Help!:Pressure check inflates drive bellows

[Guitar Charlie]

Howdy,

I just replaced the drive bellows on my Volvo 280 outdrive and performed a low pressure check through the dip stick hole and watch as the drive shaft bellow started to fill up with air like a balloon! I replaced seals 925259 and125017 but I imagine there must be another seal that I am missing or ???

Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help!!

Charlie

 

[Don S]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

Let me guess, your bellows had water in it, you replaced the bellows and nothing else. Was the water black and/or rusty? Was there water in the gear lube? Probably, the sealing washer on the input shaft is all rusty and has taken out the input shaft seal. Sorry, but I don't know the seals by their part numbers.

 

[Guitar Charlie]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

I replaced the large O-ring and the smaller O-ring that sit directly under the transmission along with the drive bellow (part numbers listed above). This is my first shot at this old 280 and I appreciate any suggestions you give me.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[Guitar Charlie]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

btw, there was a lot of milky oil in the bellow but it was not black and rusty.

 

[Don S]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

Did you have water in the bellows? Was it rusty? Are you in salt or brackish water?

 

[captmello]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

That sucks, I think Don is refering to #33 on this link. Please correct me if I'm wrong.



http://www.volvopentastore.com/UPPER_GEAR_UNIT_AQ_DRIVE_UNIT_280/dm/*******.222320050--category_id.343833--qty_328249.0--**********.290289216--store_id.366--view_id.327463--viewcart.long

Did you change out the ujoints? That washer and the bolt that tightens it down screw into the yoke. Did you see it when you had it apart?

Well at least your a pro taking off the upper gear box now.

 

[Guitar Charlie]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

The boat was primarily used in fresh water but it did spend several outings on brackish water too. I'm not totally familiar with history of the boat, so I went and changed all the fluids, filters, plugs, impellars, belts, hoses, etc. and progressed to the bellows so the fluid that was in there was fresh 30w oil mixed with water from the tub and or ear muffs. Kinda looked like Irish creme...I did not change the U-joints, they looked and felt pretty solid maybe I need to..

 

[Don S]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

btw, there was a lot of milky oil in the bellow but it was not black and rusty.

That means you have water in the drive too. The water gets sucked into the drive on cool down. Then you run it it mixes with the oil turns milky and pushes out the front seal because the oil level is now too high.

I think Don is refering to #33 on this link. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

No, I am not talking about#33, that has nothing to do with the problem.
I am talking about #19 and 21 in the picture below. 21 gets rusty and takes out the seal and it leaks worse.
Unless you have the special tools and manual to check backlash, I would suggest you take the upper gear box to a Volvo dealer and get those items replaced. The water may also have damaged the bearings just behind the seal.

Picture too big to post, just click the link.
http://www.volvopentastore.com/mall/image/vendor/699/EPC/bigger/6227_big.png

 

[Guitar Charlie]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

Thanks Don. Looks like I will take the gear box off again and drop it off at the dealer.

Oh well, I tried!

Thanks for the help,

Charlie

 

[captmello]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

No, I am not talking about#33, that has nothing to do with the problem.

Sorry Don, didn't mean to misrepresent.:redface:

Still learning.

Guitar Charlie, Would you please follow up on this in the future, let us know what feedback you get from your mechanic, how much it costs. I think you have a common problem many of us older volvo owners may have now or in the future.

Good luck to you.

 

[Don S]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

I did not change the U-joints, they looked and felt pretty solid maybe I need to..

When you take the gear box in for repair, have them put in new ujoints. If it was brackish water that got into them, each time it sets, more rust starts. Why do the job twice. Get the seal, shoulder washer, and bearings checked out and do the ujoints while it's apart. Cheap insurance.
If it's a good shop, they should also check the gap under the top nut on the vertical shaft (#51) and the bearing. That will tell you if item #49 is bad.
If the gap is too much, you csan do damage to the rest of the gear box.

 

[Guitar Charlie]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

I yanked out the gearbox this afternoon; amazing it only took 10 minutes once I knew what I was doing!! I will take it to Helmuts in San Rafael on Tuesday for the said work and will report with $ total ASAP. Thanks for the help Don.

Charlie

 

[Don S]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

I will take it to Helmuts in San Rafael on Tuesday for the said work

You have professionals there.
Dealt with those folks back in the early 80's, always helpfull and knew what they were doing.

 

[flargin]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

Would you please follow up on this in the future, let us know what feedback you get from your mechanic, how much it costs. I think you have a common problem many of us older volvo owners may have now or in the future.

Good point, This would be good model for all postings, to close down the threads, help people know if it worked or not, and what actually was the result...

 

[Guitar Charlie]

Re: Help!ressure check inflates drive bellows

Sorry for the delay but here is the lowdown on the repair of the gearbox.

I had the U-joints replaced, along with the seals and washers, also replaced the yoke with a better quality used one. The shaft was out of round probably due to lack of oil or a collison thus resulting in a leak and subsequent milky oil, had that fixed too. Alot of work for this old gearbox, total a little over $600. So far everything seems okay.

Charlie