Volvo Penta Outdrive lubeing-gctid385259

[Garchar]

Does anyone know for sure if a 2009 VP DP outdrive has a sealed universal joint not requiring yearly lubeing or non-sealed which does require lubeing each year? Thanks Gary

[Guest]

I know the older ('85) came originally with a sealed one, but most owners replace them with one with zirks.

I would open it up to check and be sure. It's an area I inspect annually anyway just to be sure water is not getting in there.

[2850Bounty]

Gary and gang. All bearing crosses are sealed to a degree. Whether or not they are serviceable, is another thing. However, all work on a centrifugal basis for future lubrication.

Let me explain:

The Non-Serviceable bearing cross Trunnion or Spider is hollow to a point. They are completely hollow on the serviceable crosses with grease zerks.

Whether serviceable or not, grease is held within the hollow portions of the trunions.

As the bearing cross spins, centrifugal force keeps this grease supply against the bearing caps and needles.

Honestly..... serviceable bearing crosses give us that Feel Good feeling only.

Our drives are not held in an articulating position during most of our operation because we are going straight ahead under power.

Bearing Crosses that are not articulated, wear sooner than if in a car/truck drive line that does constantly articulate.

Next time you replace bearing crosses, look at the drive side of the trunion surfaces. You'll see where the needles wore a rather stationary pattern into the trunions.

When these articulate (car/truck), the wear pattern is more evenly spread across the trunion.

This is why our marine bearing crosses require more frequent replacement than their automotive counter part.

If it makes you feel good to grease bearing crosses, by all means do so!

It certainly does not hurt..... but don't expect this alone to extend their life substantially.

.

[Guest]

Ok, Rick... so when I pull my bellows and grease my crosses, do you think I'm wasting my time? I didn't think I was so much extending their life, but rather, not shortening it. Am I wrong?

[2850Bounty]

No.... I could never say that it's a waste of time. An occasional peek inside is worth it anyway.... and you may as well give them a shot of grease.

What I'm saying is....... the bearing cap needle bearings are not rolling across the trunion to the degree that they do in an automotive drive line. This is due to the lower articulation. The result is that the needles remain in a rather stationary position against the trunion, instead of rolling across the trunion bearing surface. Lubricating them does little to eliminate the wear from "point loading". They need to rolll for lubrication to prevent wear.

If you were constantly turning Port/Stbd, or triming up high......., then you are articulating them more so.

It's no biggy..... I'm just explaining why these wear more quickly than if installed in a car/truck driveline.

Most of these bearing crosses (early Volvo Penta, Merc A, OMC Cobra) are from the Chrysler auto application.

.

[Guest]

Gotcha.
..........

[dktool]

From an articulation stand point, the marine set up sees more side to side articulation than a car / truck would and car / truck sees more articulation in the up / down direction than a marine set up would.I would venture to say that in the marine app. where the operator also has trim control and uses it through a 6 or so degree range frequently it would see more overall articulation than a typical car would ever see.Unless your daily driver does this:

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/694449=28673-Jeep.jpg[/img]

[tonyiiiafl]

Gilligan wrote:
Ok, Rick... so when I pull my bellows and grease my crosses, do you think I'm wasting my time? I didn't think I was so much extending their life, but rather, not shortening it. Am I wrong?

Volvo reccommends "checking and packing" every two years. Iknow when I pull mine every two years, I see wear. I have the SPicer joints, but never bothered re greasing them. I figure that if I have done the labor to pull them apart, I replace them with new ones at about $15.00 each. Just peace of mind in my case. The grease fittings, in my opinion, just give a false sense of security.