outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

[sonus]

Ipurchased a 22' 84 aquasport with a 280 drive that has run well all summer and seems to be in great condition.There seems to be a lot of original parts on the boat but it all works.I like to do my own maintanance and whatever repairs I can handle.What is involved in doing an outdrive service and do you need a trained eye to spot potential problems?Iwould like to replace the tilt/trim sending unit as that is the only gauge not working.Is this something that a mechanically inclined novice can handle. Thanks for any input

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

Sonus,<br /><br />My tilt/trim "stop sensor" is not working and I'm planning on replacing both the sensor and the sending unit ("both sides") hopefully this weekend. It will be the first time for me to do that type of thing on the boat, so I'll let you know.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

Buy a MANUAL! Just the procedure for filling it with oil is complex. They are bulletproof units that are susceptible to ham-fistedness easily

 

[Wstahl]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

I have a question. I have the manuals and a lot of on-line information and all of them refere to this tool and that tool and alignment tools etc. These are all geared towards a rebuild of the I/O. If all you do is pull the I/O to run the wires through and replace it, do you need to do all those alignments and need the special tools? Also when you pull the I/O to replace the trim and limit switches are there any other parts (bearings, seals, bellows etc. that should be an automatic replacement just because you have it apart? OH,,,, and for those that remenber my earlier post,,,, the turbochagers are off the 470's and they are back to stock. Runs fine. Anyone need some marine turbchargers and elbows???? <VBG>

 

[rodbolt]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

thunderbird25<br /> post a new topic with your question. we will try to walk ya through it. some of the tools are mandatory for correct maint, some can be deleted.

 

[Don S]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

Well sonus, a 280 drive doesn't have trim, only an electro-mechanical lift for tilt the drive all the way up. There is also no gauge setup for those drives.<br />In regards to servicing, yes there are things a trained eye will spot that an untrained eye won't, just like everything else in life. If you plan on doing your own service, get a manual for your drive before you start or you won't be doing anything but replacing parts. The Volvo manual for your 280 drive is pn 7731624-8.<br /><br />aggie, his is a Volvo, yours is a Mercruiser. Completely different.

 

[Wstahl]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

Thanks rodbolt, I will do that. I have a couple of bigger projects to complete first so the trim and limit switches are on the bottom of the list. I did miss that he was talking about a Volvo and I have the Mercruiser.

 

[sonus]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

Don,and everyone,thanks for the reply but Im am alittle confused.I'm not sure what the difference is between tilt and trim. I thought that if I adjust the drive position up or down a bit to get the best performance that this would be trim.If I raise the drive all the way up to trailer it that this would be tilt.The setup is as follows;the tilt/trim switch has a safety button that must be deppressed and then a three way switch right next to it to raise or lower which springs back to the center position when you let it go.Nothing happens if you dont press the safety switch.Also, I do have a gauge,original volvo,that has a range on it that says trim at the low end,beach in the middle range, and tilt at the top end,with green, yellow, and red markings under these words,respectively.I cant look at the owners manual now but I remember reading that if I want to change the angle of the drive I should slow down,make the adjustment, and then continue on. Isn't this a trim adjustment?,and can/should this be done while the boat is moving to get the best performance?I would like to get the gauge working so I know the position of the drive without having to look over the back.Ialso remember something in the manual that said some drives have different capabilities than others,something like 280A or 280B drives,mine just says 280 on it.I know this is longwinded, I,m just trying to post all the info I can.Thanks a million. This site rocks!!

 

[Don S]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

It sounds like you may have either a 280T or a 280PT instead of just a 280.<br />Look at this chart and see if you can identify which one you actually have.<br /><br /> Volvo Drive Chart

 

[sonus]

Re: outdrive service, easy? what to do and look for?

I beleive it is a 280 T,mainly becauase that number looks familiar from the manual.Thanks for the pictures Don, I'll take those with me next weekend to confirm. Assuming it is a 280T, how fast should I be going when making adjustments and how far up should it be to get max speed?Also, I'll probably take it to a mechanic to get it serviced at the end of the season,it may take me too long on my own.What exactly does a mechanic do to service the drive and does it need to be done every year? I don,t know when it was last done. Thanks again!