XDP drive gear oil leak

[tkrfxr]

At my last outing, I saw a small amount of oil shining behind my boat...Blamed in on the guy next door...but the port Volvo XDP-B (1.96) drive had lost about 4 oz. of gear oil from the engine reservoir. At haul-out, the drive had gear oil coming out of one of the small drain holes, and the stbd drive was intact. When the cover was removed, there was oily film all over the inside of the cover, the hose, the shift lever...I suspect there is a leak through the shift lever. (The universal joint bellows was dry inside, and the propeller shafts were dry...)

I drained the gear oil on both drives. The stbd drive oil is darker than port's (olive oil and extra virgin olive oil). There is no water...the gear oil is full synthetic, and there is no "fur" upon removal of the drain plugs.

I'm headed down the path of a pressure test...but can't find the XDP shop manual, even on the iboats VP Store (Part#7747145 or 7747250). How much pressure should I use, and should I do a vaccum test? It would be hard to see where the leak is by vaccuum testing...I think..

 

[Don S]

Re: XDP drive gear oil leak

The first thing you need to do is check the bellows for water. If water is getting into the bellows, it will get into the drive, displace gear lube into the leaking bellows, and out into the water.
Volvo has had problems with the bellows hitting the ujoint on the XDP, so it's a very good thing to check.
I just realized I didn't upload the XDP manual to the Volvo info up in the Adults Only stick, but I have uploaded it now.
Here's a link to the manual.
http://www.4shared.com/file/179856427/f640f5a5/XDP-B.html
Page 88 of the manual covers the pressure and vacuum checks. But I wouldn't worry about the vacuum check unless you have a dry bellows and the pressure check is ok. Could also be a leak in the hose between the drive and the transom shield connection.

 

[tkrfxr]

Re: XDP drive gear oil leak

You're a life-saver...

I was mental about the bellows, and that port drive had a bellows failure 3 years ago. The U-joint and seals were replaced then. When I removed the drives this November I was relieved to find the inside of the bellows were dry and had only little spray marks of the 101 grease I had applied to the joints....

I will track this leak and post some pictures...

Thanks Don. Merry Christmas.