KAD32P experience please?!

[New Boater]

Hello all,

I am a brand new boater and am off to look at a boat this week. Not at point of survey yet but I have asked if the engine can be started so I can have a listen. The boat has good service history on the stern drive and bellows etc.

My question is what if anything should I be watching for on a cold start up? Anyone here with experience on the KAD32P that can help?

Also I might ask if we can shift it into gear. Are there any tell tales of a worn box?

I am good with spanners on cars and am quite happy to listen to an engine and be confident it is a good one.

Not so much on boats though.

The unit has 1200 hours on it.

Any help or if I can answer anything else please let me know.

Thanks,

Newbie.

 

[Momac]

My kad32s start easily with no throttle applied.
The raw water pump face plate should remain cold.
There should be no water leak from the small window in the raw water pump
The supercharger clutch should not engage at idle. The supercharger should cut in at a little over 1500rpm and out at about 2600rpm.
The temperature should struggle to get up to 80 deg C when idling.
If the front of the engine is covered in soot it probably indicates worn belts. A little soot is to be expected. Remove the plastic belt cover and to better see the condition of the belts and pulleys.
The coolant header tank may be a little stained or have some sediment as it is designed to trap crud but the plastic header tank should not be brown - regular coolant changes are necessary.
Ask when the steering was last greased.
1200hrs is most likely about average for an engine that is more than 20 years old.

 

[New Boater]

Thanks Momac,

That is exactly the sort of reply I was after. Very useful info. I will take this list with me and I might look like I know what I am talking about.

Steering had a major overhaul last year.

I am very likely to buy the boat, if I do can I tap you up for info in the future?

Thanks again,

A very excited potential new boat owner.

I have even purchased a handheld VHF today.

 

[petem]

Also I might ask if we can shift it into gear. Are there any tell tales of a worn box?

Is it on outdrive(s)?

 

[Momac]

Is it on outdrive(s)?

I may be wrong but believe a kad32 was always coupled to a 290dp-e outdrive.

 

[SC35]

I may be wrong but believe a kad32 was always coupled to a 290dp-e outdrive.

Almost always …

DP-S was also an option, found on some RIBs and smaller boats.

 

[Momac]

That's interesting.
I guess that applied to the last few kad32's which I think ceased production in 2004 or thereabouts.

 

[New Boater]

I may be wrong but believe a kad32 was always coupled to a 290dp-e outdrive.

Hi Womac,

Yes she is on outdrive. She shifted into gear with a nice clunk into forward and reverse which I am led to believe is good?

There were issues though. The supercharger did not kick in at 1600 rpm.

After running for a few minutes trying to get the charger going we noticed a leak on the strainer. Took the lid off to check the seal and water started overflowing. The guy said that was normal and would stop in a second. It didn’t so we screwed it back on. Is that normal?

Is that indicative of the head gasket gone and pressurising the water system like on a car?

 

[Momac]

Was the engine running when the strainer lid was removed?

 

[New Boater]

Was the engine running when the strainer lid was removed?

No it had been switched off for about a minute.

 

[Momac]

Opening the strainer lid with the engine off should not result in any escape of water.

 

[New Boater]

That was what I was thinking. A tiny little bit maybe but not a good few cup fulls and then some and not seeming to stop.

Oh blimey. She might have more issues than I thought.

I’ll keep you posted.

 

[simonfraser]

the overflowing salt ? water is likely to run over the waterpump and possibly the alternator, rinse it off / check for corrosion

 

[ChromeDome]

Volvo has a cone clutch in the gearbox/upper drive and should shift smoothly.

Common to replace after 1000 hrs I believe.

 

[Momac]

I think if you want to proceed further it would be prudent to have the faults diagnosed by a Volvo Penta specialist and remedial work costs calculated.
But really it sounds like you should look for a different boat.
Don't be put off the kad32.

 

[simonfraser]

Volvo has a cone clutch in the gearbox/upper drive and should shift smoothly.

Common to replace after 1000 hrs I believe.

Clunk as it engages normal

 

[ChromeDome]

?? Then I've been around a few abnormal drives.

The whole purpose of the clutch is to eliminate rough shifts. Same for others who have implemented clutches in drives/outboards.

 

[madabouttheboat]

That's interesting.
I guess that applied to the last few kad32's which I think ceased production in 2004 or thereabouts.

That’s correct. I bought one of the last, if not the very last, new KAD32 in early 2006 and was given an option of DP-S or DP-E (there is no 290 in the name. A 290 is a much older drive)