Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

[steve_garofalo]

Quick backround info

'82 21' Eliminator
270 Volvo Penta Stern Drive​

Was out on the lake this past weekend and finally got the kids out on the tube.. Well for a little bit anyway Was taking my daughter around for her third or fourth lap when we "found" a submerged rock which all of the locals are aware of, and unfortunatly now I am as well.... Prop was bent to heck and was causing a huge vibration... Lower unit actually missed any collision so for that I am happy.....

We decided to put over to the sand bar and go swimming for a little while,, coasted up and noticed my area of choice was aweful weedy, and decided to backup and swing around to the other side...

Well,,, as soon as I put it in reverse the cable that was holding the tube rope to the transom sank and wrapped itself around the prop and shaft.. HUGE THUNK,,, cable snapped and I killed the motor..

Jumped out pulled the prop and untangled the steel cable off the shaft and put the prop back on,,, everything seemed normal and other than my bent up prob vibrations had no other problems.. Until, I noticed the white bubbly liquid floating to the surface.. CRAP! ! ! !

Idled to the launch and pulled the boat out of the water,,, leaking a ton of white milky water/oil out between the prop and the lower unit once we got the boat on the trailer.

Got home and pulled the prop off and noticed there was no cracks, smacks or damage to the drive itself, so I am hoping this is my only problem...

I think the Seal Ring (listed in the photo below) was damaged when the cable wrapped itself around the shaft..

The service manual calls for lower unit to be removed from the intermediate housing first.. then the prop, zinc ring to be removed and then a special volvo tool (884161) to be used to pull the Bearing Housing and shaft to be removed from the drive itself..

Not trying to second guess the service manual, but wondering if anyone has done this repair before and if there are any tips or tricks that I could learn to make this procedure a bit easier for this first timer.

Here is an exploded view of the lower unit and associated seal ring that I think needs to be replaced...

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Don't have any experience with shaft removal and bearing/gear replacement but was told that there are plenty of used lower sections in good shape around since they rarely break. Around here, I can pick one up for around $150. That might be a less complicated solution. Just make sure you get the correct gear ratio and one with a shaft/hub that matches yours (some of the earlier ones don't have a bolt on the end of the shaft).

Hope that helps - good luck.

 

[steve_garofalo]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

That may be a very viable solution!

I know the one that i have does not have the prop "bolt" that was pictured in the diagram either. Just the lock washer and propeller cone.

I did a quick search on ebay just now and didn't see to much out there yet. I'll check out some other classified sections and see what is available too. I'm right between Chicago and Milwaukee so there should be something around here too

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

There should be a few boat salvage yards up and down the shoreline. Start asking around at marinas and shops. You might even put out an inquiry on Craigslist. Like everything else, just be aware that you're buying used.

A few things to look for in a used unit:
Water in the unit
Turns freely and sounds smooth
Babbit material and other chips and pieces in the strainer

 

[steve_garofalo]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Well I took a closer look at the drive that I have and the end of the prop shaft does have a threaded hole for the Prop Cone.. Guess I do have a newer outdrive than I thought.

Is there a way from the serial number to tell what the actual year the drive is? seems like I have nothing original in this boat

 

[steve_garofalo]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Just got back from outside by the boat and got the serial number off the top of the drive..

2526710B is on a plate on the top.

 

[steve_garofalo]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Darn! ! !

Called the local Volvo dealer with those numbers and they say there should be more, or a part number stamped on there too.. Couldn't find anything else.

Anyone know of another place, or another way to determine the actual model of this outdrive?

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Can you post a pic of the outdrive?

The diagram posted above is a 280 lower. Does yours look like that?

 

[steve_garofalo]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Thanks Captmello, I will take a picture first thing in the morning and post it.

 

[steve_garofalo]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Got out there and took some pictures..

I also found a few more Characters on the identification plate where the serial number is...

The entire line reads PZ NR 2526710B The "PZ NR" appears to be a constant on all the plates, where the 2526710B is what was stamped into the plate.

Here are four pics from various angles showing what the drive looks like.. I omitted the milky white container which was holding all the crap oil though

 

[steve_garofalo]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Well just got off the phone with one of the penta dealers here in my area. They looked up that number and called Volvo themselves but for some reason this number isn't matching up with anything they have on record.

The Volvo rep said his best guess would be a volvo 250 outdrive...

The seal I am looking to replace is the one that is on the prop shaft itself where it looks like it goes through the double bearing housing.. That is where I saw the little bubbles of oil coming out when we were in the water, and where I had to untangle the tow line that was wrapped around the prop.

Are those seals fairly similar between the 250 - 280 lines?

Anyone have any opinions on the 250 outdrive at all? ? ? Good Bad Indifferent? ?

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 270 Lower Seal ring issue/replacement

Well, I don't know if its a 250 or 270. the 250 would be much older than the original, late 60s perhaps, if its really a 250. Most V8's of your boats era seemed to have 280's which yours appears not to be.

the good news is that if the sealing rings, there are two, are your problem, they are the same part number for both drives.

Good luck to you, Looks like a nice boat.