Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

[Augoose]

I read a few forums today and it seems an ongoing issue for the 1994-1998 SX drives is cracking of the starboard side upper gear housing, right below the middle mounting stud. This happened to a drive I just purchased, and over the last two days alone on this forum I've seen two other threads dealing with SX drives with cracks in the EXACT same spot as mine. Not sure if it applies to earlier style drives or not.

Seems water gets trapped in that cavity, freezes, expands, and then cracks the housing outward. I read on another forum that Volvo started drilling in a drain hole as a result. When I went and compared that same cavity to my 1999 SX drive, my '99 has a grove (almost looks like a pry mark to help separate the outdrive from the gimbal housing but of course that's not what it is) to let the water drain out.

At any rate, its too late for this season, but hopefully this thread will help someone else next year. Consider making a hole at the bottom of the cavity where the sealing surface of the outdrive meets the sealing surface of the gimbal housing!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

I just had to go searching through my old service bulletins. Seems back in 94 there was one addressing that problem.

View attachment 44-1-9.pdf

 

[Augoose]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

Great Don, thanks for adding that. Hopefully it will help someone out sometime.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

now i have the answer why my sx has that damage... i,m in the process of repairing and installing my drive, will post more pictures.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

i today carefully knocked back the dent, secured it with liquid metal and protective paint . then the whole drive will be new painted with antifouling paint .



when you look carefully i have the modified drive with a slot , do no frilling should be needed. but what finally seem to have happened :

the previous owner pulled the drive some time ago and applied much sealant closing this drain which finally resulted in a freeze damage at this position.

what i can further say - my u joint is definitly greaseable by a grease gun, i greased the u joint and the gimbal today with a grease gun.

but people should carefully look if the drive have the nut on this position and if yes if its open and not blocked !

you never learn out...

 

[wkb2460]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

Pulling the outdrive in the fall and doing the necessary maint would allow any trapped water to drain out.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

Pulling the outdrive in the fall and doing the necessary maint would allow any trapped water to drain out.

True, unless you are the type (like me) who winterizes the boat but then continues to use it occasionally throughout the winter. I went fishing quite a few times and just drained the water out of the engine when I was done- easy process. Never would have thought to drain the lower unit because it shouldn't be holding water when in the down position. The correct solution is to follow the steps indicated in the service bulletin Don posted.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

Pulling the outdrive in the fall and doing the necessary maint would allow any trapped water to drain out.

well, but pulling the drive is for maintanance, not for freezing protection. volvo realized it and offered a solution under warranty. i will now look carefully for this spot next winter.

 

[wkb2460]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

True, unless you are the type (like me) who winterizes the boat but then continues to use it occasionally throughout the winter. .

While it is true that pulling the drive at the end of the season is for maintenance, I have always found some water trapped inside the pickup hose and other areas. When I winterize and do my maintenance, I am done for the season. I have no cracks or issues with my SX drive for seven years now.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

...volvo realized it and offered a solution under warranty....

Are you getting your outdrive repaired under warranty?

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

That was a service bulletin from 1994, the first year of the SX drive. Of course it's not under warranty.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

Are you getting your outdrive repaired under warranty?

no, i referred to the 1994 bulletin don posted. back then they seemed to fix it under warranty .

 

[Augoose]

Re: Volvo Penta SX drive - Freeze damage Prevention

While it is true that pulling the drive at the end of the season is for maintenance, I have always found some water trapped inside the pickup hose and other areas. When I winterize and do my maintenance, I am done for the season. I have no cracks or issues with my SX drive for seven years now.

I gotcha, I'm just advocating the modification that's all- that way you are safe no matter what.

That was a service bulletin from 1994, the first year of the SX drive. Of course it's not under warranty.

Why the heck not! I was trying to be facetious - maybe they do things differently over in Germany :joyous: