Bellows ground wires cut SX-A

[boatdude100]

Bad corrosion on outdrive at transom.

It seems my bellows ground wires from ? to ? have been cut or are missing. After 2 hours of searching and viewing schematics, I can not find where they are supposed to go. Please help!

Qs:
1) how much do they matter? (short term and long term) Freshwater Only.
2) I see attachment clips on clamps on each end of the lower bellows. The wires are broken or cut. Do they connect together? Where do they go??
I think the routing is - front of bellows clamp to rear bellows clamp then somewhere on pivot housing AND/OR to "port middle bolt" of trim motor housing

Note: I am replacing trim motor and instructions say "cable for Bellows clamps and pivot housing goes under port middle bolt."(of trim motor housing). So what connects to what? Where does it attach on pivot housing? I assume anyone who has done their bellows knows this. Thanks, please be specific!

Photos are of bellows clamps that have broken wire

 

[boatdude100]

Anyone know? I can't put the trim motor back on until I'm sure I don't need this wire! Thanks

 

[Fun Times]

Tough one to be exact in explanation for the Volvo as there isn't/doesn't seem to be a direct guide for the grounding/bonding corrosion protecting system like merc offers in their service manuals.


To get a visual of it outside of having one near by, you'd need to keep studying the schematics like you'd been doing as there are many spots that need them and yes you're correct that say one new / good conditioned bonding wire cabling is connected together to handle about 3 or 4 items...but maybe it will help if we can guide you to the correct locations that lay between the parts catalog and the Volvo SX-A service manual that covers the transom assembly which I'll try to do below.


In the following the bonding/ground wire cable is item number 27, and the bolt and washer is 89 and 84,

Transom Shield

Make sure to keep your Volvo Penta Genuine!

www.volvopenta.com

67, 71,

Power Trim System

Make sure to keep your Volvo Penta Genuine!

www.volvopenta.com

Number 6,

Gimbal Ring and Pivot Housing

Make sure to keep your Volvo Penta Genuine!

www.volvopenta.com

Number 11,

Gimbal Ring and Pivot Housing

Make sure to keep your Volvo Penta Genuine!

www.volvopenta.com

This is on the inside of the boat but numbers 4, 5 & 6,

Inner Transom Plate

Make sure to keep your Volvo Penta Genuine!

www.volvopenta.com

^ Or depending on any possible differences,

Inner Transom Plate

Make sure to keep your Volvo Penta Genuine!

www.volvopenta.com

All your parts in case i missed something,

Volvo Penta Shop

Find and buy the full Volvo Penta aftermarket assortment for marine and industrial applications. With more than 200.000 genuine parts to support all maintenance and repair you will find all you need. Identify the Volvo Penta engine, shield or drive when looking for spare parts, maintenance...

www.volvopenta.com

Now have a general read of the service manual as they mention each time/place you should connect the ground bond wire to each component in need.



Example,
9,Push the exhaust bellows onto exhaust tube until it engages groove. Slide ground strap clip under hose clamp and tighten
clamp securely.
NOTICE! The exhaust bellows does not have a specific position.
Mounting the worm screw on top allows access
through an opening in the pivot housing.

Gimbal Ring Installation - Volvo Penta SX-A Workshop Manual [Page 184]

Volvo Penta SX-A Manual Online: Gimbal Ring Installation. 180 Push the exhaust bellows onto exhaust tube until it engages 9. groove. Slide ground strap clip under hose clamp and tighten clamp securely. NOTICE! The exhaust bellows does not have a specific position. Mounting the worm...

www.manualslib.com

Volvo Penta SX-A Workshop Manual (Page 169 of 208) | ManualsLib

www.manualslib.com

Then try an image search of SX-A transom and you might pick up a few pointers of where to look as there are many to look at online.

Volvo Penta OMC 3850713 3851976 Gimbal Cobra SX Housing Assembly Transom Mount

Part Number(s) Included 3850713 / 3851976 / 3852274-D2 Gimbal Housing Assembly 3852395 / 3852416 / 3860469 Gimbal Ring 3852849 / 3852379 Steering Arm General Application / Compatibility Volvo Penta SX / OMC Cobra SX Early applications 1994-1998 (Only has the two bolts on the top) & likely some...

www.nlamarine.com

I think that's all i have to offer as a starting point to your question... Hope it helps, good luck.

 

[boatdude100]

Wow, so kind of you to put time into this! Yes all good clues, nothing that ties it all together as a "circuit" but I can piece it together thanks. Looks like its a job for when the bellows are changed. Thanks again, kind people like you keep the world a good place to live.

 

[ESGWheel]

To answer the other question: does it matter short or long term, fresh water only: Well, it depends on the fresh water. No question that corrosion process is much slower in FW but it still happens. I think you are ok in the short term, i.e., finish out the season, while you research and collect all the components you need using FT’s guidance above. Unsure if you need it? Get it anyway. Better to have a left-over cable, then not have it when doing the job. In fact, best to get a couple of extra 2 and 3 loop wires (items 67 & 71) so you can ensure its tied all together which is critical. Note you can use a multimeter to determine is a component is part of the circuit as part of your pre-disassembly and post reassembly.

And if you are still unsure to undertake this repair due to “not an issue in FW”, think of this > if you ever go to sell the boat a savvy buyer will probably walk away seeing those cut wires. While you may convince them not an issue, they will still see it as a lack of maintenance / caring for the boat.

Also, you did not mention how that came to pass and not really the point but if you are using a shop that did that I would never go back.

 

[alldodge]

If the boat is trailered it's a non-issue

 

[boatdude100]

Wires were discovered cut when I changed tilt motor and saw reference to the clamp clips. Boat not trailered. Had boat 2 years and clamps perfect but serious corrosion in pivot area and transom shield (I think the forward annode was disabled by being covered in slime (weedy/algae lake)

 

[cyclops222]

Lack of maintenance causes problems. Both seen & unseen internal ones.

 

[BRICH1260]

If it is not kept in the water I think you would be ok until after the season to resolve. If slipped, I would add new cables soon.

 

[cyclops222]

I know of 4 things to attack metal parts in water.
Salt Water
Polluted industrial / corrosive places
Excessively strong Chlorine sewage treatment plant discharges/
Strong stray electrical currents. Dock power or underwater power cables leaking electrical current into the water.