Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

[CIVPAC6]

Volvo 280 outdrive. (AQ225 GM V8)

The outdrive's raw water pickup is leaking internally, below the (always suspect) hose adapter fitting. Does anyone see a problem with abandoning the pickup tube and installing a through-hull "scoop"?

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Switching to the thru hull scoop has been done.

You've replaced the gasket beneath the fitting you mentioned? I always have trouble with that gasket, it doesn't like to sit down on the intermediate very well when new, the oring part likes to pop out. Have you had this problem? When you move the outdrive up and down by hand, do you see a lot of play at the top of the H fork? The bushing in there could be worn down too much.

I guess I prefer to try to fix the problem before bypassing it, but thats just me.

If you decide to install the thru hull scoop, take some pics and show and tell us how it goes.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Changing to a thru hull will work just fine.Just remember to tell any one working on the boat that they can't run it on muffs!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

When you move the outdrive up and down by hand, do you see a lot of play at the top of the H fork? The bushing in there could be worn down too much.

Those are steering bushings, have nothing to do with the cooling system.

You can use a thruhull or transom mounted scoop for water pickup, no problem, but it might be a lot easier to just remove the lower unit and replace the seals. There is a very thick oring around the water tube which is also the steering pivot that gets old flat and brittle in time. If it leaks, it will suck air. Usually seen on muffs, since when in the water it's usually underwater, but may also be out of the water when on plane.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Those are steering bushings, have nothing to do with the cooling system.

Gee Don, It seems like if the upper pivot bushing is bad and there was play at the top of the pivot tube, the seal under the intake fitting would have trouble sealing. but I digress. Like you said, Resealing the lower to intermediate seems like it would be worth a try before drilling holes in hull.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

If you go to a scupper (thru hull scoop) just remember to install a ball valve right on top of it so you can shut off the hole in the boat should you need to pull the hose or work on the pump while the boat is in the water. I usually add a tee on top of the valve and a hose fitting with cap so you can shut the valve and hook a garden hose up to run on land. Just remember to open the valve (and cap the tee) after you have run with garden hose or you will fry the impeller. Then you will be glad you put the valve in so you can change the impeller on the water.

If the O-ring doesn't fix the problem adding the scupper will.

 

[CIVPAC6]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

IN RESPONCE:

1.) THANKS! To all for the input! .... Be advised that I have been SHAMED into trying harder to find and fix the leak before deciding go to a Thru-hull. :redface: Incidentally, I did successfully install a scoop, sea-****, strainer, and jabsco pump years ago to bypass the water pump in an old OMC electric shift. It was an expensive conversion, but it was getting too hard to get electric-shift parts.... the modification worked GREAT in that application.

2.) I have not replaced the hose adapter gasket, it looks good and I can't get water to squirt out anywhere that I can see. Nevertheless, it shall soon be replaced!

3.) All steering bushings etc. feel right, no noticeable slop.

4.) Don's comment about the O-Ring makes sense. The problem DID show up "on the muffs". When the boat was last in the water the cooling worked fine. (I wish I could just put the boat back in the water and call it "fixed"!)

It will be a week or more before I can get back to the project, but I'll post the results when I find the problem. Thanks again!

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Gee Don, It seems like if the upper pivot bushing is bad and there was play at the top of the pivot tube, the seal under the intake fitting would have trouble sealing. but I digress. Like you said, Resealing the lower to intermediate seems like it would be worth a try before drilling holes in hull.

When I replied, instead of the H fork on the intermediate housing, My mind though of the steering FORK you know, the one with the helmet :redface:

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Don't feel shamed. It would be a shame to go to all the work and expense of the thru hull intake if your problem could be fixed by replacing a couple of orings/gaskets.

To replace the oring between the lower and intermediate, you'll also need the other two orings that are between the two parts. If you replace the seal under the intake fitting on top of the intermediate, I would recommend pulling the upper gear box in order to have good access to the fitting. You'll need the two orings under the upper as well for the reinstall.

It may seem like a lot of work but if you take your time and do it right the first time, chances are you'll be better off in the long run. Take the opportunity to change out the ujoint bellows if it hasn't been in the last two years. Treat your boat right and it will give you years of enjoyment in the future.

Good luck and make sure you let us know how it goes.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

If it helps, you're not the only one who's been in this situation. I would think it's much less costly to do the maintenance on something that's known to work than to make another hole in the boat. You might want to go ahead and replace the hose attached to the water neck as well. It really doesn't cost that much to replace all of the water pickup fittings, gaskets, o-rings and hoses.

While you're at it, take a look at the hose clamp orientation. The manual has a good picture and it would be a little embarassing to find that there's a cut in a hose or bellows because you didn't allign the clamps properly. At least I've "heard" it's embarassing :redface:

 

[CIVPAC6]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Well .... so far I've pulled the outdrive. The pivot pins were REALLY DIFFICULT to drive out but a day of spraying penetrating oil, and tapping (Bashing) did the trick .... the boat has run in the salt most of its life.

An immediate reward for the effort came in that I found the upper bellows had a small slit ... water had gotten in, but it was not the rusty nasty mess it could have been. I'm glad this problem was found early!

 

[CIVPAC6]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Referring to the following diagram, the "transom shield" mounting screws (61) and the "screws" (41) installed on my boat are both steel .... this seems inappropriate as they are in contact with salt water. Is this normal? Should they be stainless?

http://www.dougrussell.com/partscat...,2154,2155,2156,2157,2158,2159,2160,2161,2162

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Sounds like progress!!

With the drive off, reach in and feel the drive shaft that the ujoint slips over. Is there play? Up, down, in, out?

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Referring to the following diagram, the "transom shield" mounting screws (61) and the "screws" (41) installed on my boat are both steel .... this seems inappropriate as they are in contact with salt water. Is this normal? Should they be stainless?

http://www.dougrussell.com/partscat...,2154,2155,2156,2157,2158,2159,2160,2161,2162

the transum shield bolts are not stainless, I'm not sure about the collar bolts #41. I thought you have a leak? What are you doing? Pulling the entire engine and transum shield???

Whats the rest of the story?

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

If you don't have any leaks, the only part of the transom thru bolt that sees any water is the head. There's an o-ring between the individual bolts and the transom. Mine were galvanized but could have been replacements since the boat is so old. If you look at the price of dealer replacements for those bolts, you'll see that Volvo is pretty proud of those things!

The collar bolts can corrode. More than a few people have had to struggle to get them out.

But like the captn' was asking - why do you want to take any of those fasteners out?

 

[CIVPAC6]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

SORRY for the confusion over the transom shield bolts, I should have started a separate thread....
I am NOT planning to remove the transom bolts, I was just surprised (and frankly a little dismayed) to find that the design involved the placement of ferrous metal, electrically bonded to aluminum, sitting in an electrolyte. (A voice in my head started screaming "GALVANIC CORROSION!" like a parrot with ADHD!) Nevertheless, these fasteners have been in place several years, and they look "ok" ... It sounds like this is "normal", so I'll just clean them up and use some industrial epoxy coat on 'em ..... the "voices" will subside. I'll keep future posts here on the "cooling leak" subject.

Sounds like progress!!

With the drive off, reach in and feel the drive shaft that the ujoint slips over. Is there play? Up, down, in, out?

I cannot feel any play on the drive shaft.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

I cannot feel any play on the drive shaft.

Nice!!!!!





lucky.

 

[CIVPAC6]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

Well .... the outdrive made into my shop ....

As suspected, the hose connector needed replacement, but it was not leaking.

When I squirted water down the stainless pickup tube, it readily passed out through the slots on the leading edge of the lower case, but when I put the muffs on and tried to get water to flow up and out the tube, none came. It just squirts (with force) out around the edges of the muffs. (Drain hole is plugged, muffs held on in proper position.) ... Its like there is a check valve in there, keeping water from flowing the proper direction (I know there is not) ...

I'll start disassembly tomorrow and see what I can find. Incidentally, there was some water in the oil, so its time for some seals anyway.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

your pics aren't working. Not on my computer anyway.

As suspected, the hose connector needed replacement, but it was not leaking.

replace the fitting and seal. One nice thing about having the drive off when you do this is you can stick your finger in the fitting once it is installed and feel around the edge to make sure the oring is in place and not pinched between the fitting and the pivot tube. Ask me how I know.

Its like there is a check valve in there, keeping water from flowing the proper direction (I know there is not)

I can't imagine anything blocking the flow. You stated earlier that the engine was cooling properly, correct?

I'll start disassembly tomorrow and see what I can find. Incidentally, there was some water in the oil, so its time for some seals anyway.

Good luck. Post any questions as you go. Start a new thread for the teardown.

 

[CIVPAC6]

Re: Volvo 280 raw water pickup leaking.

I very much APPRECIATE the input from everyone here.

your pics aren't working. Not on my computer anyway.

I had a heck of a time finding the right procedure for posting them.
They are loading for me and they loaded in the "preview post" proceedure .... does anyone else see them? I'll start a new thread, requesting instruction on "picture posting".

I can't imagine anything blocking the flow. You stated earlier that the engine was cooling properly, correct?

The boat is "new to me". I have "reasonable trust" that the previous owner was unaware of any cooling issue, but no first hand knowledge. The boat had been stored a while ... maybe freeze damage? ... I'm sure I'll find the answer when the drive is in sections.

Thanks again!