Volvo Penta 290 Drive Strip Down

[mattnj]

does anyone have experience of fully stripping (to blast/paint) and re-assemble/replace as needed one of these drives?

I have the service manual and done a load of reading and the manual suggests there is a load of "special tools" needed, not sure if this is the case or not?

Is it something a very confident mechanic can do, with a very well equipped workshop, or does it need lots of special volvo penta tools, does anyone know? Leave to an expert or should I jump in?

thanks in advance.

 

[trialframe]

I had one 'rebuilt' by a so called reputable company many years ago & it was never any good afterwards. Not sure exactly what's involved but it has to be shimmed properly etc etc. An exchange unit might be the way forward?

 

[prv]

I know my dad stripped an old one for his own interest a few years ago. He doesn't have an especially well-equipped workshop and he didn't mention any particular difficulty, though to be fair he wasn't intending to reassemble the unit for continued use.

Pete

 

[mattnj]

Thanks for the replies, maybe on this occasion, I will send in to an "expert" :ambivalence:

 

[QBhoy]

Hi

I’ve had 2 boats with the VP 290 DP.
I’ll start by saying they are incredibly impressive engineering pieces, but not an easy thing for the amateur mechanic in comparison to a Merc Alpha 1, for example.
Many are scared to take on a drive removal because of the very reasons you have posted or asked.
To be short, you don’t need any special tools to be honest. To be sure, a VP specialised tool set would make things easier, but in reality 90% of the tools you will need would be in your average tool set or Halfords socket set. The only exception would be to remove the retaining pins on each side of the transom assembly. This is easily worked around by either fabricating a sliding hammer type threaded tool or buying one to suit. Basically involves getting a threaded bar of the same thread to the internal diameter thread of the pins, and welding a shaft and weight onto the bolt that fits...meaning you are able to pull the pins out.
Further to this and at the risk of boring you...it’s also possible just to remove the top half of the drive without disturbing the bottom half at whole drive. This is useful for bellow replacement. Not the recommended way, but possible.
Volvo Paul on here is without doubt the best to advise, but it will get pricey unless you tackle it yourself.

 

[simonfraser]

Hi

I’ve had 2 boats with the VP 290 DP.
I’ll start by saying they are incredibly impressive engineering pieces, but not an easy thing for the amateur mechanic in comparison to a Merc Alpha 1, for example.
Many are scared to take on a drive removal because of the very reasons you have posted or asked.
To be short, you don’t need any special tools to be honest. To be sure, a VP specialised tool set would make things easier, but in reality 90% of the tools you will need would be in your average tool set or Halfords socket set. The only exception would be to remove the retaining pins on each side of the transom assembly. This is easily worked around by either fabricating a sliding hammer type threaded tool or buying one to suit. Basically involves getting a threaded bar of the same thread to the internal diameter thread of the pins, and welding a shaft and weight onto the bolt that fits...meaning you are able to pull the pins out.
Further to this and at the risk of boring you...it’s also possible just to remove the top half of the drive without disturbing the bottom half at whole drive. This is useful for bellow replacement. Not the recommended way, but possible.
Volvo Paul on here is without doubt the best to advise, but it will get pricey unless you tackle it yourself.

For clarity, bellows, on a DP leg you can indeed disconnect the top half of the drive from the stern plate and replace the bellows. Don’t have to take the whole top of the drive off.

Cost me 250.- to have both bellows done on one leg by a Volvo mechanic earlier in 2018.
Don’t often pay them, but def did not want any hassle with the new bellows.

I lubricated the pins and other connections b4 as it had not been taken apart for quite some time, b4 i owned the boat.
All came apart with no probs.