Oh no, what did I just do?

[RICHARD5]

Ford 350 with VP 270T

Like an idiot....

While running the engine on the street--with adequate water to the raw water system--and with the I/O tilted up I goosed the throttle. Now there is a low grumbling noise coming from the upper half of the drive. I or my brother can't really tell if it's inside or outside of the transom but it's definately coming from the top part of the drive.


It took a lot of work to get the engine running again. This because I took it to Outdoor Sports in Page, AZ.

I was so happy to hear the purr of the engine that in a moment of exuberance I went to full throttle and back to idle. But apparently the damage was done. What damage has been done? And what parts will I need.

Thank you in advance for your helpful replies.

 

[Blujay96]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Sounds like the u-joints. If you did not put the drive down itputs to much pressure on them.

 

[Don S]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

You should never run the engine with the drive all the way up. The ujoints could hit the flywheel housing that the bellows attaches to and will destroy the flywheel housing, and the bellows, and possibly other thing.
I would suggest you pull the upper gear box off the drive and inspect things.

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Here's what my idiocy cost. 2 U-joints, one housing, the cooling water hose and metal connector, and a bellows. One U-joint lost a cap and needles and Became excentric. The zerk sheared off. The cap knocked out chunks of the flywheel housing and the water hose connector. It finally lodged in a hole it made in the bellows. The snap ring holding the cap looked very corroded and pitted.

While we were at it, the throttle cable and exhaust bellow were replaced.

$465 in parts. The flywheel housing is salvageable because the bellows indent on the housing is intact.

I'm putting a new placard at the control console:

DO NOT START ENGINE UNLESS
DRIVE IN FULL DOWN POSITION​

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Sorry to hear that man, tough lesson learned. I had no idea that it would cause that much damage, but usually when I flush mine out at home I keep it at the same level I would when planed out, to avoid it hitting the ground.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

One thing I like about an outboard, would be kinda rediculas to start with the powerhead tilted up practically upsidedown...

I dought a carberated O/B would even start at full tilt...

 

[justchange]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Look at the bright side.

1--------You learned something else NOT to do

2-------- It DIDN'T cost more.

 

[Blujay96]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

My first boat I had I ran it a few times with the drive up. I don't know how I never broke the poor thing. That was before I started reading this forum.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Probably would have been ok had you not goosed it, but it sounds like you had a bad u-joint to begin with anyhow, so better have lost it the driveway than out at sea.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

I think you might want to take a closer look at the gearbox as DonS said. I'm not sure where you came up with your parts list but I would recommend at the very least - replace the rear PDS seal and give the drive shaft knuckles a good inspection. Then either do it yourself, or have a Volvo tech inspect and reseal the gearbox. If you don't want to go that route, at least do pressure and leakdown tests to verify that the seals are good. Take a good look at the front knuckle to see if it's still smooth and doesn't have any grooves cut into the forward seal area.

Like 70eliminator said, you probably had event precursors occuring before the u-joints came apart and it's best to resolve those issues as well.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Curious...how didn't you know it wasn't down? Didn't you have to put the muffs on and notice it was up?

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Look at the bright side.

1--------You learned something else NOT to do

2-------- It DIDN'T cost more.

I know!

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Probably would have been ok had you not goosed it, but it sounds like you had a bad u-joint to begin with anyhow, so better have lost it the driveway than out at sea.

That's what I am thinking.

The real aggravating part has been all the energy it took me to find a great mechanic. That includes $$ and frustration spent with inferior mechanics. My brother is more of a motorhead than I and I'm no slouch when it comes to working on engines, etc. However, we started to get into working on the I/O and backed off. A man has to know his limitations.

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

I think you might want to take a closer look at the gearbox as DonS said. I'm not sure where you came up with your parts list but I would recommend at the very least - replace the rear PDS seal and give the drive shaft knuckles a good inspection. Then either do it yourself, or have a Volvo tech inspect and reseal the gearbox. If you don't want to go that route, at least do pressure and leakdown tests to verify that the seals are good. Take a good look at the front knuckle to see if it's still smooth and doesn't have any grooves cut into the forward seal area.

Like 70eliminator said, you probably had event precursors occuring before the u-joints came apart and it's best to resolve those issues as well.

All good points.

I found a mechanic to do the work. He used to be VP's head honcho. Over 40 yrs experience. Very nice guy at a great shop. I'm very comfortable to know they're taking care of me.

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

Curious...how didn't you know it wasn't down? Didn't you have to put the muffs on and notice it was up?

With my brother hovering around the transom as a set of eyes and ears, we were checking the trim drive and some other systems. I got distracted and then he said to start the engine. Then he got distracted by his young boys. 50/50 chance of it being down and my brand of luck swooped in to finish the job. Usually I'll challenge to confirm a command (postive communication). This time I did not.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

^^^^Precisely why I check things myself when working on something critical and/or very expensive... If I own it and it breaks, I have to pay to fix it...

I know your brother probably meant well, but it is still your dime to fix it...

Good luck and hope nothings else costs you more$$$$

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

^^^^Precisely why I check things myself when working on something critical and/or very expensive... If I own it and it breaks, I have to pay to fix it...

I know your brother probably meant well, but it is still your dime to fix it...

Good luck and hope nothings else costs you more$$$$

Right on!

I'm a commercial pilot. Also, I've been on the coastal and offshore waters all my life. Those two things have taught me the importance of checks and verifying. Still...this time it got away from me, I failed to adhere to my ingrained SOP. :redface:

No one was injured or in distress.

PS: She's ready to be picked up tomorrow morning. The mechanic told me he 'saved' me $1,400 (includes labor but mostly the part price) by salvaging the flywheel housing. Evidently VP parts are you-must-be-kidding-me expensive. For the same part Merc charges $245.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Oh no, what did I just do?

With my brother hovering around the transom as a set of eyes and ears, we were checking the trim drive and some other systems. I got distracted and then he said to start the engine. Then he got distracted by his young boys. 50/50 chance of it being down and my brand of luck swooped in to finish the job. Usually I'll challenge to confirm a command (postive communication). This time I did not.

Yikes...I guess I don't have "helpers" around usually....sounds like that might be agood thing!