Volvo penta trim pump leaking....

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

2010 Volvo penta 4.3L GL-J, SX-A out drive.

I'm just out of warranty ( 5/13/2010 purchase date) and noticed an oily substance on the black housing this evening after pulling the boat. I'm not sure exactly where the leak is coming from yet, but my trim is still fully operational up and down. I have browsed the forum and haven't really dug up any good helpful information other than complete pump replacement. $$$ big bucks. I've heard of this being a poor design but never leave the boat in the water more than a day. Oil isn't milky so I know it's not contaminated or anything.

Is this issue a problem with the O-rings between the housing plate where the pressure lines go in, or I also saw something about a glued in plugs leaking?

Has anyone tried tapping these plug holes and refitting them with a threaded stainless plug and 2 part epoxy to lock them? Are these o-rings just impossible to find matches for?

I'm going to try everything possible, $700 for a pump is asinine if a little fabrication can be made. Does anyone have any up close photos of these plug ports inside and out for clearance purposes?

 

[newbees]

Re: Volvo penta trim pump leaking....

2010 Volvo penta 4.3L GL-J, SX-A out drive.

I'm just out of warranty ( 5/13/2010 purchase date) and noticed an oily substance on the black housing this evening after pulling the boat. I'm not sure exactly where the leak is coming from yet, but my trim is still fully operational up and down. I have browsed the forum and haven't really dug up any good helpful information other than complete pump replacement. $$$ big bucks. I've heard of this being a poor design but never leave the boat in the water more than a day. Oil isn't milky so I know it's not contaminated or anything.

Is this issue a problem with the O-rings between the housing plate where the pressure lines go in, or I also saw something about a glued in plugs leaking?

Has anyone tried tapping these plug holes and refitting them with a threaded stainless plug and 2 part epoxy to lock them? Are these o-rings just impossible to find matches for?

I'm going to try everything possible, $700 for a pump is asinine if a little fabrication can be made. Does anyone have any up close photos of these plug ports inside and out for clearance purposes?

I have the same problem (2008 model) , the trim pump leaks first, then failed totally. The dealer told me Volvo admitted it is a design issue but refuse to correct it if it is out of warranty. I think Volvo should fix the issue if they know it is a design problem.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: Volvo penta trim pump leaking....

Well I was told the same thing by my dealer, your out of warranty but try calling their customer service hotline and raise hell to them. Sometimes it works to be an *******, even if you only get a discount on the updated cover and new lines.

But in the mean time the only issue mine was having is leaking from the stupid white plugs. So I had two options, try and fix the leak or drop the coin on the upgrade. I chose to try and fix it.

I first labeled all the hydrolic lines from left to right 1-4, loosened up the two Allen screws on the retainer plate. The out drive will start to fall down since its loosing pressure. The hydrolic lines pull straight up and out. Then removed all 6 plate cover bolts. After that the cover separates from the pump itself and gimbal housing. Be sure to check for the o-rings on the inside of the cover plate where the two Allen bolts went through. The may be left on the pump or stuck in the grooves on the cover.

I was unable to pry the plugs out so I drilled them out ever so slowly till I saw the oil passage dead center. I then went up one bit size till I matched the same gauge as the hole itself. I then went to home depot and picked up a 10-32 Irwin drill and tap set($6), 2 stainless steel 10/32 x 1/4" set screws ($0.89) and a package of JB qwik Weld ($6).

I used the jb weld as you would lock tite, globbed it on the threads and screwed he set screw in. I didnt use lock tite because of its adverse tendencies on plastics. You have to be careful on how far in you put the screw as the first port will be blocked if you screw it all the way in. I just shined a flash light down into the cover till I saw the screw just come barely into view. Then put a little more jb weld around the circumference keeping access to the set screw.

Let everything set up and reinstalled, cycled the trim up and down a few times to get the air out.... No leaks and the out drive is staying up. I haven't been back out on the water yet but I am not foreseeing a problem. It was leaking just sitting on the trailer with the out drive up before and still good.