Where ot Buy Universal Joints

[kevinwburke]

Any suggestion where to find universal joints for a Volvo Penta outdrive?

 

[K-2]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

Right here. Top of the page. Click on "Boat Parts & Accessories"
Click on "Boat Motor Parts" then "sterndrive", then Volvo Penta, then choose aftermarket or Genuine Volvo. I have had good luck with aftermarket. Then click on "Volvo Penta drive parts" and you will see U joints.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

Ayuh,.... Right at the top of this page,... Try Here, or Here,...

 

[Walt T]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

I've bought them at a NAPA store that is owned by a parts guy I've known more than 20 years and I trust. He whipped out his calipers made a joke about 'measuring' me then took all the dimensions of the Volvo U joint and found the exact replacement. Less than 20 bucks back then.

 

[billbayliner]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

The Spicer 5-1306X is a direct replacement for the earlier style internally clipped bearing cross.

 

[monster1]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

The Spicer 5-1306X is a direct replacement for the earlier style internally clipped bearing cross.

Which auto parts store u joints are a direct replacement for the later style joints with the external clips?

 

[billbayliner]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

There are no direct replacements for the 3860232 spiders / u-joints. Contact me via PM and I will let you know where you can get the 3860232 spiders at half the list price.

 

[monster1]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

There are no direct replacements for the 3860232 spiders / u-joints. Contact me via PM and I will let you know where you can get the 3860232 spiders at half the list price.

Hi bill,
I sent you a pm.

Thanks

 

[RickyGee]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

From my research, it appears that GKN is no longer making the 2015 forgings from which the VP 3860232 and Merc 865493A01 are made. Merc lists their joints as obsolete and VP has superceeded the spider with the whole ujoint shaft assy. Even Sierra has changed the design of their 18-6406, using the "new style GKN" trunnion. The few remaining Merc spiders out there are fetching up to $200/ea and I'm sure the price of 3860232 spiders will follow as the remaining supplies dry up.

These are standard SAE 1300 series ujoints that have been in use for 60 years, but have been made in 3 different trunnion journal sizes; basically 16mm (std automotive), 17mm (VP, Merc and old Sierra) and 18mm. The Spicer 5-4x is obsolete, and the Federal Mogul (aka Moog/Precision/NAPA) 344 may have only a 16mm journal. The Land Rover guys have torture tested joints for us (same size) and found that GKN TVC100010G are the strongest (18.2mm journal). They look just like the new Sierra and may be the same, but Sierra is $100 whereas the Land Rover part is $40. Here's a pic

 

[RickyGee]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

Watch out for counterfeit Chinese ujoints being made to look like OEM or sold under OEM numbers. Here's one from Sealtech (EMP) that's being sold as equivalent to 3860232, under PN 94-94100:


And here's a counterfeit Sierra unit being sold on the bay, as a Sierra unit:

 

[monster1]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

Watch out for counterfeit Chinese ujoints being made to look like OEM or sold under OEM numbers. Here's one from Sealtech (EMP) that's being sold as equivalent to 3860232, under PN 94-94100:
View attachment 225079

And here's a counterfeit Sierra unit being sold on the bay, as a Sierra unit:
View attachment 225080

Thanks Rickygee, I ordered a new drive line today instead as I needed to get this boat out of the shop. I'll definitely be ordering a set of these u joints (non Chinese) as a back up in case the new driveshaft ever goes bad.

Thanks again,
Monty

 

[RickyGee]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

Monty, will you see the new shaft before it goes in? If so, is there any chance to get a couple of pictures of the spiders they're using, perhaps with the joint bent back to expose the body of the trunnion? The new shaft assy may use a different spider, since VP is now listing only the whole shaft assy and doesn't indicate the PN of the spider used on it. Thanks. -Rick

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

subscribed

 

[monster1]

Re: Where ot Buy Universal Joints

Monty, will you see the new shaft before it goes in? If so, is there any chance to get a couple of pictures of the spiders they're using, perhaps with the joint bent back to expose the body of the trunnion? The new shaft assy may use a different spider, since VP is now listing only the whole shaft assy and doesn't indicate the PN of the spider used on it. Thanks. -Rick

Yes, I ordered the part myself and will take it to my tech to install so I will post some pics before I do. My old shaft had ujoints marked gnk 3b. The new shaft is a different part number than the old. Its 3860842. I ordered off eBay. I hope I'm getting a genuine Volvo penta part as advertised.