Competent Engineer Gosport

[nightjar]

I have just been quoted £338 plus VAT by Golden Arrow to replace the camshaft drive belt on my Volvo MD22 (Perkins Prima ) engine. The quote is take it or leave it and is based on 3 hours labour and replacing the tension pulley and idler as well as the belt. The last time this job was done the bill was less than £100 and the task was completed in under an hour ! Can anybody suggest an engineer, based on personal experience, who could do this job for a more realistic price.

 

[aslabend]

Could try these guys

www.tsmarine.co.uk

Based at Universal Marina. Always seem to know what they're doing whenever I deal with them.

 

[Baku]

Have pm'd you a couple of numbers to try.

 

[VicS]

I have just been quoted £338 plus VAT by Golden Arrow to replace the camshaft drive belt on my Volvo MD22 (Perkins Prima ) engine. The quote is take it or leave it and is based on 3 hours labour and replacing the tension pulley and idler as well as the belt. The last time this job was done the bill was less than £100 and the task was completed in under an hour ! Can anybody suggest an engineer, based on personal experience, who could do this job for a more realistic price.

I think you will find that its a dead simple thing to do yourself. IIRC there was even an article in PBO about 3years or so ago showing how to do it..

The snag with Diy cam belt replacements if you not done them before is judging the correct tension although in that article a crude method was described I seem to remember.

How bad is the existing one? Is it so bad that it must be changed urgently or could it wait a while?

 

[nightjar]

There is no immediate urgency on this job; the belts that have been changed our on past replacements look like they are brand new ! We normally cruise on engine at 2500 RPM which is way short of max revs. The Volvo main dealers are just taking the pi** as I have been quoted 3 and 4 hours labour for the job when I know it can be done in under an hour by a skilled engineer. Will see if I can find the PBO article.

 

[VicS]

There is no immediate urgency on this job; the belts that have been changed our on past replacements look like they are brand new ! We normally cruise on engine at 2500 RPM which is way short of max revs. The Volvo main dealers are just taking the pi** as I have been quoted 3 and 4 hours labour for the job when I know it can be done in under an hour by a skilled engineer. Will see if I can find the PBO article.

April 2010 ... A little older than I thought.

Look at the old belt for overall condition and more closely at the roots of the teeth for signs of cracking.

If you do it yourself make careful note before you start of the exact route of the belt round the various bits and pieces. Be sure to lock the crankshaft, camshaft and injector pump so as not to lose their relative timings.

 

[stuartwineberg]

I have just been quoted £338 plus VAT by Golden Arrow to replace the camshaft drive belt on my Volvo MD22 (Perkins Prima ) engine. The quote is take it or leave it and is based on 3 hours labour and replacing the tension pulley and idler as well as the belt. The last time this job was done the bill was less than £100 and the task was completed in under an hour ! Can anybody suggest an engineer, based on personal experience, who could do this job for a more realistic price.

Give Volvopaul a shout on the motor boat forum

 

[[2574]]

Give Steve Jupp a ring 07740 456576

Based at Royal Clarence.

Rob

 

[Ripster]

Give Volvopaul a shout on the motor boat forum

+1 Paul is your man. Excellent rep on the forums - pm him.

 

[Bobc]

That's a rip-off. It's a simple job.

If you want, I'll do it with you (I've got all the tools needed), and you can buy me a case of beer.

The best and bearing kit is about £100 quid still though.

 

[itchenseadog]

Nick Morris at Antarctic Marine. 07850 435172
Knows what he is doing and has a "can do" attitude.

 

[Bobc]

On second thoughts, it's probably not a rip-off. Everyone needs to make a living.

If I were doing it commercially, I'd probably want mark-up the belt kit a bit, and charge at least £50/hr, so £300-ish probably isn't too far off the mark.

The offer stands though if you want a hand doing it yourself.

 

[shetland]

If its the company formerly known as Motortech they will charge you £55.00.per hour plus parts, plus travel there and back from Port Solent.

 

[nightjar]

If its the company formerly known as Motortech they will charge you £55.00.per hour plus parts, plus travel there and back from Port Solent.

Yes they were Motortech now branded Golden Arrow. Their take it or leave it attitude on price and charging 3 hours irrespective of the actual time taken is not acceptable. Just to add to the rip off attitude, RK marine told me they would charge 4 hours labour plus parts plus VAT. When challenged on time and told that this job takes about an hour they started to back down on the time needed. I can only assume that these people assume their customers are idiots and have money to burn. I have however found another Volvo Penta agent who could not be more helpful and will charge for time taken to do the job plus 1/2 hour for travel. Many thanks to all for the contacts provided, they are in my book for future reference.