Volvo-Penta outdrive factory snafu...fixed under warranty

andyd

I just got my FV250 boat back in the water after two months in the shipyard. No problems apparent with the Ocean X DP drive, it was performing normally, just needed giving it a service whilst out of the water, I thought. Bottom paint, both flaky trim actuators replaced, swim light fixed and an oil change. Why two months? Well, when the drive oil drain plug was pulled, the oil was milky and showed signs of saltwater contamination. Was it the bellows? Nope. A pressure test revealed a leak in the seal between the upper and lower cases.

So you can imagine what I'm thinking when I heard this news. How did this happen? So the shop tears down the drive to see where the problem lies. See photo. The bolts shown by the arrow were installed at the factory UPSIDE DOWN! This caused a tiny gap that allow sea water to enter. Holy crap, was this assembled on a Friday afternoon before a Swedish national holiday, or what?

So now the good news. The drive was installed in May of 2015 and was still under warranty. Volvo-Penta stepped up without hesitation and agreed to cover all the costs of rebuilding the drive to new condition. So it took time for the parts to arrive and caused quite a delay. All put back together, passes pressure test, good to go. Drive painted and I'm on my way for a great summer. Ahh, the joys of boating.

Andy.

Handymans342

Good thing you caught it

Michael T

No wonder manufacturers are using more robotics. One at the Yamaha factory in Georgia changes 18 different bits to drill holes in hulls, another, the gel coat spray arm has thickness tolerances to .002mm across the entire hull. Hmmmmm

Dream_Inn

Great to hear you got it all straightened out Andy!  Very nice for Volvo to step up without question to cover the cost as well.

reneechris14

That a good catch considering you leave your boat it the water year round. Any longer I wonder if would of been covered. Hope for a great summer.

andyd

Thanks guys. I think it will be prudent to check the drive again soon (before warranty ends) for peace of mind. I'll need to borrow a trailer, I don't want to pay another $400 haul out bill, although it is kinda cool to see your boat suspended way up in the air on the lift slings.

Andy.

Handymans342

Was probably assembled in Mexico 

andyd

According to Wikipedia: The company has a number of manufacturing bases for diesel engines at Vara, Sweden; Wuxi, China; and Lexington, Tennessee, United States, for all gasoline engines and sterndrives.

OK, Tennessee, not Mexico or Sweden. So maybe the Third of July?

Andy.

Handymans342

Or a Monday

Dream_Inn

I bet Handys Diesel was done in China!

Handymans342

Japan. The gelcoat was done in China

randy56

at sometime that outdrive would have failed, good catch. Impressed Volvo stepped up.

zaverin1

Volvo equals yesterday’s omc 
30 percent of the market and parts are expensive and hard to find.
no thank you