Kad 32 supercharger clutch?

the griff

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Oct 2015
Messages
98
Visit site
I have a Volvo kad32 in my falcon 23.
The supercharger is making an awful noise, it kicks in when it should and the boat performs as it should but as the supercharger is kicking in and kicking off its making a loud noise as if somethings not right.
The noise is difficult to explain but it sounds a bit like if you great your gears on a car because you haven't got the clutch down properly, but on the kad32 the noise is a lot faster, as if what ever is grating is spinning much faster than the gears on a car, more of clicking noise but loud.
As it only happening as the supercharger is kicking in and going off it makes think it may be the clutch on the supercharger.

Does this sound like I may be correct thinking it's the clutch that could be making the noise?

I know the superchargers are very expensive to replace and have been told they aren't repairable, is the supercharger clutch available as a seperate part and/or is the supercharger clutch a repairable unit?

Does anyone knows w the cost of a supercharger clutch if available?

Thanks
 
You can buy a new clutch. I don't know what they cost.
I assume the boat is not new to you ............and you have noticed a change in the sound?
Does the supercharger kick in at 1500rpm and out again at about 2400rpm?
 
We have had about 8 years, but only up and down the river at 5mph most of the time up until last year when I have been out to sea a couple of times, it's just started happening, I think it kicks in around 1800 rpm, it jumps straight up onto the plain and will do 30+ knots, it cruis's nice around 22 knots.
All belts have been checked and the compresser oil changed, it's had a full service this year, the belts were changed last year.
 
Take the belt off, and check that the charger spins freely by hand. Sounds more like something broke free inside the charger.
 
Last edited:
So first port of call is going to be remove belt and check if supercharger is spinning freely and make sure there is nothing obvious snapped or loose in supercharger.
Then check tensioner bearings, this is only a £80 fix.
Presuming everything else looks ok and spins freely, belt tensioned correctly, etc A new clutch is £280.
Worst case scenario a new supercharger, £2200.
Hope its not to the last option

Thanks for your help, any other thoughts would also be appreciated.
 
1800rpm is late. Maybe that's why it makes a noise. I suspect all is well and its just that you are not familiar with the sounds from the supercharger.
 
Just been to give it another go and the noise wasn't as bad as last weekend, got a marine engineer coming to do so thing else in the morning and will get his thoughts on it, it might just be because it's been sat for a few months and something was maybe sticking.
 
A long shot I know but did this have a solution, I have the same issue it sounds like on mine, I have changed the clutch, the tensioner pulley, and the compressor for another used one.
 
You don’t need to take the belt off to see if it spins freely .
Have you checked the oil level ?
sounds like the clutch linings are worn out so the drive is metal to metal .
 
We have a similar issue on ours (Sealine s23). When we take the belt off the section where the belt goes spins fine but the front part of the clutch not so.

When the belt is on and we rev above 1500 we actually see sparks between the front plate and the pully section as if it is metal to metal. Obviously didn’t leave it like that.

We have checked the oil in the compressor and it looks like new and at the right levels.

Any ideas / help on this would be greatly appreciated
 
Last edited:
I paid around around £400 (?) for a new clutch on a KAD44 supercharger, turned out the old clutch was working fine clicking in and out as the turbo built up and then lost pressure
New turbo, sorted it but big bill ;_)
 
Top