Greasing splines on the outdrive

[wipfer]

I was wondering if the splines should be greased every year or how often? The boat is used seasonally in frest water with minimual hours every year. How difficult is removing the outdrive? Also, do you need the alignment tool, part #3851083,and where do you find 6 elastic mounting bolts that must be replaced with new ones. The motor is a 4.3 gl-e with a sx-m1 drive unit

 

[Lou C]

Re: Greasing splines on the outdrive

Removing the drive is not difficult but it is heavy, I build a wood stand to remove and install my OMC Cobra. I know for sure my OMC manual said that the drive has to be removed each year to grease the driveshaft splines, and also to check and grease the ujoints and gimble bearing. At the same time you can check the bellows for water and check the input shaft seal on the drive for leaks. Doing this on a regular basis will help you avoid expensive repairs. I do mine each year after I winterize the boat. Takes about 15 min to remove, you have to remove the nuts ( or clips on some Volvos) holding on trim rams, 6 nuts hold the drive to the pivot housing (Volvo shift cable needs to be removed, not so on OMC) and then you give it a few good pulls and it should slide off. Be ready to support it. IF you don't remove it for several years, not only can you have expensive problems developing (water in bellows, input shaft seal leak, worn ujoints not serviced) but you can have trouble getting it OFF, if the driveshaft rusts into the coupler...that is a bad scenario, and completely avoidable.

 

[Don S]

Re: Greasing splines on the outdrive

I was wondering if the splines should be greased every year or how often?

Every 100 hours or yearly, whichever comes first is how Volvo says it in their maintenance schedule. Here is a link to the schedule.
http://vppneuapps.volvo.com/ww/PIE/...423&d=Maintenance Schedule&s=45822&lang=en-GB

Also, do you need the alignment tool, part #3851083

You do not need that specific bar, any of the alignment bars found on ebay that are used for Mercruiser and OMC will work fine.
Here is a drawing of one incase you can make your own.
http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40899&stc=1&d=1258244354

How difficult is removing the outdrive?

Not hard, but heavy as Lou C mentioned. But you do have to disconnect the shift cable on the back of the drive, and adjust it when you put it back together. Not difficult, but necessary.
Those 6 nuts do not have to be replaced each time. As long as you can't thread the nuts all the way on the threads with your fingers, then they are still good to go. They should last at least 10 years of drive removal each year.
Here is a link the the service manual for the drive, you will need it if you want to work on your equipment.
http://www.4shared.com/file/50982625/e2bdb42c/SX_DP-S_Service_Manual.html