Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

[charleswmoore]

Hey guys, I have a 2001 duo-prop that the upper drive assembly rattles while in neutral. The rattle only occurs after a long run and when in neutral. Place drive in either forward or reverse and unit quiets right down. Rattle doesn't change with trim or stearing position. My dealer has pulled down the upper asembly and I like them have looked at gear pattern and it looks good??? Volvo also indicated no service issues on the drive. Any ideas or anyone elso noticing this problem????? Thanks Charlie

 

[hondon]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

These drives can throw some noises at you.I am not there to hear them ,but a rattle or whine is not uncommon for either the SX or DP .Is everything shifting ok?How much experiance do'es that shop have with these units and did V.P. pay for that inspection?

 

[charleswmoore]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

Thanks for the reply, Yes I am expecting VP to pay for all service related to this issue. I have heared nothing contrary to that belief as of yet.<br />(Except for rehubbing prop that we pulled out since it was seized on shaft.) The shop I have chosen has pulled the upper assembly apart for inspection and the gear patterns look great! Since my posting I have spoken with Leon at VP <br />service to check for any recalls etc etc. he is <br />aware of none. From here I can only think that the shaft is rattling in the vibration damper mounted on engine?????We are reassembling to go<br />for a ride!

 

[hondon]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

You have a unit that is, at most, 2 years old and already a prop is seized on the shaft?If you suspect that the engine coupler is the source of your noise an engine alignment check would be in order.How many hours on this unit?Is it possible that the neoprene coating has worn off the exhaust flappers and that is what you are hearing?

 

[charleswmoore]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

I asked volvo about exhaust flappers in this drive knowing that my old 280 drive had them in the exhaust hose? Volvo ran the s/n and indicated that they quit installing them after 1999. I know this is hard to believe but the boat is not used commercially but she has just short of 600 hrs.on the hobs. ( I fish her a lot ) Also as a little tid bit, I am a hard core wireliner which means she is place in and out of gear a lot during the course of a trip that is why now i'm thinking possibly the coupler to shaft splines are worn???<br />And yeah I knew the prop was siezed this winter when I had to pull the drive and turn it upside down to drain the oil???? Drain plug on this unit is behind the props! ouch. So I guess this means that no one else has a rattling Volvo SX-DP drive<br />or is it they just aren't as popular as MERCs?<br />Thanks Charlie

 

[hondon]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

As I said to begin with,these things will throw some noises at you.Have those noises changed dramatically?That's alot of time on this girl in a short while.I would certainly expect that alinment had been checked with each drive removal.A ny water in the gear oil?

 

[charleswmoore]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

The Saga continues, I picked up the boat and do to weather I left on the trailer and place in gear and ran for 40 minutes varying speed between <br />800 and 1500 rpms. She seemed to be quiet. Past weekend I did a fish trip and the first 15 mile run she was quiet when brought back to neutral but by the time I made the run back in the rattle was back. I can only contribute this the the fact that her drive oil was fresh and it may have taken some time to thin it out plus the sea water temperature is dropping daily here in Va.My<br />local dealer indicated the engine was in alignment, splines on shaft looked good. I am reposting in case anyone else has such issues.

 

[vinney]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

There is a dampener plate on the flywheel that is cracked or has a broken spring. You need to pull the engine and look at the back of the flywheel. If the boats been jumped out of the water or you wrapped something tight around the prop it will damage the dampener plate. Vinney

 

[geriksen]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

I was about to agree with you Vinny except the 2001 Volvo duoprop will have a rubber coupler. Could still be loose on the flywheel though. I would replace the clutch cone, ar at least re-shim the shift shoe. Volvo factory support should be helping the dealer on this one. The shop can't just start changing parts because they might not get reimbursed from Volvo. If they call Volvo explain the situation (even better if you call Volvo) They will pre-authorize and or suggest some things untill it is fixed. The dealer just needs to take the time to call them.

 

[Walt T]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

The upper gearset has a nut that is torqued to a specific value. If it is slightly loos, from a shim worn out, it will rattle in neutral, but quiet down in gear as the load takes away the play. Change your drive oil, look carefully for any metal.

 

[vinney]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

I always think of the dp drive as the traditional drive made by volvo. If this is an sx drive there is no dampener plate. If this is an sx dp the rattle is caused by the thrust washer that is bronze in the upper gear box. It will gets distorted an causes excessive play in the cone clutch and cause a rattle. It usually caused by a shift above 1000 rpms. Vinney

 

[charleswmoore]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

Guys Thanks for the information,<br /> I have done a lot of reserch and in this research have found a shift linkage modification adding washers to help take the delay out of shifting (Not related but something that will enhance its performance) This drive is definitely the joint venture SX-DP. From here, this weekend I am gonna run it then record the noise through a homemade stethoscope attached to a tube. Transfer the recording to a wave file and try to email to Volvo Penta???? Again I'm reposting to place this high on the list incase someone else has been there done that. Thanks again Charlie

 

[vinney]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

The washers you added will help a tight shift problem but will not make any changes to the gear box. It will not shift it futher into gear or make any changes for a drivability problem. I have add these washers many times to help a tight shift.

 

[charleswmoore]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

Well guys here is the old ugly of it all. I have walked through the boat yards and talked to as many owners of this drive as possible and the answer I have discovered is yes they rattle. with the water temperature here in Va in the low 40's<br />the problem is not as apparent as when I was running in the 70 degree water. I can only assume<br />that the combination of it being at the end of the season the oil had thinned enough to allow<br />the cone clutch assembly to pulsate on the pawl arm. Anyway to summarize I think i'll make a point to change stern drive fluids at least twice a summer instead of only once. And if this doesn't solve my ongoing concerns I'll turn the radio up a little louder.

 

[charleswmoore]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

Well its now been almost a year and I am at 920<br />hours. I have been living with the rattle but now the roar has covered up the rattle. It also doesn't change with stern drive position or tilt? I cannot locate the noise from the under the motor cover nor can I identify from over the transom but you can hear it if you place your head against the top of transom. My guess is I am <br />now facing a Gimbal bearing? Is this the first signs of a gimbal bearing going bad? I changed drive lube it looked a little dirty grungy but <br />good. Any thoughts of how much of an undertaking this is.<br />Thanks <br />Charlie

 

[charleswmoore]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

Thought I would post an update incase I'm not the only that has experienced this. I have purchased <br />a mercruiser inside reservoir kit and made an adapter that matched the 1/2" x 13 thread pattern that the dip stick used. Once installed I ran the boat on 4 long runs excess of 15 miles each way staying in the upper rpm range (4200) and when returned to neutral the noise is still there but very slight and it quiets down relatively quick.<br />I only ask myself why volvo doesn't have such a kit and why did mercruiser felt it was a nesc item to place in thier asc. list. The more I research other boats with mercruiser drives it is almost seeming to be a standard option??? Anyway <br />maybe I'm heeled I'll keep ya posted if it has any unfavorable consequences.<br />Charlie

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

I have avery simpular issue witha 99 Volvo SX Drive. Noise in neutral. Goes away when put in either forward or reverse. What did you find out with your drive?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

hello<br /> also check the shift shoe for correct shimming. in nuetral the shoe holds the cone in the nuetral position and its cam. also the orings where the shaft passes though the gimal bearing may be flattened. the sole porpose of those orings are to take up the slack of the gimbal bearing to shaft clearence. if the actual metal to metal was tight enough to prevent chatter you would not remove it after a year. now you know why we say service the prop shafts every 30 days in salt water. the drive should come of to grease the splines every year or 100 hours also that is when you replace the shaft orings and check the gimbal bearing and shaft alignment.<br /> good luck and do the maint not the repairs.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

hello<br /> I would reccomend removing the drive oil resevoir,. as it fills the upper drive with oil it will cause a delayed engagement of the cone to the gear. usually resulting in the throttle is being advanced before the cone is engaged. volvo wont warrenty a shaft through the top of the upper bearing cap.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Volvo 5.7GSI with DP-SM Drive 2001

I will add a bit more info. VP 5.0 liter ina 20 ft Chris Craft bowrider. The boat has about 110 hrs on it. I bought it about 4 monthes ago from orginal owner. I use it alot, he never did, as it had 40 hrs when I bought it. He was a bit of an idiot and ran it trimed up to put it on the trailer when I sea trailed it. The price was right so I bought itanyhow, figuing U joints might be in my future. At about 50 hrs got a goofy noise and vibration when turning. Gimble or U joints for sure. Plus I wanted to pull drive and do service. The gimble bearing had worked out of the transom housing. U Joints seemed 100% OK. I measured the bore and the housing was OK, so I installed a new bearing and checked alimanent,it was OK. The bearing was a nice fit into housing , so I think that is good and fine. I don't have an OEM alinment tool, but a homemade machined one for a Mercruiser I used to own and I thing the diameters are the same. Everything was all happy for about 60 hrs. I changed lube and next time out after boat had been run a couple hours I get this goofy noise in neutral only. Turning and trim do nothing, so I think gimble bearing and U Joints are not an issue. I know the shift linkage where the rod meets the horz. plate, has some wear and slop. I plan to add the stainless steel washers I have heard about this weekend to take some of the slop out. I have a factory service manual and am very mechincal. I am a mechanical engineer for a living. I will look into the shift shoe shimming. Is that an exturnal operation of must upper unit be disassembled? Thanks very much for your help. I am new to this forum board thing, pretty darn cool that there are people helpfull around like you all. Thanks