Volvo Penta D55 with ms25sa saildrive HELP

[Indecission]

I just happend to run accross your forum while looking for a little help! I'm very impressed with the content and the accuracy of the information I found.
I have a Bavaria 44 with a Volvo Penta D55 and a MS25SA Saildrive.
I have water in the transmission, I'm getting ready to haul it as soon as Volvo gets me the parts, I'm pretty sure of what I'm going to need for this problem.

On a more GRAND scale, I was getting a ticking noise that I tracked down to the flywheel housing area. It has no inspection plate and the most I coud do was pull the starter and drop a small magnet in, in hope of finding something. Nothing found and since I was half way between Cartagena and Jamaica, there wasn't much more I could do about it.

Well after having 48hrs. of beautiful sailing, on one tack, the wind failed me and I decided to motor. When I went to ck the oil and coolant levels, before the restart, I noticed a silvery powder all over the engine. I pulled the side panels off the engine compartment and found, to my horror, a 1/2 inch hole with spider web cracks in the flywheel housing. I also found 2, what looked to be roller bearings and 2 ball bearings inside the engine compartment. The ball bearings are oval shaped and have a small hole running through it horizontally. I still have forward and reverse but, obviously, no more ticking noise.

I've sent pictures to Volvo and studied all the Tech diagrams and no one can tell me what happened.

I've have a new flex coupler and flywheel housing coming from Sweeden, but I'm not going to pull it out until I have al the parts.

Has anyone ever heard of this issue before and since it won't be until Mach before Volvo can get the parts to me. would I be unwise to limp on to The Dominican Republic and then to Puerto Rico, where I hope to haulout.

Sorry for the lengthy question, I'm a longtime sailor, but a newbe to forums!

 

[oldsaltoz]

I'm not familiar with the MS25SA Saildrive, but I am sure if you have any salt water in there leaving it will destroy some bearings.

As for continuing your journey, there have been many ships go round the world without any engines.

The trick is to never get into a situation that requires an engine, so no lee shores may mean a longer trip, as will waiting for the right conditions.

Lets hope someone will throw some light on your problem.

.

 

[scottie]

There is a damper which does fail I think that this problem may already be well known to volvo and you may be able to get some financial assitance from them if approached properly
If you have water in the leg then drain it and replace the seals before the bearings rust and break up which will wreck the drive leg even if you are not using the boat

 

[Gypsy]

I have a B44 2002) with the D2-55 & M25S. Sorry to hear of your problems. I have had the first problem but luckily not the second.
You have probably diagnosed the oil in the gearbox as worn/damaged propshaft seals (there are 2 back-back). Apparently an easy job once the boat is out of the water. To protect mine after ingress of salt water I was able to pump out about 50% of the oil from the filler opening using a hand pump with a small plasitic pickup pipe. It can't reach all the way to the bottom of the 'sump' due to the construction of the leg. I pumped out as much as I could, topped up with new oil, then ran it in gear for a minute or two to flush the new oil around. Pumped out again and then filled with new oil. By that time it was looking fresh. Even after 10hrs of operation before I could haul out did not produce any further emulsion or evidence of water.

I realise you can't run your engine now but maybe you could sail with it in neutral so the prop turns the gears around to mix the oil.

It is not a perfect solution as a full drain-out is what is needed but I figure it is the best way to protect the gearbox until you can haul out. My gut feeling is to then top the oil up as high as you can to avoid air and moisture in the GB. So long as you dont run it under motor it should not cause any problems. Others might come along to concur or disagree.

Good luck with the rest of the action.

 

[Indecission]

Volvo Penta D2-55 & Saildrive

There is a damper which does fail I think that this problem may already be well known to volvo and you may be able to get some financial assitance from them if approached properly
If you have water in the leg then drain it and replace the seals before the bearings rust and break up which will wreck the drive leg even if you are not using the boat

Problems almost soved, so far at BIG expense!

The water in the saildrive was due to a small piece of fishing line between the two prop. shaft seals.. I replaced the two seals and the bearing support, no damage to any internal components detected!

The hole in the flywheel housing was due to all six bolts that attach the flex coupler to the flywheel were broken off. Still waiting for some reply from Volvo! It was necessary to replace the flywheel, flywheel housing and flex coupler. The really interesting thing is that the flex coupler came with NEW BOLTS, the flywheel didn't, Hmmmmm, could this have been a previously known problem?

 

[Tranona]

Glad you have found the cause of your problem. To avoid getting line inside the seals again (and another big bill) suggest you consider fitting a rope cutter. For information see www.ropestripper.com

 

[PeterGibbs]

There is a damper which does fail I think that this problem may already be well known to volvo and you may be able to get some financial assitance from them if approached properly
If you have water in the leg then drain it and replace the seals before the bearings rust and break up which will wreck the drive leg even if you are not using the boat

Water of any kind in the transmission is going to be a costly job unless drained and fixed immediately. I take it you have detected water in the tranmission oil - streaks or white flecks? If you just press on I fear you will add to your pain

PWG

 

[alex33]

water in Volvo S-drive leg...

is a general problem known to many sailors, it indeed takes just a little thin fishing line entering the gap between propeller and leg to cause this damage..over and over again. Somehow I got the impression that it happens less with other brands of S-drive.
Some Volvo models have standardly - or optional- fitted a dedicated factory inner thin metal disk in this gap the should cut such lines and protect the transmission..I had such one mounted to mine in my previous boat+Volvo engine+S-drive.
Others found that problematic, since this disk can bent in the process of "dealing" with the line and cause other problem..
Re the other problem mentioned, the major one actually.. nor everything should be blamed on Volvo, since the installation was done at Bavaria factory, Volvo Just supply the parts and drawings.
I have experienced some..."shortcut" in work standards on this or that mechanical issues, from this grand production-line factory..