Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

[mikebc]

Hey,<br /> <br /> I think I saw a post about a month ago where Don s mentioned he would prefer a Volvo outdrive for his own boat. Reason I ask is I have put a deposit on a 2001 with a volvo and a 4.3. The boat can't have more than 100 hours on it, and I got to see it before they cleaned it up! The outdrive seems 200% smoother than my current Alpha one. I asked them to do a outdrive service and change the outdrive oil before I take delivery. Should I be aware of anything else, like impellers or anything? Thanks guys!

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

Change the impeller, they break into little pieces when they fail.<br /><br />Have a tech inspect the propshaft seals closely also for you.<br /><br />The outdrive should be pulled, alignment checked and u-joints lubed along with a bellows inspection.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

which volvo drive does it have? what year is the drive?

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

It's a 2001, and they did a pressure check on it. It looks like brand new, no scratches are anything. The maintaince was done @ the marina, including winterizing. The owner lived off water, so it never stayed in overnight except for the occasional 3 day weekend. Are the impellers prone to failure on volovo's also? Is it necessary to do a alignment, it has less than 100 hours. If I were to buy this one, I would pull it out @ the end of theyear and pull the outdrive. This one really looks better than any 2004 out in the water. I'm not sure what model of drive, but it's hooked up to a 4.3 6cy! Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

Congrats on the new (to you) boat. I assume since it's a 01 boat it's the SX/DP-S style drive, is it the single prop version or dual prop version? Is the engine EFI or carbed?<br />The single prop version had issues with the prop shaft seal, but all in all the drive is much better than the Alpha drives. No more dog clutches, shift interrupt switchs, multi cables for shifting. <br />Your impeller is prone to failure just like any other impeller, No More, No Less, it's the nature of the beast. They have rubber vanes that flex, therefor they need replaced every couple of years.<br />The alignment should be checked at least yearly. Usually during winterization when the drive is pulled off to inspect/lube the ujoints, and inspect the gimbal bearing, and bellows. It's not that the engine has to be realigned, it's more of a preventive maintence check to prevent damage to the coupler which requires an engine removeal to replace.

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

Sounds great! We made the deal official after a 2nd ride today with the "boss," my wife. Anywho, it is a SX drive, and it's carbed I looked all over for a used EFI & I think people keep them! Well, maybe in a few more years I can afford a new one with efi, but this 4.3 seems to work pretty good. Maybe they will come up with a tbi kit or something down the road. I'll have them change the impeller, align the drive, and change the oil before I take it. Was the "pressue" test to check for leaks, seeing that's the main issue with them.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

as a prcaution have them change the seal to the new desihn. all of the original designs failed. some multiple times. got so bad that for several years once the warrenty expired I was using two cobra seals back to back to prevent further failures. the new style seal was released a few months ago. its much better than the original design. but be aware that a lot of dealers still have the old design in stock and some are still using it. volvo would not take ours back so I tossed 7 of them in the trash can to insure they did not get used.

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

Rodbolt,<br /><br /> Do you have the new part #, and did the part number change when the new design was released? I just don't want the old design if it was 1/2 as bad as it sounded! Thanks, Mike.

 

[mikebc]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

rodbolt?

 

[randyo]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

I think rodbolt is referring to the part in this thread:<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=010060

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser,,Don S

were it me I would go ahead and ask the dealer to install the new part number prop shaft seal with the new tool. never saw an older sx,pre-05, that did not fail. some failed many times. what will happen is the rubber will come unbonded from the steel seal backing and allow a slow leak.