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275 A volvo penta

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merky161

New member
My volvo penta outdrive is toast and I need a complete used one. I believe it is a 275 A outdrive. My boat is a 1988 Sun Runner with a GM 305 V-8 (Penta 225E). What is the difference between the 275 and 275 A outdrives? What other penta outdrives will work with my engine/boat. I have seen several on ebay but they are 270 drives that came from a 4 cyl engine. I've seen a few also for a V8 motor but they were from the early seventies. Can someone tell me what will fit.

Thank you...
 
You need a V8 outdrive or at least a lower unit from a V8. What is bad on your drive? You need to know which u/j fork you have going to the intermediate shaft in the bellhousing. Take the drive off and see which one you have. The early ones were corse splined and the later were very fine like in 22 or something splines.
 
Merky, the difference between the 275 and 275A, is that Volvo made the upper gear case heavier on the A and the gear set is slightly different.
Both use the double bolt helmet pin.
Top cover is sloped on the A transmission.
Either will interchange with one another with the correct shift cover.
Both will use the fine spline female yoke.
Some of the A's used the later externally clipped bearing crosses.

The best used transmission to buy, would be from a 4 cylinder engine.
All AQ series transmissions are of the same ratio.
The ratio change occurs in the lower unit...... so you cannot use the 4 cylinder lower unit!

Putting the ratio a side for a moment here......, all AQ series lowers (250 up) will interchange with one another when the correct shimming is performed..... and includes the Duo Prop lower.

In a single prop, you need a 1.61:1 over-all ratio lower unit.... and you could use a 270, 275, 280, 285, 290, SP etc.......
And you can use an array of transmissions as long at you remain earlier than the C drive (SP C, DP C etc.)
Again, with the correct shimming proceedure being done!

I have transmissions re-sealed and ready to sell most of the time.
However, I do not have a 1.61 lower unit at this time.
I also have people who are not near a Volvo Penta shop ship these to me for service. Often it can be less expensive!
 
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Thank you for the information, as far as what's wrong, the outdrive somehow leaked oil out and when I was cruising around 20 knots I heard a thump, I thought I struck something in the water. I put the boat back to neutral, raised the outdrive and there was no damage, that I could see. I started the boat back up and it would not go into drive. Being a distance from my dock I pushed on the throttle and it went into gear (not a good idea). It got me back to my dock and I couldn't get it back into neutral. Towed it to the ramp and brought it home. Went to drain the outdrive, nothing but water. The prop was seized and wouldn't move. Took the outdrive out and and went to turn the upper gear (where the u-joint is) and it would not turn. Disassemble the entire unit and the upper gear housing gears, seized, lower unit gears seized, middle housing gears seized. I sprayed PB blaster and got the lower unit gears to turn and also the middle gears to turn, (bearings feel rough, probably shot). I could not however get the gears in the upper unit (u-joints) to turn at all. So that is where I am at right now.
RicardoMarine, I am trying to better understand your reply, you noted that any 270,275,280,290 SP would work except a 4 cylinder because the final ratio is different, I thought the ratio on these drives were all the same? What I am trying to better understand is if I find any one of those outdrives you listed, would they work for me. If I find any of these outdrives that came from a 4 cylinder boat would they work.
 
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Basically, all you need to know is this:

You DO need a 1.61:1 lower unit.
This can be a 270, 275, 280, 285 (v8 ratio only), 290, or SP in a 1.61:1 ratio.
If Gary has one, jump on it!
It must be shimmed to YOUR Intermediate housing!

You can use any transmission that has the correct driven gear bearing retainer diameter, and the correct female yoke spline count....... 275/280/285 up until this bearing/retainer diameter was increased some.
All transmissions are of the same ratio.
Again, it must be shimmed to YOUR Intermediate housing!

Other than the V-8 lower unit, you have quite a few options.

.
 
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