Volvo 275 Leak

[JRS85]

Hello

I'm new to this forum and have read much about milky oil in the 275 outdrive. I have the same problem on a 275 as well. I noticed a leak through a hole in the bellows this weekend when I had muffs on the boat and it was running. Milky oil was coming from a small slit on the right side of the boot. It seemed to increase when the steering wheel was moved from side to side. I have read about this in several other threads but never got a clear cut answer on what exactly was the problem. So I have a few questions:

I cannot see oil coming from anywhere on the drive except for the hole in the boot. What are some likely causes for this and what should I look at replacing? I have the schematics of the drive and feel that I can do the repair myself - Am I incorrect in this assumption. Where should I start looking first?

Are any special tools required to remove and replace any of the seals/orings that may need to be replaced.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, JRS

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

any suggestions?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

1st thing.Is the oil in the drive milky? Is it low? The oil has to be comming from somewhere.If it ends up in the bellows the front u-joint seal is possibly defective.If the seal went bad the u-joint yoke is probably rusted and has to be replaced.The u-joints will probably need to be replaced too.The last time I replaced a complete assy.
The tools are simple they are US standard.The only thing that will be expensive is the pressure tester you need to test the drive and the VOLVO parts$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
You don't say where your from so I don't know if you run in salt water or fresh,fresh:the corrosion wont be as bad. Jerry

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

Milky oil was coming from a small slit on the right side of the boot.

There is your problem. That slit in the bellows allows water to get into the ujoint area. The seal for the drive is not designed to keep water out, that is the purpose of the bellows. When the drive cools, it sucks in water, which increases the volume in the drive. Next time it's run and warms up it pushes the oil/water mixture (Milky oil) out past the seal and into the bellows.
As the yokes get rusty, they destroy the seals in the upper gear box and the engine bellhousing. When water gets into the bearings in the bellhousing, they have a tendency to lock up after a time, spin on the shaft and destroy the bellhousing, same with those expensive gears and bearings in the outdrive.

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

Thank you both for a quick response. I appreciate all the information. I live in KY and usually boat on Lake Cumberland so saltwater is not an issue. The oil was milky following the recent startup, but the level is in the recommended range. Is there a "kit" available that includes all of the parts (bellows, u-joints, seals, etc) or do I need to order them separate? I have the upper gear unit diagram from Volvo Penta's site. Would you happen to know the numbers of the parts I will likely replace?

Again, thank you very much.

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

Thank you. Should what's included in this kit have it covered unless I have some serious issue that I am not aware of?

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

One more point. The boat had not been ran since last season and the fluid in the outdrive was changed when winterized. When running with the muffs on, will this still allow for water to enter, mix with the oil and push outward through the bellows? Thanks again.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

Running with the muffs on won't introduce water into the bellows but why would you even do that before pulling the top of the drive off and looking in there to see what the conditon of your u-joints are and getting any water out. By changing the oil now and not pulling off the bellows, you will be introducing water back into your new oil.

This model of Volvo is very simple to take the top of the drive apart so that should be the first thing you do.

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

A lot of this is new to me. This is the first boat I have owned and there are some things that I don't know. As for not checking, things were ok as far as I knew last year. I just want to fix it right now so that I don't have more problems down the road. Thanks.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

A lot of this is new to me. This is the first boat I have owned and there are some things that I don't know.

Understood.

If it were my boat I would want to get the bellows off ASAP. It should either be you after learning how to do it or have someone else do it right now.

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

I plan on taking off the unit in the next few weeks. I have all the diagrams and feel that I can handle it. I would like to be able to do most of the maintenance myself and what a better place to start, huh?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

I had the drive you have, many years back, and what you need to do is the first thing I ever did on the drive.

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

Here's my plan for the repair, please feel free to let me know if I am forgetting anything.
Draining the oil.
Removing the unit to access the bellows.
Removing the bellows.
Checking for obvious leaks at seals, pressure checking and repairing as necessary (probably the u-joint as well).
Replacing the bellows & refilling the unit.

Am i forgetting anything?

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

I would edit your list to look more like this.

1. Drain the outdrive.
2. Remove upper gear box.
3. Remove seal from engine bellhousing and check for milky grease. If it's milky, that's water in the grease and you should pull the engine and bellhousing and fix it now while it's still inexpensive. With new bearings and seals in bellhousing, reinstall engine.
4. Pull front double bearing box, replace seal and probably the rusty and grooved steel sealing washer. Replace ujoints and reassemble with new orings and setting the proper rolling torque for the double bearing box. Assuming the bearings and gears are ok.
5. With engine back in if it had to be removed, install new bellows.
6. Install upper gear box with new orings.
7. Pressure and vacuum check outdrive.
8. If it passes the pressure and vacuum check, put in new 30W engine oil.
9. Test run engine and check shifting, water flow, steering, and how the engine runs.

 

[JRS85]

Re: Volvo 275 Leak

Thank you Don and everyone else who has offered advice. Hopefully all goes well and I will be back on the water in a few weeks. Thanks again.