Volvo SX Driveshaft Bellows Failure; Don S., other Volvo Experts

[rivverat]

2004 VP SX drive. I recently took my boat in to have the outdrive pulled to check engine alignment and other maintenance inspection. I do this at least yearly.<br />I was called by my mechanic and given the news that water had entered the driveshaft bellows and that the gimble bearing was frozen and would need replaced along with the bellows. No other damage was noticed.<br />I asked about warantee on this issue and was told that this was a 'maintenance item' and was not covered.<br />I inspected the bellows and noticed 'wear' marks on either side of the bellows. My mechanic told me that he sees this quite often. I was shown two other bellows that had failed, one had the same wear marks, one did not. I was told that the wear marks are caused by rubbing on the the water hose on one side and the shift cable on the other when the outdrive is turned hard left or right. Mechanic could not say why some wear and some don't.<br />My opinion is that this may be defective design. The bellows is not made to be 'abraded' and of course will fail if a hole is rubbed through. <br />Has anyone else experienced this?<br />Is there any fix to keep the rubbing from happening?

 

[Norm Malcosky]

Re: Volvo SX Driveshaft Bellows Failure; Don S., other Volvo Experts

Rivverat,<br /><br />I am changing my 1997 SX drive bellows this year for the first time (9 years) and have not seen any abrasion or leaks on the bellows. The boat has been in the water 7 months a year for 9 seasons and I have had no leakage or problems.<br /><br />There is some clearance problems with the hydraulic line to the trim rams that needs to be addressed during reassembly, but I do not believe the water pickup and its lines are close to the bellows during tilt/turn operations. The shift cable should also be watched, but unless marine growth (barnucles/zebra muscles) are forming on the drive and abrading the bellows, I dont have a clue how your problem can be resolved. <br /> <br />I don't think it is a defect - perhaps an assembly issue. Your boat is so new, I am assuming this is the first year that you are changing the bellows and could see the gimbal bearing. Perhaps the factory glue job on the drive bellows was poorly made and a small leak allow a little water to destroy the bearing.<br /> <br />Norm . . .<br />Port Clinton, OH

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo SX Driveshaft Bellows Failure; Don S., other Volvo Experts

I've never seen the rubber hose rub a hole in the bellows, but I have seen the marks. You might check the tube with the grease zirk for the gimbal bearing. It's nothing but a plastic tube pressed into the housing. If it leaks, it leaks water straight into the gimbal bearing. <br />Have tried several methods to seal it and on a couple of boats we just removed the tube, tapped the hole and installed a stainless steel zirk. You can still get at it to grease the gimbal bearing, but it eliminates the tube.

 

[rivverat]

Re: Volvo SX Driveshaft Bellows Failure; Don S., other Volvo Experts

Don s., erie_guy, thanks for the responses. This is a trailer boat so not in the water except for 2 t0 5 days at a time. After I winterized last year, it sat all winter and then into the shop a few weeks ago. Plenty of time for the gimble bearing to rust.<br />I checked the hose/cable rub issue over the weekend and yup, with outdrive fully tilted up and hard left or right, both did rub the bellows. Have not checked when the outdrive is down to see if same.<br /><br />I would like to add, there was no OBVIOUS hole rubbed, could have been just a small pinhole or<br />erie_guy, bad assembly job (was apart last August for another issue) <br />or<br />Don S., an issue with that pesky grease tube.<br /><br />I will check the tube tonight. What exactly should I look for, will it just pull out, or??<br />If it was a bad assembly job, I'll never know for sure since there was no obvious sign of it, the lip not rolled etc.<br /><br />Guys, thanks again for you help