KAD300

itspaul

itspaul

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Jun 2010
Messages
337
Location
Home staffs Boat Mallorca
Visit site
In our search for a new boat we have had an offer accepted (subject to survey) on a 34 ft sports cruiser its fitted with a pair of KAD300 ' s with approx 400 hrs on them is there anyone with experience of these engines and any problems etc with them ? Thanks for any info
 
I believe the kad300 should have particular attention to the valve clearances being checked and adjusted.
 
I have 2 KAD300's - Completely faultless and probably at about 600 hours now.
Out-drives also faultless

I had the valve clearance done when I bought the boat around 400 hours - I just paid someone to do it as mentioned above there's extra labour removing injector lines (the boat wasn't local to me at the time)

That said, the boat was on fresh water all it's life, if that makes any difference.

I'd definitely buy another boat with KAD300's in the future.
 
I have a pair of KAD300s in a 34' boat. (Prestige 34). After sorting some standing time gremlins out after we purchased the boat they have been all but trouble free for nearly 200 hrs of use. Only things other than usual maintenance has been a dodgy throttle pot, (damp/corrosion), faulty turbo boost pressure sensor, a dodgy coolant temperature sender and a leaky seal on a raw water pump. (All the VP pumps on KAD motors seem to do this at some point). I love the engines, lovely sound, and so much smoother than the four pot motors. Engines are relaxed and economical at 3000-3200rpm which in my boat is 25-27 knots, which is a perfect fast cruise. I've had issues with one outdrive, but that was in the main due to a bodge by a prior owner, otherwise (touch wood) no issues with those either.
 
Last edited:
I have had KAD 300s on a couple of boats and still do. Over the years, I've talked to various freelance and VP engineers and they have ALL spoken very highly of the engines.
As everyone says, the 200 hour valve adjustment is a key point.
There are a lot of belts; maybe not all of them need changing each year, but the water pump and compressor ones seem to on my boats.£150 maybe, can't recall for both engines,fitted. Both water pumps have now been changed or renewal kit or whatever-£150 ish. I had a supercharger clutch go this year, though the VP guy said he had only ever done three in his life. If you lean over the engines, you can nudge the supercharger pipes and so unclick the seal (you will hear a hissing) and I have had both seals go at the supercharger end..just needs some gasket sealant, but that makes a lot of hissing!
So, all in all, pretty bullet proof, if I am not tempting fate.
 
Definitely check the valves have been adjusted, its very easy to spot, the copper washers on the injector return rail should be bare copper, if they are green then they are original from the factory and painted over when the engine was built. I recently was on board a Windy 32 and the owner who was selling it told me he had a good guy who had done all the servicing, I pointed out that the paint hadn't been disturbed on the return rail and it had now done 600 hrs so he had missed 3 valve adjustments. He then asked me how soon I could do the job as it was for sale! I have seen this many times as a lot of mechanics if you can call them that don't do the valves as it takes a few hours and can be fiddly if there is poor access.
 
+1 great engines, we never had a problem with them, heard that if you have to travel at low speeds and bow rises the back cylinder does not get as much /enough oil so we used to trim right down to keep boat as level as possible, not sure if true but used to do it anyway, I would just make sure serviced every year and valves as above.
 
Great engine. I have 2 in my Windy 37 from 2003 with 500 hours. Nothing to report. Great fuel economy - and good sound :-) Take care of the valve clearance every 200 hours as said by many members and do the annual service and you have a very good solid power package. This engine is in fact similar with the KAD44 but the KAD300 got a stronger drive to handle the extra torque. The KAD300 comes with the DPG drive while the KAD44 comes with DPE. The DPG drive in my eyes is one of the best drives ever build by Volvo. Just check the web and you do not find much problem. Another thing is that the KAD300 is less hightech than the newer D-serie and fuel economy is same with the D4 260HP. Can only recommend the KAD300.
 
About Time said:
Great engine. I have 2 in my Windy 37 from 2003 with 500 hours. Nothing to report. Great fuel economy - and good sound :-) Take care of the valve clearance every 200 hours as said by many members and do the annual service and you have a very good solid power package. This engine is in fact similar with the KAD44 but the KAD300 got a stronger drive to handle the extra torque. The KAD300 comes with the DPG drive while the KAD44 comes with DPE. The DPG drive in my eyes is one of the best drives ever build by Volvo. Just check the web and you do not find much problem. Another thing is that the KAD300 is less hightech than the newer D-serie and fuel economy is same with the D4 260HP. Can only recommend the KAD300.
Click to expand...
Strange you say this about the drive as I've had a year losing count how many cone clutches I've fitted and I'd say 60% were KAD 300 drives , I guess the extra power wears the forward face of the clutch out. If you don't hear the clunk going into forward compared to reverse your into a cone very soon.
 
Well ..... I hear what you say but not my experience. I have more friends with DPG drives and no problem. If you google KAD44 you will soon read about the DPE drives though. It is not as strong. The DPG was introduced along with the KAD300 to handle the extra power.
 
I had to have cone clutches replaced on my old KAD 300 powered boat, the engines had only done sub 200 hours at the time.
No other real (costly) problems in the 2 years of ownership.
Hell of a lot less black magic than the IPS 600's I'm currently running.

One thing that I did find strange, was the clutches were replaced half way through my period of ownership, and after replacement the clunk into forward/reverse that Paul mentioned had retuned. But by the time I sold the boat a year later the clunk had gone, although there was no slippage in forward or reverse.
 
Sishoe said:
I had to have cone clutches replaced on my old KAD 300 powered boat, the engines had only done sub 200 hours at the time.
No other real (costly) problems in the 2 years of ownership.
Hell of a lot less black magic than the IPS 600's I'm currently running.

One thing that I did find strange, was the clutches were replaced half way through my period of ownership, and after replacement the clunk into forward/reverse that Paul mentioned had retuned. But by the time I sold the boat a year later the clunk had gone, although there was no slippage in forward or reverse.
Click to expand...

Bozzie just sold again sat outside RK marine.
 
volvopaul said:
Bozzie just sold again sat outside RK marine.
Click to expand...

I had heard it was for sale, the guy selling her had seen my current one for sale and enquired if I wanted it back!!
Think he might of gone for the Atlantis 55 that's been for sale for ages at Swanwick, but just gone under offer.
Might take a nose round for old times sake.
 
Sishoe said:
I had heard it was for sale, the guy selling her had seen my current one for sale and enquired if I wanted it back!!
Think he might of gone for the Atlantis 55 that's been for sale for ages at Swanwick, but just gone under offer.
Might take a nose round for old times sake.
Click to expand...
No he bought a phantom 50
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

C
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE - EIAPP CERTIFICATION
Replies
8
Views
437
Tranona
T
E
Nimbus 305 or Marex 330
Replies
19
Views
986
Time Out
T

Share this page

Top