Issues cropping up while changing Volvo SX-M gimbal bearing - pictures

[nathandarby67]

Hey y'all. I am a long time reader here, but first time poster. First I'd like to say thanks to all the folks who have given so much good advice and never even knew I had taken it! This forum truly is a wealth of knowledge.

Background: I am a pretty mechanically inclined person, and do 99% of my own work on cars, houses, jet skis, weedeaters, toasters, and now a boat. Have restored a couple of cars from the ground up, etc. So even though I can fumble my way around a tool box ok, I know enough to know that I sure don't know everything, and that there is MUCH to be learned from both the real pros and the "seasoned amateurs". Thakfully this forum has plenty of both!

My rig: 2006 Volvo 3.0/SX-M (see picture of serial number plate if needed). Covered/trailered, on its 2rd season of use, maybe 50-75 hours total.

My issue: So last week we were boating peacefully along minding our own business and suddenly the automatic bilge kicked on. I knew something was bad wrong as the bilge has always stayed bone dry. Headed back in, and found the u-joint bellow had come loose from the transom side mount. I also noticed the gimbal bearing getting louder during the trip in and a slight vibration developing. I do not think it was leaking before this (no water in the bilge before), but it could certainly have had a slower leak going on for some time before the bellow came all the way off.

Pulled the outdrive yesterday in order to replace bellows, gimbal bearing and u-joints. I do not know if this had ever been done before we bought the boat so I figured I would do it all while I was in there. All is going well until I was using the 3-arm puller with a slide hammer. The first 8-10 "medium" strength whacks didn't budge it. On about the 3rd "really hard" whack one of the arms of the puller broke clean off at the hook and the puller came flying out and I go flying backwards to land on my butt. I get back up to find one side of the bearing has moved about 1/16 inch. This is where I left things.

Questions:
1) How worried should I be that I screwed up the gimbal housing by wedging the bearing a bit sideways? See the first picture.

2) What is the best way to proceed? Should I use a punch and try to drive the protruding edge of the bearing back square, and then go back to pulling?

3) I am replacing the u-joints as a precaution, but what should I do about the surface rust on the one side of the assembly? Any sort of special paint procedure like when painting the outdrive? (second picture)

4) What about the tiny pitting and scoring on the shaft on either side of where it interfaces with the gimbal bearing...should this cause concern? (third picture)

5)I haven't drained the outdrive oil yet (I am planning on changing it though), but pulled the dipstick and didn't see any signs of water. The upper gearbok input shaft seal "looks" ok, and there was no gear oil in the bellows. Should this part be ok? (fourth picture)

Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to provide all pertinent details and save everybody time on a lot of back-and-forth.

THANKS GUYS!

Nathan

 

[nathandarby67]

Update

Update

Got the gimbal bearing out. Tapped on it a few times with a wooden dowel and it fell right out. There were some tiny scuff marks on the housing where it got wedged cross-ways, but these were on the outer portion of the housing and not down in the area where the bearing actually seats. The bearing installation and alignment tools I ordered are not going to be here until next week so I am taking it by a local shop to have them pop the bearing in and do an alignment check tomorrow (got family coming in for the weekend and gotta take them out, you know).

I still would appreciate some feedback on above questions 3, 4, and 5 if anyone has an opinion on these.

 

[superpop]

Re: Issues cropping up while changing Volvo SX-M gimbal bearing - pictures

I am rather surprised that a 3 year old set up is already in this condition. I would suspect that the bellows was loose or leaking based on the pitting and rust level on the parts that after two seasons should really still look relatively new. I could be wrong if you are in salt water but it still looks pretty rough. I would do what you are doing and make sure the bellows is sealed up good and installed right. The pitting on the shaft should not be a problem where it rides on the bearing but I would be concerned about the shaft were it rides on a seal and if that area is pitted or corroded. That will cause the seal to fail and then you will have more troubles. Are you pulling the drive annually, if not I would start as part of your winterization.

 

[nathandarby67]

Re: Issues cropping up while changing Volvo SX-M gimbal bearing - pictures

I am rather surprised that a 3 year old set up is already in this condition. I would suspect that the bellows was loose or leaking based on the pitting and rust level on the parts that after two seasons should really still look relatively new. I could be wrong if you are in salt water but it still looks pretty rough. I would do what you are doing and make sure the bellows is sealed up good and installed right. The pitting on the shaft should not be a problem where it rides on the bearing but I would be concerned about the shaft were it rides on a seal and if that area is pitted or corroded. That will cause the seal to fail and then you will have more troubles. Are you pulling the drive annually, if not I would start as part of your winterization.

I agree, there may have been a smaller leak going on for some time. Boat is in freshwater, no salt. I have only had it one year so this is the first time I have taken the drive off. I maintain everything I own diligently so it will be an annual affair from here on out. I was told it was taken off at the 20hr service right before I bought it, but that may have been BS as I have no way to verify.

There is a nice shiny smooth area on the shaft where it interfaces with the inner rubber seal behind the gimbal bearing. The seal itself is still very smooth and soft, so I am 99% sure the pitted area does not contact this seal. Would it be ok to shine up the corroded areas of the shaft with an emery cloth or steel wool?

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Issues cropping up while changing Volvo SX-M gimbal bearing - pictures

I agree if it fresh water boat then the bellows leaked for a while and new the age of the boat maybe since new. But with new gimbel bearing and checking alignment you are good to go. Change the gear oil to make sure it is clear but I bet you are fine. If you are worried about the drive shaft oil seal by the U-joints you could pressure test it but looks fine too me, looks totally clean. The seal that rides in the drive shaft by the o-rings is a "secondary" seal to slow up water intrusion into the boat if the bellows fails. That surface rust there is not a big deal IMO.

 

[imported_TheMan]

Re: Issues cropping up while changing Volvo SX-M gimbal bearing - pictures

I'm not a Volvo guy and have only worked on Mercruisers, so things could be different.

But anyway, on a Mercruiser the gimbal bearing is to be replaced with the housing (sold as a unit). The slots on the housing also face inboard at manufacture. So I am curious if someone had repaired your boat and replaced the bearing before this? That may also explain why the bellows came loose only after a few years.

Did you buy the boat new?

 

[nathandarby67]

Re: Issues cropping up while changing Volvo SX-M gimbal bearing - pictures

I'm not a Volvo guy and have only worked on Mercruisers, so things could be different.

But anyway, on a Mercruiser the gimbal bearing is to be replaced with the housing (sold as a unit). The slots on the housing also face inboard at manufacture. So I am curious if someone had repaired your boat and replaced the bearing before this? That may also explain why the bellows came loose only after a few years.

Did you buy the boat new?

On modern volvos (and maybe old ones, I'm not sure), the entire bearing assembly is replaced same as the Mercruiser, including the housing. I believe on Volvos the slots on the housing always face out, at least that is my uinderstanding. I have also been told that it doesn't really matter which way they are facing. My wife took the boat by the dealer this morning to have the bearing popped in, so I will see which way they put it in. Hopefully someone with volvo-specific knowledge will chime in on this issue.

The bearing had never been replaced to my knowledge. I did not buy the boat new. I am the second owner and bought it after the original owner had it for 9 months and put 15-20 hours on it.

My sneaking suspicion is that the bellows may have been leaking since new. I think they maybe forgot to use sealant on them and didn't have the clamp tight enough (It did eventually slide off all on its own, after all). The original bellows I took off still look and feel new. Very soft and supple, no cracks, and I couldn't see any leaks when I filled them with water. So I assume the leak was around where it was mounted. I know you are supposed to use some sort of sealant when installing them, but I could not find any traces of residual sticky goo when I removed them. Should I still be able to see residual sealant on the housing after removing the bellows?