of noise and created a lot of vibration over a long period of time to be that bad. The worst I ever seen was about a 1/4" and the vibration was so bad then you couldn't run over idle
Either way, the engine has to come out to get at those bearings and the flex plate.