www.iFourWinns.com

Has anyone had big problems with XDP drives, both of my transom shields have massive creaks from around 7 to 11pm around the flange that the bellows for the drive shaft mount on. Already had on drive replaced now another has gone and this seems to be the problem ( allows water to enter the bellows). Never ran the legs in anything other than fully down, always serviced and checked when due and had both the bellows replaced last year.
Google xdp drives massive massive problem, it seems that they are just not fit for pupose and the design is wrong and materials are just not strong enough. It seems they are OK for small boats (below 30 feets) but my 358 Vista 2008 is just to much stress for the drive.

Let me know


Sj

they supposedly updated the parts that were failing on these....although I would only want straight inboards on a boat approaching 30 ft in length...outdrives have some advantages but in bigger boats with more space for the power package the advantage of having all the mechanical stuff IN the boat instead of IN the water is too big of an advantage to give up....

Now Volvo is pushing the Ocean X...their new salt water drive...but I'd sure wait a few years before getting one of those.....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

At the time we bought our current boat in 2005, we were considering buying new with a XDP drive .By all accounts, we were lucky we didn't. instead buying a left over 2004 boat with a DPS.

Graham

SJ,

I have XDP drives on my 2007 318, and yes I have had my problems although over all I like the drives. In short the gen I bellows did not fit correct and caused leaks, so they came out with a recall and introduced Gen II which mine came factory delivered with. After season 2 both my bellows had holes in them, which resulted in new gimble bearings, and new drive shafts (the u-joint alone cannot be replaced) at this same time they came out with a Gen II recall and introduced Gen III. I am not going into my second season with the Gen III installed and so far so good, just keep inspecting them real close at the end of each season or anytime the boat is out of the water. Below is what VP told me about the Gen III

"I will give you a quick history on XDP product bellows, All sterndrives require an articulated hose to cover and protect the U-joint assembly and shaft that connects the drive unit to the engine. The original bellows we used was a good bellows but was difficult to install, we then developed a style with locating taps to ease installation but we found it was not as durable as we would have liked. We now have come out with a third generation that shares the locating taps with the second generation unit but the center articulated portion is made of a more durable material. We expect that this new type of bellows will put the premature failure issues that you have experienced behind us. I would still recommend seasonal inspection of the bellows and replacement every two years as stated in your maintenance schedule".

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Bridgewater, PA
2008 Vista 318

One last thing I forgot to mention, I have never heard of the flange cracking issue before, but this very well could have been caused by the clamps being over tighted when the bellow's was last replaced. At any rate, I would contact VP about this

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Bridgewater, PA
2008 Vista 318

Thanks for your input Clownfish,

I have only ever had work done on the drives by either the main agent or the marina i kept the boat in which are VP agents, i can see that clamp over tightening would cause the problem i have with the bellow collar on the starboard engine although this should have been designed in then the legs where designed and made the whole structure stronger, a worn drive clamp can expend about 200lbs/foot before the worn slips this should have been accounted for,that is what R and D are paid to do, but on the port there is a crack in the rounded area that enlarges from the size of the bellow sleave to the whole transom shield, this is nothing to do with the clamp.

I do appreciate you input, at the moment i am complelety !!! as you can imagion. Can you give me a contact in VP please

sj@odms.co.uk

Cheers
again

Sean