Re: Volvo Penta Upper Steering Pivot Seal Leak
Just in case others are following this thread and might benefit from the information, I wanted to follow up with what I ended up doing. I wasn't able to separate the steering spindle from the steering fork on my SX-MHP gimbal housing so I started entertaining the thought of replacing the entire assembly. The SX-MHP seems to be a limited production transom assembly, the only other boat I know of that has it is a friend's Doral (2005 Intrigue). All of my other friends with VP DuoProps have the SX-M or a similar variant thereof. By the way, the quickest way to tell is by the gimbal housing anodes. SX-MHP has two small cube finned anodes attached to a plastic mount that is connected to Volvo's answer to Mercathode. SX-M variants have one trapezoidal anode that looks like a smiley face (or frown) with the two bolt holes and "mouth". I did a lot of research about the SX-M because I wanted to save money by buying a used assembly and couldn't find a used MHP. I finally found a used SX-M gimbal housing, gimbal ring, and trim ram assembly that the seller was willing to let me bring home and compare to my SX-MHP. Side by side I couldn't find a difference that would prevent installation. Turns out the inside transom brackets are perfectly identical and there are only subtle differences on the outside gimbal housing (no through transom gimbal cover bolts, and a corrugated exhaust bellows) and on the gimbal ring (steering spindle has one center bolt and four studs, and the steering fork is built into the gimbal ring). The actual part is labeled SX-MLT and it is completely compatible with SX-MHP. I will have to fill the two horizontal transom holes with epoxy, but comparing the ease and common availability of the SX-M, I was willing to take the risk. Partially assembled new and corroded and cracked old. Sorry for the sideways pics.
Just in case others are following this thread and might benefit from the information, I wanted to follow up with what I ended up doing. I wasn't able to separate the steering spindle from the steering fork on my SX-MHP gimbal housing so I started entertaining the thought of replacing the entire assembly. The SX-MHP seems to be a limited production transom assembly, the only other boat I know of that has it is a friend's Doral (2005 Intrigue). All of my other friends with VP DuoProps have the SX-M or a similar variant thereof. By the way, the quickest way to tell is by the gimbal housing anodes. SX-MHP has two small cube finned anodes attached to a plastic mount that is connected to Volvo's answer to Mercathode. SX-M variants have one trapezoidal anode that looks like a smiley face (or frown) with the two bolt holes and "mouth". I did a lot of research about the SX-M because I wanted to save money by buying a used assembly and couldn't find a used MHP. I finally found a used SX-M gimbal housing, gimbal ring, and trim ram assembly that the seller was willing to let me bring home and compare to my SX-MHP. Side by side I couldn't find a difference that would prevent installation. Turns out the inside transom brackets are perfectly identical and there are only subtle differences on the outside gimbal housing (no through transom gimbal cover bolts, and a corrugated exhaust bellows) and on the gimbal ring (steering spindle has one center bolt and four studs, and the steering fork is built into the gimbal ring). The actual part is labeled SX-MLT and it is completely compatible with SX-MHP. I will have to fill the two horizontal transom holes with epoxy, but comparing the ease and common availability of the SX-M, I was willing to take the risk. Partially assembled new and corroded and cracked old. Sorry for the sideways pics.
