volvo duo-prop vibrations during turns? normal or not?

[Maxum21]

I have an 07 5.7gi with dps drive. Approx 100 hours on boat/engine. Bought it last year and had new bellows/ gimbal and forward prop rebalanced. Quickly after bellow replacement, i noticed a small leak. mechanic installed new bellow and gimbal bearing. (U-joints looked great.) Leak gone. Boat seemed ok this summer so far but Today I had it out and i had a very noticeable vibration during hard turns. Even noticeable while turning at idle speeds in gear. No vibration in neutral. My question is, is any vibration/roughness normal during turns on a duo-prop drive? Is that a characteristic of this drive or do I have something else going on here? thanks guys

 

[Scott Danforth]

not normal

pull drive, re-check gimble, alignment and u-joints

also visually inspect your props, if you have a mashed prop, you will have vibration

 

[Maxum21]

if alignment and u-joints are good, is there something else that can burn up gimbal bearings? I have a real good feeling that when i pull my drive, i'll be replacing my gimbal for a 3rd time within a year. Its getting ridiculous. Ive put minimal hours on this thing since the last replacement and don't run in shallow water(or in other words, i don't over strain u-joints/gimbal with a raised drive). Am i missing something else? Do hard turns wear these bearings out fast? thanks again

 

[bruceb58]

It is normal to have more vibration during hard turns. The question of course is the vibration that you have excessive or not.

If you are at idle and you turn hard left and right are you getting vibrations?

 

[Maxum21]

I'm not sure if i would call the vibration excessive, but it's there. Didn't notice it all summer until yesterday. I'm used to a 4stroke outboard which was nice & smooth at all times, so it's hard to say what seems normal. No vibrations in neutral when turning, but in gear at idle speeds it does start to vibrate. I guess either way time to pull the drive once again. Any chance accidentally starting the engine with drive up for a second or 2 would damage anything?

 

[Maxum21]

had mechanic pull the drive. u-joints are bad. non serviceable, the replacement shaft/yoke unit costs $500. Does anyone have a part # for just the u-joints via sierra or even napa? He's willing to try replacing just the joints, but i need to find a part # asap as the boat is sitting in his shop. thanks in advance