2005 Volvo Penta SX Drive - Mishap

[krazykatz911]

Hi All... well for the first time, we had a mishap today pulling the boat out. Simply rushing and not paying attention led me to give wife the go ahead to pull the boat out, and I forgot to raise the outdrive. So it bounced a couple times (boat ramp has big grooves in it that causes the trailer to hop in the water). The after 2-3 hits, she stopped when I yelled. Anyway... I scraped the bottom of the skeg guard, and bent a couple tips of the aluminum prop. Other then that I cannot see any other damage.

My question is... when the outdrive is down and I lift up on it, there is "play". Like I can lift it up maybe 1/32" of an inch. I see the play is in the attachments of the hydraulic cylinder rods to the outdrive. (see picture) Is this normal play or does a bushing or something need to be replaced. I never checked or notice this before until today when I was checking for any damage. Please advise if this "play" is normal and thanks in advance.

 

[dypcdiver]

Normal on my DPS SM drive it has been there from new 1999. Renewed the plastic bushings some years back and it was the same, so now I have spares for something that doesn't seem to wear!

I'm not sure that your drawing is correct, that looks like an early drive you most likely with a 2005 boat have the SX A drive.
http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/volvo-penta-explodedview-7746270-44-36314.aspx
Or possibly the SX M
http://www.marinepartseurope.com/en/volvo-penta-explodedview-7746040-44-6235.aspx

 

[Augoose]

Its normal to have some play. Consider this - your SX drive has a kickup feature in that if you are cruising along and hit an object in the water, the rams "should" allow the outdrive to kick up and absorb the impact rather than the outdrive itself taking the energy of the impact.
Scraping the skeg isn't that bad and it happens to a lot of folks.

 

[krazykatz911]

Hi Guys! thank you so much! Yes, my diagram was wrong, I do have the SX-M. You guys rock!

 

[krazykatz911]

PS: I am very glad I installed the stainless steel Skeg guard. This only has some scratches on the bottom of it. Served its purpose and still looks great!