www.iFourWinns.com

I am looking to see if anyone has had the same issues that I am having. My 2007 XDP drives kept in salt water have had water intrusion into the drives on multiple occassions that has not been because of a bellows issue. I have been working with a great dealer who has done everything that Volvo and I have requested to determine the cause of the leak. Volvo has deemed it to be a cracked transom shield but has been of limited help now that I am out of warrantee. Has anyone had this issue on XDP without the bellows involved? Has Volvo been of any assistance?

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07 Tiara Sovran 4300
07 338 Vista - SOLD

Are you on Version 3 or Version 4 of the bellows replacement?
Gimble bearing seizures due to water intrusion is a problem with these drives. When the bearing locks up the shaft will split on the engine side of the transom plate and spins wildly. The transom plate will crack and allow water into the boat.
Stress cracks and failures due to the drives being too weak, seems to be most prevalent with the 8.1L engines.
I have heard Volvo claim faulty manufacturing of the transom plate by one of their suppliers. The fibers of the transom plate when laid in the mold were going the wrong way. Meaning, the strength of the plate was significantly reduced per Volvo specs. Volvo has not not recalled these "defective plates" but has replaced some when they have failed.

Your dealer needs to keep going to bat for you, and try and get FW involved through your dealer. It will be very difficult to get much help, since you are out of warranty. But, the more time that passes, there is less chance of getting some assistance from Volvo and/or FW.

I know several people (fresh water only) that have been through 3 bellows, and a transom plate, and now they have the problem fixed. It sounds like you are still in the middle of the battle. Keep fighting, it's your safety at risk here, and there is nothing more important than that IMO.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I am not sure what version. But I have 2 perfectly pristine sets of bellows on the shelf at the dealer. I know that this has been a problem with the 8.1L and to a certain extent on the larger boats with the 5.7L. I know it is a battle and I was wondering how anyone else has done with the same issues. I am considering replacing the XDP with the new Ocean X series. I have little to no faith in the XDP and consider it a waste of money to put anything into an XDP part. Volvo has stopped making the entire XDP line. They must falso feel it is a lost cause.

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07 Tiara Sovran 4300
07 338 Vista - SOLD

Barry,

The latest XDP bellow is the generation 3, this SB recall came out in Apr/May of 2009. It is for specific transom shield which I think they refer to has the high performance shields. Anyway, its based on SN's of your drives and shields.

My boat came delivered with the Gen 2 bellows, when I first heard about this gen 3 bellows in Feb 09 it was at the time just a SB (not a recall) and Volvo was not going to do anything about it because they stated they should be changed every 2 years anyway. Well I kept pushing and they agreed to change mine since they determined that they were going to issue a recall. Turns out my Gen 2 were both bad and I had to change input shafts and Gimble bearings also, all covered under warranty.

So far I have had good luck with the Gen 3, but it is something that I will look at very closely in a few weeks when I pull the boat for the season.

Anyway, regarding your leak, check where your drive shaft bellows attached to the drive and transom to make sure the casting is not cracked. If someone over tightens the bellows clamps it can crack those castings.

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Bridgewater, PA
2008 Vista 318

I have a 2008 358V , Volvo has just replaced the complete drives with new DPS-A drives.I had the first problem within 6 months from new. one drive was replaced and the other had the UJ gimbal replaced, never ran the drives in any other position than full down, checked the drives March this year found severe cracking/ delamination around the gimbal bearing casting this caused the water intrusion. In my experiance and beleive me i have alot it appears that boats above 29 feet with XDP drives all have problems with the transom shield cracking. THere are seems to be several problem,, the cracking of the transom shields on bigger boats, this seems to happen to 5.7 and 8.1 L enginges, Snapping of propshafts on 8.1 esspacilaly with s/s props, and than running with the drives any more than 20% trimmed down ( bellows failures) than you also have bellows location failures / installation errors.
I tested the boat last week with the new drives wow what a differance, better hole shot, runs much flatter, you actually need to trim the drives up about 5/10 % to lift the nose at cruise, seems to have more grip, much much quiter, (through prop exhaust) i can now get on the plane at 15Kts, needed 20 before, and top end 39Kts (GPS speed about 48 MPH) (300HP OSI engines) it appears the new exhausts reduce the back pressure so gives 20 HP per engine more than the 300HP.
I had to fight but VP stepped up to the mark, total cost to me, about $1,800.00 for additional hours, cost if i had to pay!!!!!!!!!! probabaly $40,000.00

I can send you pics and further info, VP know very well they have a problem, Rinker,Forumula, Chappeall all have comments /active blogs. One of the biggests problems is if you own a boat with XDP drive and it's above 29Ft YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SELL OR US IT.

Good Luck

SJ