Protecting A4 Stainless Circlips from the elements

oGaryo

oGaryo

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I replaced all the circlips on both drives last February and they're very rusty already to the extent that they cannot be used, especially around the screw mechanism. I replace the bellows every two years. Is there any way to extend the life of the clips once I have fitted them this year?

Many Thanks
 
oGaryo said:
I replaced all the circlips on both drives last February and they're very rusty already to the extent that they cannot be used, especially around the screw mechanism. I replace the bellows every two years. Is there any way to extend the life of the clips once I have fitted them this year?

Many Thanks
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Much to my disgust and probably most other vp engineers Volvo have changed there supplier for the clips in bellows kits and sold as a unit, they no longer have the cross head to undo with a screwdriver, you now need a flexi drive screwdriver with a turned down 7mm socket, a real pain and backward step as ever from the swedes. Thankyou!!

As for the rust, I'd always replace clips every 12 months on the drive bellow that matters, when they rust they loose there tension and can let water into the driveshaft area and eventually into the drive via the input shaft seal as the seal is a one way only seal that stops oil escaping but allows water in.
Gary you have been warned.
 
volvopaul said:
Much to my disgust and probably most other vp engineers Volvo have changed there supplier for the clips in bellows kits and sold as a unit, they no longer have the cross head to undo with a screwdriver, you now need a flexi drive screwdriver with a turned down 7mm socket, a real pain and backward step as ever from the swedes. Thankyou!!

As for the rust, I'd always replace clips every 12 months on the drive bellow that matters, when they rust they loose there tension and can let water into the driveshaft area and eventually into the drive via the input shaft seal as the seal is a one way only seal that stops oil escaping but allows water in.
Gary you have been warned.
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Done deal Paul.. change annually it is then for the UJ.. Can I get your opinion on something else too? The exhaust bellows haven't been changed since April 2012, they look fine and I am struggling with the idea of replacing them for the sake of it considering it's a wet system. The drive bellows look good but too but going to replace those as they're two years old now and wouldn't want to risk mid season failure due to age.
 
oGaryo said:
I replaced all the circlips on both drives last February and they're very rusty already to the extent that they cannot be used, especially around the screw mechanism. I replace the bellows every two years. Is there any way to extend the life of the clips once I have fitted them this year?

Many Thanks
Click to expand...

Gary, when you write "circlips" do you mean the hose clamps holding the bellows on ? Otherwise, I can't thing where any "ciirclips" are fitted !

On the DPS drives I've had there has never been any corrosion of those hose clamps ( 12 years experience spread over 2 drives); however, they both had as standard bonding wires and clips on the clamps connecting them to the drive and anodes.
 
GrahamHR said:
Gary, when you write "circlips" do you mean the hose clamps holding the bellows on ? Otherwise, I can't thing where any "ciirclips" are fitted !

On the DPS drives I've had there has never been any corrosion of those hose clamps ( 12 years experience spread over 2 drives); however, they both had as standard bonding wires and clips on the clamps connecting them to the drive and anodes.
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yes, sorry Graham, I meant hose clamps, they're not bonded on the DP290 drives I'm afraid
 
The exhaust bellows haven't been changed since April 2012, they look fine and I am struggling with the idea of replacing them for the sake of it considering it's a wet system.
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The exhaust bellows are not critical in sense that the boat won't sink if they fail. But personally I don't like the idea of hot exhaust gases escaping near my UJ bellows and making my bathing platform all smoky. If they are still reasonably flexible, they might manage another season, but it's not megabucks either way.

The clips going very rusty is a bit weird. That hasn't happened to me.
 
My 2009 SXA drive has stainless clips that are bonded to one another, I used the original clips in preference to the new ones supplied with the bellows as they looked cheap.
I ordered the wrong kit so the shafts bellows was correct but exhaust was wrong, as it was in perfect nick it went back on so thats 5 years old to the best of my knowledge
 
FlowerPower said:
The exhaust bellows are not critical in sense that the boat won't sink if they fail. But personally I don't like the idea of hot exhaust gases escaping near my UJ bellows and making my bathing platform all smoky. If they are still reasonably flexible, they might manage another season, but it's not megabucks either way.

The clips going very rusty is a bit weird. That hasn't happened to me.
Click to expand...

Are your clips bonded David?
 
A4 stainless can't rust to that extent. I'd guess that you have clips that are part stainless with a mild steel screw mechanism. These are widely available and easy to mistake for the all stainless types.
 
What clips did you use last year?
The ones I have just removed have some discolouration after 18 months but nothing dramatic
I am putting my legs back next weekend. Had bought VP bellows and clips for the UJ but figured on reusing the exhaust bellows as they look and feel fine. I thought I'd replace the clips though.
As I drove past a VP Dealer today I nipped in to get the clamps.
So 4 x exhaust clamps and 2 x water hose clamps.............£75!

The Clamps have ABA stamped on them together with the VP part number, looking at the ABA web site they are probably from their 'Ultra' range which is with all components made from 316 / W5 stainless 'as used by leading marine equipment manufacturers'.

Now the ASAP Supplies catalogue (as an example) has Jubilee manufactured 316 Stainless clips that would have come out at under £25 for the same number and size of clip.
So I am feeling stupid / robbed, surely any brand of 316 clip would be OK as long as it was all 316?

I suppose you could coat them with marine grease but I would imagine that the turbulance would wash it off? I guess the point is if you use the right grade of clip you shouldn't need to treat them!
 
They were purchased from Force 4.

I am going to replace the UJ and Exhaust Bellows on both drives with genuine VP parts so this time I will be sure they're Volvo originals... if they look suspect during the mid year lift out, I'll look further into why.

thanks for all the advice :encouragement:
 
Test them with a magnet before buying. There may some very slight magnetism on A4 but if any parts are mild steel then the magnet will stick hard.
Remember that Volvo don't make hose clips, they just buy them in!
Have a look at your local on-line hydraulics supplier and you'll probably find the same clips there at a tenth of the price.
 
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