Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!

[david_steward]

Just had to shell out for a new heat exchanger for one of my Volvo Tamd 60 C engines. Lots of blood sweat and skinned knuckles getting it out, then told that it is unrepairable by my local radiator specialist.

Cost to replace...........£710


Pass the smelling salts!!!

Dave S

 

[trev]

Had the same feeling when told a new starter motor for an AD41 would cost in the region of 600 quid !!
Turned out to be just a loose earth strap - phew!!
Where do they get these prices ??

Trev

 

[Guest]

You're lucky, I had to replace an oil cooler on my smaller 41a's - cost best part of £1000 ex labour. Would'nt it be nice to see a table of comparitive parts costs for various makes of engine - I think I'll look for Mermaids next time as Ford parts are generally cheaper, especially if the engine is a truck derivative

Nick

 

[longjohnsilver]

Almost all Mermaid engines are Ford based and the spares are generally very cheap. I pay less than £1 for fuel filters and about a fiver for oil filters. There are also various places which sell ex military spares for about half price. A headre tank for my engine from mermaid is about £500 but for a good second hand unit about £250. I would certainly have to think long and hard before buying a boat that is Volvo powered as I constantly hear horror stories about the price of spares. Give me a Mermaid every time! Not only are the prices good but all the staff are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I think MBM did just such a comparison a while back. I've got Sabres in my boat and parts prices are considerably cheaper than Volvo - whether this remains the case now they're part of Caterpillar, I dont know

 

[ArthurWood]

B.O.A.T = Break Out Another Thousand

 

[Jcorstorphine]

Same story very much down in the power market. New bearing for my Volvo MD2b in my old Westerlu was £70 for one bearing. I bought a complete set of shells for the Ford 1.6 Disel engine in my present boat and the cost was £30. Sting in the takle is that both the Volvo shell and the Ford shells were manufactured by Glacier.

Will never buy another boat with a Volvo.

regards
John C.

 

[tico]

That's one of the reasons i've just taken out 2 volvos and replaced them with Fords in my own boat. A lot more work to install but I won't need to spend the week in intensive care after getting any spares.

 

[hlb]

I've just had a leak from the manifold or maybe head gasket.
I'm that sick of paying for Volvo parts that I stuck a tin of Rad Weld in it and the problem was solved instantly for £2-50
Maybe I'll regret it but I did the same many years ago in a truck in Yugoslavia and 200'000 miles latter I still had no problems.
Dealing with engineers much of my time, I'm not sure that parts like these could not be repaired for alot less than £700.
I've just had a new heat exchanger on my Eberspatcher for about £650 with fitting. They told me it was'nt repairable.
But on looking at the old one. I know firms that could have repaired it like new for fifty quid or so.

Haydn