Volvo Dp 290 questions......

[Seahawk11]

Hi guys, I have a 290dp that has the rattle I have heard others speak of. sounds like top box and is noticable at idle. BUT I changed my top box and universals this year as unrelated maintainance (rebuild) and the sound came along for the ride! Reading here I think it may be shaft bearings in the "bell housing".

Question 1..When I remove the drive will I feel slop or end play in the splined shaft so I can diognose this problem before pulling my engine?

Question 2.. I pulled the engine a year or so ago and took the transom shield off to replace the stearing bearing in the shield.
I had no tool or knowledge as per alighnment so just used wear marks and re fitted it all as close as possible.
Could this cause the noise/rattle or could it stress the shaft bearings and take them out if alignment is not right on?

Question 3.. Where is a resourse for tools and alignment procedure both for my drive and my engine?
Engine is an AQAD41a leg is DP290..

Any input would be great.
Seems like there is a fair bit of knowledge floating around on the site (pun intended)

Cheers. Garry.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

Welcome.

1. You just need to remove the upper gear box from the outdrive. Once you do, yes, there may be play in the shaft, which would be one sign bearings are bad.

2. Alignment of that engine is not difficult. Don't let this worry you.

3. Try here. http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser-i-o-inboard-engines-outdrives/steps-install-engine-outdrive-303248.html

Boatinfo - The library, containing manuals, brochures and other technical documents from the last hundred years!

http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=124018&d=1322930991

http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser-i-o-inboard-engines-outdrives/outdrive-side-pin-removal-309095.html

P.S. Thanks to Don S for posting those links in the VP Section. Moved to #2!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

The setup for his motor drive has the shaft with two snap rings. I think? It requires an engine removal to service the shaft.
Alignment isin' too much of an issue.It pretty much goes out and back in the same way.

Remove the drive head. reach in and try to move the shaft. ANY wiggle isin't good.
Or try a LONG screwdriver. Hold it against your ear and the shaft housing while it's running.Should be smooth and quiet.
Some bell housings have a grease fitting on the top of the shaft housing. Some not. It can be installed after it's been repaired.
They sell metric grease zerts, but I'm not sure what threads are in there. Take the plug out and check the threads???

 

[Seahawk11]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

Hey thanks for the replies! I will look through the links this evening.
No my boat does not have a grease zerk for that area so pleased to hear I can add one.
My guess is if there is slop it is making the universals clatter and therefore it sounds like a top box rattle?
Does that sound reasonable?

The boat is still on the mooring and it's blowing at the moment so will go out this weekend and listen to the noise and try and locate it accurately.
Been catching a lot of great fish so reluctant to pull it and drag it home early to be honest.
What happens if the bearings fail catastrophically?

Thanks again for your help and info.

Cheers. Garry.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

What happens if the bearings fail catastrophically?

The flywheel housing may get damaged and/or ruined.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

LOT'S of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Install the grease fitting and fill it up. It might help to prolong the damage. Install a kicker and only use the main till it's repaired.
If that's what is wrong, I myself wouldn't use it.
Fish??? Pics in the fishing section???

Profile? Location? You might be close to someone who can help???

 

[Seahawk11]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

Thanks again guys,

I lived in Colorado for 20 years and as I was born close to the ocean (New Zealand) the first thing I did upon my return was purchase a decent boat!

I live in the far north where the population is small and the fishing is excellent.

I routinely catch large king fish and the odd game fish although game fishing is not the thrust of my fishing.

Catch a lot of nice snapper which are our primary eating fish.

I dive a lot and eat lobster, scallops and oysters in season.

The boat was ex Japan and imported here with only 500hrs at almost 20 years old!

I have done and continue to do work on the boat relating mostly to it's lack of use. Ie hoses belts etc etc. All the things that time can ruin without the help of wear and tear.

Yamaha copied the Bertrum hulls so it is a great hull form and very confidence building.

It's nothing for me to shoot out 20miles to sea and fish in 350meters of water for "blue nose" and "groper".
I do pick my weather with great care!

However breaking down is not advisable so may have to knock that activity on the head for a bit.

I do my own work and recourses are not huge here on the trouble I am having and expert help is expensive.

Once again thanks for the input...

 

[Seahawk11]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

Hi Guys, Rowed out today and after removing the air filter and cage and steering gear (mutter mutter..) gained access to the bell housing.
Got the plug out so will rig something up with a grease zirk and fill er up in the morning.

Checked the alighnment and it is close but maybe over the 2mm tolerance side to side by 1 or 2 at most.

2 questions for you.

1... How much grease? tons of pumps or just a few. I wonder how big the void and bearing case etc is.
Don't wana press out a seal or something overloading it.

2... Can I just drive a wedge in between the lugs and adjust the alighnment with the thing bolted up as it is?
I guess I may have to pull the boat and remove the drive to loosen the "doughnut bolts" to get adjustment....

Why didn't they just use a standard grease zirk thread, I grumble to myself.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

If the bearings are noisy it's too late for grease. While grease might make it a bit quieter for about a bit, it doesn't remove the damage, it just hides it.
They need to be replaced.

 

[Seahawk11]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

Don you are so right. I will maybe be able to slide the engine forward enough to remove the bell housing without lifting it out which would be very nice.
I greased the thing today and the noise is gone completely (weird) we'll see how long that lasts...
Regardless it will be repaired correctly in due time.
I am sad that when I had the engine out nobody incl mechanics told me there was a greas passage under that screw/plug.
Would have been nice.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Dp 290 questions......

You probably have water in the bellows that caused those bearings to fail, which means you will be needing a new bellows, ujoints, yoke seal washer, input shaft seal on the upper gear box, gear lube change and probably a flush, you will have salt water in your drive trying to kill it too.
You might be able to move the engine forward, but you still have to remove the upper gear box and take the flywheel cover assembly out of the transom shield to fix it.

I am sad that when I had the engine out nobody incl mechanics told me there was a greas passage under that screw/plug.

Why would they, they may have not know what it was. From the sounds of your posts, this was not an experienced Volvo certified shop.