Sealine 290 Ambassador owners with 200hp diesels

robyonfrome

robyonfrome

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Joined
12 Jun 2008
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280
Location
Wareham river Frome
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Has anyone had a similar problem to me, due to the weight of the twin 200 hp diesels all my stern gear is below water all the time, and where the steering helmet shaft from the leg comes up into the inside of the engine compartment through the shield it leaks. A company 2 years ago had the shaft machined out to take an O ring which they said would stop the leak, but it didn’t. I think this is a design problem with sealine as Im told the Volvo stern gear wasn’t designed to be under the water all the time and with the large weight of the twin 200hp they are, any one had a similar problem and how did you got over it.
 
You will find a grease nipple just below the tiller arm on the steering shaft, pump grease in untill it oozes from the bearing. That should stop the leak. They are not easy to get at, the turbo charger and pipe to the aftercooler are in the way so you need a grease gun with a flexible pipe. I think nearly all boats with volvo stern drives suffer with the access to these grease nipples.

Eddie
 
I'm sure volvo drives are designed to be under water, mine are the same as yours and underwater, same drives but different boat which is heavy at the stern same as the Sealine. Have heard of the same problem with lack of grease in the steering arm tiller, usualy because access is terrible.
 
On many installations, just the top couple of inches of the transom shield is above the water, which would put the upper end of the steering helmet shaft a bit above the waterline. In any case, the first attempt at a fix should be a grease gun with a flexible hose as above.
 
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My P33 has suffered from this problem since day one.The steering fork bushes are below the water line and will weep or dribble lots if you let them.
Keep a grease gun just for the nipples on top of the fork shafts and if they are leaking badly give them a pump after every trip.
Next time the boat is out the water and you do the gaitors,change the plastic bearings and the sealing washers(£12-15 a set but get the right sizes for your outdrive) and clean out any solidified grease from the internal channels.
The steering arm clamps will be an absolute pig to release the first time you do this job but when done it will slow down the torrent to just an annoying minor trickle.
The top of the drives are supposed to be above the water but suspect time and junk have done their bit.
I normally give the steering shaft a few pumpswith the leg in both the up and the down position.If you need any info PM me.
 
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