Can not get a perfect alignment on Volvo Penta outdrive

LegitDuner

LegitDuner

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I've asked around the "internets" but thought I would try here,  You Effers know everything..

I have a Caravelle with the Volvo Penta SX outdrive and cannot get a good alignment on it. I'm always showing teeth marks on the right side of the alignment tool. Teeth marks are anywhere from a 16th to an eighth of an inch deep in the grease on the alignment tool. When I got the boat the motor was tapped out on the motor mounts, They were adjusted all the way up and the alignment was really tight on the tool. Local boat shop told me as long as you can get the alignment tool in then it's fine, but I don't buy that chit.

Things I've done:

Replace the coupler, did the gimbal bearing 3x, completely remounted the front motor mounts and replaced them. (We added 1" aluminum plates for the motor mounts so the motor mounts didn't need to be maxed out on height) replaced the rear transom mounted motor mounts. 

I'm wondering if the outdrive was mounted to the transom wrong from the factory or if somehow the fiberglass has allowed it to sag or change over the years? Will fiberglass miss shape overtime under weight? It sat on a trailer for like 8 years. Boat only has like 60 hours on it. I'm told this boat has a zero wood in it, so it's all fiberglass.

I've attached a video of what it sounds like when you have wheel turned, sounds like a skill saw running through metal or something. I replaced the gimbal three times thinking that was it. Outdrive oil has zero flakes or glitter, no metal..

Totally stumped, boat runs fine but I have a feeling something's going to show up eventually..

EDIT to add- I had gotten a faulty coupler where the center splines were off center by about a half an inch and I had perfect alignment when that coupler was in a certain spot. That was frustrating in itself. It took us a while to figure out the coupler was bad straight from the shop.



 
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It almost sounds to me like the u-joint inside the Outdrive that allows the angles on the shaft. I owned a bayliner with a Cobra outdrive and was very similar to this. Never had u joint problems, but that is where I would look. There's no question the input is stabbing and meshing properly or you wouldn't be able to assemble it is my guess. Not an expert tho, good luck  

 
Chingon619 said:
It almost sounds to me like the u-joint inside the Outdrive that allows the angles on the shaft. I owned a bayliner with a Cobra outdrive and was very similar to this. Never had u joint problems, but that is where I would look. There's no question the input is stabbing and meshing properly or you wouldn't be able to assemble it is my guess. Not an expert tho, good luck  
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That reminds me, I had a new drive shaft installed at Sunset Marine. I brought the drive into them.

Also to add for anyone reading, all parts are OEM. After I got the bad aftermarket coupler I just stuck to OEM.

 
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Your boat may have a “hook”. I had a 70s hallett jet boat that would chine left-right-left-right at speed. I effed with everything; ended up being a blemish/uneven hull from sitting on the trailer. At least that is what ultra diagnosed. Only fix was to flip boat over and even out the hull……so yes; hull can get effed up from sitting on trailer

 
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Sounds like maybe something is loose in the outdrive and vibrates worse at full turn. I dont know much about outdrive construction. It may be exhaust related and not gimball related

 
Sounds like the u joint to me.  LD, whats the driveline/chassis ID or Serial number for this Penta package?

Example:
- Driveline/Chassis ID (e.g.VP123456, VP 123456)
- Serial number of Individual Product (e.g. 2006123456, A123456)

 
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On our experience.  We've never been an outdrive shop. I've always worked on much larger vessels that don't use drives.  But with our Volvo Penta dealership we've got into it a bit the last few years.  On this SX drive, weve replaced a few u-joint assemblies.  If my memory serves me correctly, its a special procedure, with rolling torque specs as the input gear has to come off with the input shaft and be replaced onto the new input shaft/u-joint assembly.

 
Grease Monkey said:
Sounds like the u joint to me.  LD, whats the driveline/chassis ID or Serial number for this Penta package?

Example:
- Driveline/Chassis ID (e.g.VP123456, VP 123456)
- Serial number of Individual Product (e.g. 2006123456, A123456)
Click to expand...
I'll have to get the number off it later this evening. Is it possible that due to the alignment that the drive shaft is rubbing real hard on the gimbal?  I had the drive shaft replaced.  I didn't feel comfortable doing on my own so I had the shop do it. I didn't take him the whole boat though, just brought them the drive. Nothing that I've done has made a difference other than repositioning the motor mounts to get a somewhat better alignment.

 
LegitDuner said:
I'll have to get the number off it later this evening. Is it possible that due to the alignment that the drive shaft is rubbing real hard on the gimbal?  I had the drive shaft replaced.  I didn't feel comfortable doing on my own so I had the shop do it. I didn't take him the whole boat though, just brought them the drive. Nothing that I've done has made a difference other than repositioning the motor mounts to get a somewhat better alignment.
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Adding the aluminum spacers and bringing the mounts up was a good idea.  Hows the left to right alignment on the front mounts?

 
Grease Monkey said:
Adding the aluminum spacers and bringing the mounts up was a good idea.  Hows the left to right alignment on the front mounts?
Click to expand...
If you're staring at the motor facing the the back of the boat, the right side mount is adjusted higher than the left. That was the best position that gave us the best marks on the alignment tool.

 
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