Should I Be Worried?

[DanoBlade]

Pulled the drive on a VP SX-M to check the Gimble bearing and U-Joints and noticed this pitted area on the driveshaft where it rides at the edge of the Gimble bearing. What could have caused this and is this something that I should be concerned with?

I never received any replies on my first post about checking the bearing and really need some help on this.

Anyone?

 

[XiViperI]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

Imo I wouldn't worry about that at all. I'm pretty sure the shaft just rides inside the gimble bearing. Now if that surface was the contact for a grease seal or something like that it would be cause for concern because the pitting would wear out a new grease seal very fast.

 

[DanoBlade]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

Thanks for the response. It's on the side of the shaft opposite the seal so no worries there. I'm just tracking down a slight vibration and both the bearing and joints look good. I figure if there was any pressure on that part of the shaft, the bearing would show signs of heat or failure.

 

[boattech]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

Ive not ever seen a drive shaft pit like that. How deep are the pits? was there any corosion in them or does it looks clean? That shaft is taking the whole load of the engine and needs to be strong. If the pits are deep you may want to consider changing that shaft as the pits may create a shear point in the shaft. It is hard to tell in the picture though. Is this boat from a saltwater area?

 

[cr2k]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

Well for one thing the pitting is no where near as deep as the 2 O-Ring groves. So I kinda doubt there is any chance of shearing it. Just put the O-rings in and they should help with any vibration in that area.

 

[mvn]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

FWIW, I had a slight vibration that I could feel through the floor when the boat was run hard for a while (towing a tube). No one else could feel it but me! I pulled the drive this spring and checked the u-joints, gimbal bearing, etc. All were OK. I replaced both bellows but first checked the engine alignment. It was WAY off. After dropping the front of the engine about 3/8", the alignment was perfect. Guess what.....no vibration now.

The moral of the story....check your alignment.

Mark

 

[Don S]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

No problems with that little bit of pitting at all.

 

[DanoBlade]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

Boattech - No salt only freshwater.

MVN - Thanks much for your insight. Sounds very similar to what I'm experiencing. Wife doesn't notice anything but I definitely do. Alignment tool is on the way!

To all, thanks for your help. It's going back in until I need U Joints and then I can make Volvo Penta happy by purchasing the whole shaft assembly!

Dan

 

[Don S]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

It's going back in until I need U Joints and then I can make Volvo Penta happy by purchasing the whole shaft assembly!

That is not necessary either. Have a look at these threads.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=367174

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=296325

 

[tkrfxr]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

I think you may be missing a couple of o-rings... one for each of those grooves.....

at least my XDP drives have them in the drive shafts...

The SX manual shows them here...

 

[boattech]

Re: Should I Be Worried?

Maybe some of you guys have a better picture showing up of those pits to say they arnt deep? I cant see how deep they are on my computer screen? But if yall can see that they arnt as deep as the o-ring grooves then i would agree it shouldnt sheer, but im still curious with no saltwater aplication how the pits got there.