Identify this engine? I think it is volvo penta MD5..

[sdvs]

I have just become a proud owner of a boat I have never seen in the flesh.

I only have this picture of the engine. I believe it is a volvo penta MD5. I have no idea whether it is an MD5 A, B or C. (Or what those letters mean). Could anyone confirm and shed some light on that.

The boat is 1973 and I believe the engine is original. Apparently it does not start, odds on it being a simple fix??

 

[pvb]

Welcome to the forums!

It does look like an MD5. The A, B, C suffix letters denote minor changes to the design.

Unfortunately, there's no way of telling whether it might be an easy fix without a lot more information. And, according to the broker listing, the boat is 1983, not 1973. Buy Morgan Giles Teign | Morgan Giles Teign for sale

 

[neil_s]

It looks well cared for - a good start!

 

[Gary Fox]

Those MD will run when they are well past their best, and will stand a lot of abuse. If it's got compression and injects fuel, it will start.

 

[V1701]

You could try starting it by hand - in the bottom right of the picture is the hand cranking handle which fits into the cylinder top right of the flywheel. The decompression lever is right in the middle of the picture with the black knob...

Congrats & welcome to the forum, what's the boat? All looks nice & clean & neat which bodes well...

 

[VicS]

I have just become a proud owner of a boat I have never seen in the flesh.

I only have this picture of the engine. I believe it is a volvo penta MD5. I have no idea whether it is an MD5 A, B or C. (Or what those letters mean). Could anyone confirm and shed some light on that.

The boat is 1973 and I believe the engine is original. Apparently it does not start, odds on it being a simple fix??

You might find an ID plate on the (port ??) side of the crankcase

 

[VicS]

If you do mot have one you can download an owners manual from
Manuals & Handbooks | Volvo Penta

and find parts diagrams and lists at
Volvo Penta parts and accessories - MarinePartsEurope.com

 

[sdvs]

Guys, thank you so much for all your help!

Absolutely blown away by the level of support. This is a great platform, I'm sure I will have a million more questions. Thank you all again!

 

[john_q]

If I remember correctly, there may be a cold start button under where the throttle cable attaches to the engine, With the throttle closed, you press the button down AND open the throttle a bit, this will hold the button down, if/when it starts, backing the throttle will release the button.It looks as though it has a Dyno start fitted as well which were never wonderfull. We quite often had to start ours by the handle

Good Luck

 

[john_morris_uk]

If I remember correctly, there may be a cold start button under where the throttle cable attaches to the engine, With the throttle closed, you press the button down AND open the throttle a bit, this will hold the button down, if/when it starts, backing the throttle will release the button.It looks as though it has a Dyno start fitted as well which were never wonderfull. We quite often had to start ours by the handle

Good Luck

Known by a skipper I used to sail with as a dynotstart

 

[forelle541]

I have just become a proud owner of a boat I have never seen in the flesh.

I only have this picture of the engine. I believe it is a volvo penta MD5. I have no idea whether it is an MD5 A, B or C. (Or what those letters mean). Could anyone confirm and shed some light on that.

The boat is 1973 and I believe the engine is original. Apparently it does not start, odds on it being a simple fix??


View attachment 112138

Hi I think it’s an MD2B. The 5 series cant over at an angle but the 2’s stand upright.

 

[VicS]

Hi I think it’s an MD2B. The 5 series cant over at an angle but the 2’s stand upright.

ITYWF that MD2B is a 2 cylinder engine

 

[scottie]

It’s a MD1
single cylinder with dynastart
no oil filter ?

 

[Bilgediver]

Go to the top of the class.

 

[Bilgediver]

One way of checking the engine for starting is to make sure the fuel tap on the tank is open put the throttle lever in the cockpit to half speed and lift the decompression lever on the top then slowly wind the engine over with th starting handle and see if you hear a squeak from the injector every second turn. If no then there may be no fuel at the injector so fuel system may need bleeding to remove air. If yes the next step.
Remove the air filter and using an oil gun insert its outlet well into the inlet port and give 3 squirts of engine oil. Next wind the engine over several turns with decompresser lever up using the handle to spread the oil. Put the filter back and while turning by hand drop the decompressor and check if you have compression. If yes then with decompressor up press starter button and as engine speeds up drop decompressor and adjust engine speed.. If unsure about bleeding then come back however many threads here covering that however first thing to check is that there is fuel at the injectors by slackening off the injector pipe couping and see if fuel dribbles out when the engine is turned. If not then system needs bleeding. If unsure how to do this come back here and ask. There have been recent threads about these and similar engines.

 

[Tamar]

Those MD will run when they are well past their best, and will stand a lot of abuse. If it's got compression and injects fuel, it will start.

Spare parts are pretty expensive if you can get them.

 

[VicS]

It’s a MD1
single cylinder with dynastart
no oil filter ?

I think you are right .... an MD1 (not even an MD1B) although the 1973 age fits with the production years of the MD1B
If it is a MD1B it will have an oil filter on the side of the crankcase below the air filter

The workshop manual can be found at http://www.madlenkapluje.cz/attachment/HISTORIE/Volvo_MD1-D1-MD2-D2.pdf

and the "Instruction Book" on Dylan Winter's "Keep turning left" website at Volvo MD1 manual « Keep Turning Left

 

[Gary Fox]

Spare parts are pretty expensive if you can get them.

Yes they are extortionate or impossible, and nobody overhauls these motors any more; when mine died at the age of 45 yrs, I just scrapped it and put in a Beta.

 

[scottie]

Yes they are extortionate or impossible, and nobody overhauls these motors any more; when mine died at the age of 45 yrs, I just scrapped it and put in a Beta.

Being pedantic in Volvo speak MD =Marine Diesel

 

[Gary Fox]

Being pedantic in Volvo speak MD =Marine Diesel

The last dedicated marine engines Volvo made, before going to marinised vehicle and industrial machines.
I hold them in great affection, they are tough and simple.
I remember once when motoring off Denmark, pulling out the dipstick and boiling seawater spurted out for a few minutes, the engine was full of dirty salt water, but still running happily