can i change my own engine

[nickfabbri]

Can anyone shed light as to what level of experience you need to remove and rebuild an old volvo md5 engine. I am no dunce and have a workshop manual but have never done anything like this before. AM I being an idiot rebuilding it myself?

 

[Lakesailor]

You may be lucky. It may be easy and straightforward.
After years of rebuilding Mini engines I was still picking up little tips from experts when I did my last one 6 years ago.

 

[cindersailor]

This is certainly within the realms of a competent DIYer. However I would question the wisdom of spending the big bucks required to rebuild a Volvo (have you checked out the price of the parts you will need?) when perhaps twice the money would buy a brand new Beta, Yanmar etc. Take a look at http://www.bluemoment.com/betainstallation.html for an account of installing a Beta; a salutory tale which confirms my preference for doing everything yourself.

 

[Csail]

Depends how 'DIY' you are. I changed our 4 cylnder diesel on my own. Absolute nightmare but saved nearly 10k!! (from the quote of local boatyard) Also doing it your self you will know much more about your setup than if someone else did it. Go for it. (swmbo on a 20 foot pipe was enough leverage to move it into position (she is only 9 stone) Hiab did the main bit though. My biggest probs were engine mounts and alighning the prop shaft. ps my background ex. engineer for the military & building cars & planes.

 

[Aja]

Don't know about the rebuild, but if you have time, yes you can install an engine yourself.

I did it earlier this year in my Moody 346 with a 4 cylinder engine.

Bit of planning is required. Dont start doing it in March if you plan to launch in April.

Replace everything like stern glands etc whilst the engine is out.

Donald

 

[smiala]

Hi,

did it myself two years ago, all stripped and inspected.

Most parts are easy to get too ( once out ). It looks tiny, but is very heavy to manhandle, do get a proper setup to take in and out, eg small crane or jcb thing.

Downsides:
cost of volvo spares is well know, be warned, eg gaskets sets ccira £100, new seals, etc. Though some can be made, and you can use diesel workshops for new pipes, refrib of injector etc. New mounts I recall some £40 each, and so on.

Special tool needed to remove flywheel, or make one. I made a simple stand to run it up on after to test on land.
I guess to strip, inspect and replace seals, outlet, new pipes, paint up, rubber water seat, total was around 400/500. ( my engine had been stood for 20 years, hence I needed to change the items that had faded. Fortunalty not much had worn inside so I never needed to start on the inards.


Upsides:
well you learn all about the engine /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, and can be sure of a sound unit for a few years. Plus if you like tinkering like me it can be interesting.

Send a pm if you want manual/ pictures any other advise, cheers

 

[Topcat47]

I costed the refurb of an MD1b and replaced it with a Yanmar 1GM10 for only slightly more money and a lot less time. Unles you're determined to persevere with a "classic" engine for a classic yacht, don't bother.

Spares for old volvos can be a problem, in the case of an MD1b, some are made from "unobtanium" (like the exhaust manifold). You can have one fabricated for money, but it really isn't worth doing anything more than a top end overhaul. Even then you'll only be extendng it's life.

 

[wotayottie]

No. In fact you are being quite sensible because you will then know all there is to know about your engine installation. And provided that you are not under time pressure and work carefully you will likely do a good job - it doesnt require high intelligence or the average car mechanic would be out of a job!

However, I would doubt the economic sense of re-building such an old engine. Even when brand new it was not a patch on modern kit we have now, and any re-build is rarely total. There will still be older bits around to fail.

personally I would go for the diy installation of a new modern engine. Done that a few times, and as I've said already the secret is to take your time.

 

[eidiohir]

Yes

 

[rhumlady]

When people say that they have replaced old engines with new ones 'a couple of times' it makes me wonder how long the new ones will last. I have heared stories of replacement engines not lasting the course. Ok it may be that people have replace engines in several boats but how reliable are they after say 15 years? Maybe the Beta's and Yanmars haven't been around the block long enough to know.

 

[kandoma]

I have done it on a MD17d. The replacement of the copper insets for the injectors, cutting in the valves and checking the heads for cracks (the "freeze plugs" gave way during the test and had to be replaced with a new bigger set) was done by a professional shop. It was not worth the effort, it was still an old engine, breaking every 2000 hours. I have now a Yanmar and no problems so far.

Peter

 

[Kylora]

I don't have experience of a refurb, but have just replaced my MD6A with a Beta BZ482 13.5 hp.

I haven't done the write up yet, but please have a look at My Photo Album

I managed to move the old engine into the saloon by using a scaffold plank like a seesaw.

My worry with refurbing an old raw water cooled engines would be the condition of the waterways.

My old engine was 34 yrs old, but I wouldn't necessarily expect the Beta to last that long - for a start it's spinning twice as fast, and is only 2/3 the weight.

Ash

 

[warrenmarkus1]

I rebuilt my 2001B last year in my shed, never having done anything like this previously. The volvo engine rebuild kit was £350 but included all the gaskets, and big end and main bearings. I semi dismantled the engine to get it out in large lumps. eg head, block ,flywheel, etc. Then took the head and block to a engine reconditioner for pressure testing 'cos if they are no good its new engine time. They faced the valves, honed the bore and acid cleaned the engine for £120 I think. The injector was rebuilt by a specialist for around £40. The two 'difficult' bits were testing the engine in my back garden, and then getting the assembled engine back into the boat. Total cost was less than £1k, but I also repainted the engine and changed the mounts at the same time. Good luck, and pm me if you need more info!! The 2001B is a single cylinder

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
When people say that they have replaced old engines with new ones 'a couple of times' it makes me wonder how long the new ones will last.

[/ QUOTE ]
I assume that they are talking about different boats . . .

Betas are Kubota engines as used in tractors, diggers etc. Some are used as generators and run continuously for very long hours.

Our Beta has done nearly 600 hours in its first year with absolutely no problems. I would expect it to do the same for the next ten years without complaining if I asked it to. This is nothing if you consider truck engines doing 200,000 km a year - equivalent to 2000 hours perhaps. Boat engines run at a constant speed most of the time and are under a lot less stress. What kills them IMO is a combination of under-use and the marine environment.

 

[dickh]

I replaced my knackered BMC 1.5 with a Beta 25HP with very little trouble on a Moody 33. I'd already spent a lot on updating various bits on it and it still took ages to start and belched out so much smoke it was like a smoke screen. Had to raise the engine bearers and Beta supplied wider engine mounts(the only supplier who would) so didn't have to rebuild the bearers. Decided that the money spent would be well worth it and it certainly was.
I also replaced the complete exhaust system, inlet filter, new prop & shaft, new stern gland, new sound insulation, new fuel tank(plastic), new fuel lines and filters. Plus repainted the engine bay and fitted an Auto Halon-replacement extinguisher to protect my investment.
I also sold the old engine and various other bits to offset the cost on eBay.

 

[Topcat47]

My 1GM10 is now seven years old and running as well as ever. A friend's older engine is also fine and as long as parts are available, there is no reason for them not to last the distance. Raw water cooled engines are subject to different problems than FW cooled and as long as "consumables" are available, these engines will run. My old volvo could have been kept running for another five years had I been able to find an exhaust manifold. All it really needed was a top end overhaul. The parts for that, however were over half the price of a new Yanmar and the manifold was obsolete and out of stock. The cost of a fabrication and the promise of a newer lighter engine with a manufacturer's guarantee were the deciding factors.

I considered a Beta and a Nannini but chose the raw water cooled 1GM10 as the easiest option and not regretted it (yet). It does need to be flushed through every winter though and treated with anti-freeze and corrosion inhibitors.