Volvo Penta V-6 diesels

Okay, I get the legal definition and have no quarrel with it. But that's not really the tone here. What's being implied is that unless you do or experience something yourself, any information one passes along is automatically suspect and should not be believed. In other words, never believe anyone about anything unless you see it yourself. If it's a sunny day and someone tells you the sky is blue look up because if you simply take their word for it, who knows what bias they might have for or against blue sky?

I can understand this positon when it comes to the judicial system. But when a guy says my engine broke in this manner and we've been trying to find the part for three months and the manufacturer is of no help whatsoever and the part so far has been unobtainable at any price and anyone who buys a boat with a Volvo engine is a dufuss because this is what they'll be dealing with, I'm not going to automaticallyi assume he's making it all up. Personally, I would rather learn from this guy's (and others') bad experience with Volvo engines and not repeat what they went through just because I had to find out for myself if they were right.

It's a judgement call. Some people's advice I woudn't act on if they paid me. But most people I've dealt with--- like the guy with the broken Volvo and my commercial fishing friend in Hawaii who's related his issues with the Volvos in his longline boats---- are providing first hand information that I believe is worth heeding.

Marin said:

The camshaft is broken. It's a Volvo engine, it needs a Volvo camshaft.

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What series or model Volvo engine?

I don't know. It's an older boat, 1970s is what I seem to recall him telling us back when he bought it several years ago, and the engines are the originals.

He showed us around the boat not long after buying it and the previous (I think original) owner was absolutely anal about keeping it up. For example it has the same model Onan generator that we have (MDJE) but where ours looks like its age, the one in his boat looks like it just came off the showroom floor. So the engines in the boat did not suffer from lack of attention although exterior appearance doesn't say anything about how they were operated.

dwhatty said:

Well, what he told you are the facts is the textbook legal definition of "hearsay". Your testimony of what he said would not be admissible in court. That guy would have to testify in person as to what happened to him. (Certain exceptions might apply , etc.).

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True, but the short answer is, Trawler Forum is not a Court. Posts can`t be "admitted" or "rejected" on the basis of hearsay without a full time team of legally trained Moderators. Actually, I`d be more worried about defamation.
A lot of material posted relies on secondhand information, verbal or written. We all trust the good sense of Forum users to use common sense relying on a source and to say so if they have doubts.
I helped a friend reinstall a Volvo branded (Perkins made) 4cyl diesel. He needed a new gearbox damper which had to flown from Sweden,it arrived quickly but at considerable cost. I saw him leave,to go to Volvo,and return with it. (Some of this is hearsay,some not, but all true to the best of my knowledge).
Volvo turbo straight six engines are common here in boats. I`m not aware of a climate of complaint about back up etc. But I had to get a turbocharger cover made for a Perkins T6354 as I could not buy one. And I import Lehman parts from USA, from AD ,and another supplier who got me Seakamp heat exchangers.BruceK

Boatgm said:

I have a 6 cylinder Volvo (tamd41 b896094) for a new project. Its an older engine with very few hours.

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I'm interested to learn results as you travel through this 6 cyl Volvo project. Please keep TF appraised. Thanks, Art

Hearsay is probably mostly right but in the case of Volvo's parts problem the numbers of people saying parts are a problem over the many years that they've been say'in it suggest that the chances of that "hearsay" being correct is very high indeed. Very close to being judicially correct I'd say and judicial matters are frequently decided by the opinions of people that can go any direction they want based on hearsay, gut feelings or whatever.
Well stated Marin.

Well here is a data point for you then. I overtightened and broke a clamp for the throttle cable of my Volvo Penta D2-75 when I was rerouting it. It was a glass reinforced piece of molded resin. It had a distinct Volvo part number molded on it. I ordered the piece from my friendly local Volvo shop and he had it in my hands by noon the next day for $1.86. Not a bad feat considering where I live; a 5 hour drive and two ferries away from Vancouver.

I'd still like to know the model number of the diesel requiring a camshaft. I wonder if it is a poorly supported low-run model or if the local Volvo Penta dealer isn't working hard to get the part.

A good reference...

Northern Spy said:

I'd still like to know the model number of the diesel requiring a camshaft. I wonder if it is a poorly supported low-run model or if the local Volvo Penta dealer isn't working hard to get the part.

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According to my acquaintance, this long ago moved far beyond any local Volvo dealer. Volvo has been contacted directly.. Parts distributors in the US and even overseas have been contacted. Nobody has one, factory is not interested (he said) in helping out. "We don't support that engine anymore."

So far as I know it's a standard Volvo marine diesel from that era.

Three thoughts regarding this thread:

1. North Habor diesel in Anacortes is a very good source for older Volvo parts and service
2. A peruse of boatdiesel's massive Volvo archives should provide good information for a puzzled Volvo diesel owner
3. Once a diesel needs a new camshaft it is likely suffering from other ills (owner abuse?) placing the engine in the "consider replacement" category

I got the same response. "Volvo no longer supports that product" which in my case was a 1986 TMD40 engine and Volvo MS3 transmission. All of this palaver does not alter the fact that Volvo does not support their older products.

sunchaser said:

Three thoughts regarding this thread:

1. North Habor diesel in Anacortes is a very good source for older Volvo parts and service
2. A peruse of boatdiesel's massive Volvo archives should provide good information for a puzzled Volvo diesel owner
3. Once a diesel needs a new camshaft it is likely suffering from other ills (owner abuse?) placing the engine in the "consider replacement" category

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Tom--- My acquaintance says he has exhausted every resource in the US and several overseas. He is a professional in the boating industry so is very much aware of the resources available and has numerous contacts throughout the marine engine industry.

I don't know the circumstances surrounding the camshaft failure. Apparently it was "just one of those flukey things." According to him the boat has led a pampered life---- it certainly looks it---- and he himself is a conservative operator. The boat is a twin so it would seem that repairing the engine would be a less expensive option than re-engining the boat.

The repair is not the issue. He is skilled at this and has plenty of friends in the local diesel service industry to help if necessary. It's the non-availability of the part that's the problem.

may be he should look around for a used one??????????????

He didn't say if that's an option he's considered. It certainly could be, although one could take the position that why buy another of something you don't like. I guess in the end it boils down to how much one is willing to spend on one's boat.

i meant maybe he could get a hold of a used camshaft off of a blown engine?

I don't know if he's explored this avenue or not.

Marin - If you can post the engine year, model and the part number your buddy needs, might be someone in TF that can locate his part. I've three avenues to explore here and would be pleased to make a few calls to marine mechanical experts I know... one is a volvo specialist. Boaters helping boaters is one thing we all can share! - Art

capt jerry said:

i meant maybe he could get a hold of a used camshaft off of a blown engine?

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Good lateral thought. I watch for any local advert for a discarded Lehman 120 to buy for parts, nothing so far, but here`s hoping. BruceK

Art said:

Marin - If you can post the engine year, model and the part number your buddy needs, might be someone in TF that can locate his part.

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In this case it would be like a new private pilot offering to explain to Boeing's chief pilot how ailerons work.

I wonder if it is a poorly supported low-run model or if the local Volvo Penta dealer isn't working hard to get the part.

With the air police now world wide , fewer eng MFG can afford the costs involved with meeting some burorats requirements.

Few have ever been on a ship or a boat and create mandates from the Ozone.

The number of actual eng. Mfg is shrinking.

So finding out WHO actually built the engine , not who stuck a marinization kit on it is the secret to parts for "old stuff".

Lots of Yanmar came from Toyota or now BMW.

Some John Deere are claimed to be a Jap bulldozer take out.

Check around , ask an engine rebuilding shop.

maybe a V6 volvo car engine is the same thing? as far as the camshaft goes, it somthing to explore?

sorry i meant to say a volvo diesel V6 truck engine

Art said:

Marin - If you can post the engine year, model and the part number your buddy needs, might be someone in TF that can locate his part. I've three avenues to explore here and would be pleased to make a few calls to marine mechanical experts I know... one is a volvo specialist. Boaters helping boaters is one thing we all can share! - Art

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Marin said:

In this case it would be like a new private pilot offering to explain to Boeing's chief pilot how ailerons work.

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That's a rather arrogant statement IMO. An offer of assistance is shot down with a cheap analogy. Why not use the combined brain trust of the forum to help solve the problem?

Originally Posted by Art
Marin - If you can post the engine year, model and the part number your buddy needs, might be someone in TF that can locate his part.

Marin said:

In this case it would be like a new private pilot offering to explain to Boeing's chief pilot how ailerons work.

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Marin - If your buddy would accept some assistance to maybe solve his Volvo part need... He should be able to easily provide you these stats: Engine year, model and the part number required.

I have discussions at yacht harbors’ holiday get togethers with lead mechanic/owner of a Volvo specialist company on Northern Spy’s comprehensive list (see post # 69); he also has assisted my needs to locate engine parts. Additionally, I am associated with mechanic/owner of the top ranked marine mechanic group in Sausalito (Tom has personally worked on one of my boats’ engine’s and finds me parts when needed; he is on the BOD of Spaulding Wooden Boat Center http://www.spauldingcenter.org/). Also, I located my Tolly in top mechanical condition via the “seasoned” master mechanic that handles diesel engines on 130’ boats for Raley’s Supermarkets, as well as being consultant to other big organizations’ yacht mechanical needs. If none of the three I know can't locate the Volvo part then maybe someone else in TF has connections to locate that part. If your buddy wants broad exposure to assist him in locating the part he needs... all he has to do is provide: Volvo engine year, model and the part number. I can call all three I mention here any day. If they don’t have access to the part... they might know who does! - Art

Originally Posted by Art
Marin - If you can post the engine year, model and the part number your buddy needs, might be someone in TF that can locate his part. I've three avenues to explore here and would be pleased to make a few calls to marine mechanical experts I know... one is a volvo specialist. Boaters helping boaters is one thing we all can share! - Art

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin
In this case it would be like a new private pilot offering to explain to Boeing's chief pilot how ailerons work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pau Hana
That's a rather arrogant statement IMO. An offer of assistance is shot down with a cheap analogy. Why not use the combined brain trust of the forum to help solve the problem?
___________________________________________________________

Peter – That’s the way of Marin... he’s a writer and likes to play with words. I feel his statement is harmless overall. I always try to give every statement by anyone the benefit of doubt and think this post by Marin was not meant to be too invasive, just thought provoking. Right Marin??

PS: If you can do it... Don't forget to get the Volvo year, model, and part # from your boat buddy. In addition to me, is seems clear that others on TF are ready to jump to the cause of helping to locate it!

Marin said:

Hearsay? The guy who owns the engine with the problem told me in person what the problem is and his experience with Volvo and you consider that hearsay?

There are people--- not many thank goodness-- who believe that no information or experience is valid unless it is experienced by them directly. Which means that advice or information related by others, or worse, is related by someone who heard it from one of the "others," is automatically not be believed and thus has no credibility because it was not experienced in person.

That, to me, is a very blindered and limiting way to live, to dismiss all information unless one has experienced it all himself. That means that marine sanitation advice from Peggie Hall, or wood finishing advice from shipwright Bob Lowe on the Grand Banks forum, or someone who got advice from Peggie or Bob and is passing it on to me, I should dismiss as "hearsay" and not give it any credibility because the advice is not something I learned by doing it myself.

I've known a few people like that-- nothing is to be believed unless one does or experiences it oneself---- and always found them to be extremely boring, uninteresting people with little to nothing of value to offer.

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Marin, Many of the posts on this forum are not much more than personal insults and your post does not dissapoint in this respect. When a person has to resort to insults to make a point, it is either because the point cannot stand on its own merit or the person lacks the vocabulary skils to make the point sucessfully.

That said, it's a shame you had to say so much to say so little. Your friend is not Peggie Hall or this Bob Lowe person, he is just some guy you know. For all we know, he is the villiage idiot who couldn't find a six pack in a convenience store.

You are asking us to believe that nowhere in the world is this engine part available, new, used, or rebuilt and that this is the fault of the engine manufacturer.

I have a hard time accepting this allegation, but even if it is true, it's hardly the fault of the manufacturer. Every piece of machinery and every living thing has an end of life. There comes a time when it's done and cannot be revived.

We have, on this thread, several people who own and operate Volvo engined boats and they report a high level of satisfaction with them.

On the other hand, we have some people who don't own Volvos, but know about "some guy" who has trouble getting parts or is replacing perfectly good engines because of fears of difficulty finding parts.

Intelligent people will take one thing from this thread, gullible people will take something else away. Let's hope logic and common sense prevails.

I "don't know some guy." I AM one of many guys that cannot find Volvo parts due to Volvo's blase attitude toward their customers. One of those "Volvo" dealers is in San Diego. I visited his place of business which turned out to be a junkyard and priced a part for my engine. The negotiations did not go well so I counted my fingers when I left and went home for a hot shower.

ancora said:

I "don't know some guy." I AM one of many guys that cannot find Volvo parts due to Volvo's blase attitude toward their customers. One of those "Volvo" dealers is in San Diego. I visited his place of business which turned out to be a junkyard and priced a part for my engine. The negotiations did not go well so I counted my fingers when I left and went home for a hot shower.

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Cute. You counted your fingers?

Try on-line. Or another Volvo parts place. Just because you thought one looked like a jumkyard doesn't mean they all are and not all businesses are in the habit of negotiating prices.

Just for kicks I did a web search on a Volvo part number (impeller kit) and Google came back with several pages of vendors.