kad 44 valve clearances check and adjust - what should it cost (or how long should the job take)?

Momac

Momac

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I heard someone in the marina was quoted (by a nearby marina) a budget of £1000 per engine for valve clearances check and adjustment.
The high cost was, apparently, explained as being due to the complex nature of the job including removal of rocker covers being complicated.
I think the marina has more work to do than it can deal with.

Not surprisingly a DIY attempt followed . Within a short time the rocker covers were off and after a few hours the job was done.
I wonder if the boat owner did something wrong as the time taken on a diy basis doesn't seem to correspond with the the price quoted.
 
It’s easy enough if you are handy or 1/2 handy with spanner’s .
Did it on my MAN s with a mate .Used a mate to double check everything and bar the engine .
You can get the sequence from the manual or on line .U tube is your friend.

I did not have to remove anything, just pop off the individual covers .First engine about an hour being careful .2nd 40 mins .
Access was relatively easy , but if had to do it on my old SSkr with KADs another 20 mins to remove the cockpit furniture .
I understand loosen + refit + bleed fuel lines but I would have done his in conjunction with a fresh filter jobbie anyhow so add an hr + parts .

It made a difference on the MAN s as well a less tapperty , i felt more power .Valve adjustment is Uber critical the higher compression you go like with diesels.
But the main thing is following the book for longevity.
 
MartynG said:
I heard someone in the marina was quoted (by a nearby marina) a budget of £1000 per engine for valve clearances check and adjustment.
The high cost was, apparently, explained as being due to the complex nature of the job including removal of rocker covers being complicated.
I think the marina has more work to do than it can deal with.

Not surprisingly a DIY attempt followed . Within a short time the rocker covers were off and after a few hours the job was done.
I wonder if the boat owner did something wrong as the time taken on a diy basis doesn't seem to correspond with the the price quoted.
Click to expand...
Ha ha , it can be a days work if access is tight , it’s not complex if you have done it more times than I can remember., that’s both engines.
 
Portofino said:
It’s easy enough if you are handy or 1/2 handy with spanner’s .
Did it on my MAN s with a mate .Used a mate to double check everything and bar the engine .
You can get the sequence from the manual or on line .U tube is your friend.

I did not have to remove anything, just pop off the individual covers .First engine about an hour being careful .2nd 40 mins .
Access was relatively easy , but if had to do it on my old SSkr with KADs another 20 mins to remove the cockpit furniture .
I understand loosen + refit + bleed fuel lines but I would have done his in conjunction with a fresh filter jobbie anyhow so add an hr + parts .

It made a difference on the MAN s as well a less tapperty , i felt more power .Valve adjustment is Uber critical the higher compression you go like with diesels.
But the main thing is following the book for longevity.
Click to expand...
Just pop the rocker cover off , it’s a bit more complicated than that plus the setting up of the bridge post .
 
petem said:
My understanding is that it's a couple of hours work per side. @volvopaul or others will confirm.
Click to expand...
As I’ve said in another reply it all depends on access , the last one I did was a targa 40 I’d guess 2 hours each side but that was while servicing and injector pump removal so the oil and fuel filters were already removed on one side .
I will say that the most difficult boat I have ever done is both the Prestige 32 and 36 port engine , that boat was not designed to be serviced properly .
I can also add the Sealine F36/37 are also difficult due to the engines being so close together and I’m no fat boy .
 
MartynG said:
I heard someone in the marina was quoted (by a nearby marina) a budget of £1000 per engine for valve clearances check and adjustment.
The high cost was, apparently, explained as being due to the complex nature of the job including removal of rocker covers being complicated.
I think the marina has more work to do than it can deal with.

Not surprisingly a DIY attempt followed . Within a short time the rocker covers were off and after a few hours the job was done.
I wonder if the boat owner did something wrong as the time taken on a diy basis doesn't seem to correspond with the the price quoted.
Click to expand...
DIY job eh I hope he has set the bridge piece correctly otherwise the vertical post will snap off , a £1000 per engine is ridiculous but why post this Martyn is it just your way of having a pop at the local dealer who you might need one day , I’ve sent you a pm .
 
philipdawsonladds said:
You answered your own question: Boat + Marina + Wait list = extortion
Click to expand...
Really , your paying for professional services from an industry that has very little in the way of forward thinking , very little training and apprentices taken on fro dealers or independent people like myself . Now didn’t I spend time on the phone to you just lately to help you out at no charge ?
 
A grand per side sounds like a full service of a 44 inc tappets .Suspect somethings got lost in a mate of mate translation.

As said there’s a little bit of unkowns to us armchair DIY ers in terms of access .eg for a Porto 35 sunsqueaker you gonna need two blokes to dismantle and lift out of the way the rear cockpit seating , to get the floor up etc .One bloke will damage the teak dragging stuff .

So Paul’s gonna need a mate , apprentices, helper etc .That’s another body to fund .

Yes you can do your daily checks etc through the hatch but on this particular boats the whole back of the boat is designed to come off .Actually then gives plenary of room , you can stand up either side of the motors and obviously reach right to the back for stuff like replacing elbows or trim motor phaffing etc .

I can’t see a single bloke white van man turning up how ever racing snake built doing a good job on his own only through the hatch .
Access is key really with compact sterndrives imho .
 
Had Volspec did a coolant change and the tappets about 5yr ago total including travel time / mileage £555.
which for peace of mind was reasonable in my opinion. this was on a Kad 300 A
 
It that is about one to two hours most.
A mechanic used to doing should just take over an hour per engine.

The most time wasting part in the Volvo Kad44 or 300s is the sealant for the head, and here it depends how much the mechanic is used to doing this.
 
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