KAD44 / 290 Exhaust Bellow

There should be a plate on the drive which would tell you what it was when it left the factory but it’s not likely to be still there
Is it single or douprop ?
Has the boat been river based at any time as often speed restrictions restrict the performance requirements along with fuel costs!
 
Dazzajohm said:
Ok, much to my dismay this seems to make sense, as I was told to boat should achieve 30knts, but in reality I've struggled to achieve 15knts - 18knts at cruising RPM. Part of me sending the drive off to a specialist is to get the ratio checked as even trying different props performance doesn't seem to improve.
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As much as I wish you a better alternative you may want to consider trading in your 290 for the correct drive albeit a recon one. (No recommendation at all I haven't delt with them but for starters maybe research http://www.ivssmarine.co.uk/ or or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-Pe...-with-NEW-lower-gears-any-ratio-/321995700778)
 
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zt260 said:
As far as I am aware the kad44 was mated with the dpe drive( mine was)
So if yours is not a dpe drive then the pairing is wrong

Regds ash
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If only I could go back 18 months with the knowledge I have now, life would be different...

I was always told by the "dealer" that I have a "290dp" drive on the boat. I've even just checked the invoice and it says on there "Sale of Princess 266 year 1990, fitted with a Volvo Penta Kad 44 engine and 290dp sterndrive package"

I never realised at the time there was a range of 290dp sterndrives, some of which are compatible and others which are not.

Really frustrating as I put my hands in a local dealer thinking I'd get something more decent as opposed to buying from "joe public". Goes to show how wrong a person can be!
 
You aren't the only one that's been taken for a ride. Commiserations. I had endless fun with an independent dealer that left a sour taste in my mouth. At least it can be rectified at not too princely a sum. I do wonder if you have any recourse now though. Might be worth asking the board once you've verified all the facts
 
scottie said:
There should be a plate on the drive which would tell you what it was when it left the factory but it’s not likely to be still there
Is it single or douprop ?
Has the boat been river based at any time as often speed restrictions restrict the performance requirements along with fuel costs!
Click to expand...

As far as I'm aware the boat has never been river based.

A whistle stop history...

I purchased the boat from a local dealer. Apparently he had the boat in for a re-engine from the twin petrols to single diesel but part way through the owner at the time decided to hand that in as PX and buy another boat the dealer had in at the time (this is me taking his word i dont know for sure). Anyway following the PX, he continued with the re-engine to the Kad44 and put up for sale. When I looked at the boat it was on the hardstanding and had never had a new drive installed - the transom had been replaced and it was all fresh with no marks of a drive. Anyway, when I purchased, during the weeks prior to launch they installed the current drive which I was told was reconditioned.
 
In relation to my posts above for a swap out, sorry, you will need to ask someone else whether your current transom brackets will suit or need changing too. I rather suspect they will.
 
BruceK said:
You aren't the only one that's been taken for a ride. Commiserations. I had endless fun with an independent dealer that left a sour taste in my mouth. At least it can be rectified at not too princely a sum. I do wonder if you have any recourse now though. Might be worth asking the board once you've verified all the facts
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Once I know the facts 100% I will be looking at my options with the dealer. I put a deposit down originally around October 2016 and due to issue after issue I didn't take proper delivery until January 2017 and even then had a number of issues which resulted in further warranty works taking place around June / July 2017. I suspect that boat has sailed now (excuse the pun) but as the dealer is local to me it wont stop me from trying. It's been a long 18 months just trying to get some confidence in this boat, and just when I think it's sorted yet another issue is highlighted!
 
BruceK said:
The term 290 leg seems to be used to describe a plethora of legs including the DP C through E for clarification

Do your drives look like this
View attachment 69193

or this

View attachment 69194
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Right, I might have made a mistake here, and hopefully if i have it will make a difference on the plus side...

I've looked through my photo library and looking at the leg I actually think it looks more like the second picture above.

Attached should be a picture of my drive.Leg.PNG
 
It gets really complicated when you get involved with reconditioned/exchange/ repaired drives as the older drives were updated so were the spares which means that trying to work out what you have is exceedingly difficult
The only way to know what you have is to have a full history.
If you ask for a top gear unit for a 290 you will get the current top gear along with the relevant parts to fit it
Same with lower units it’s all mix and match
The identity plate should be riveted to mid section gives you a starting point
The only way to ensure you have the most suitable drive it to buy a service exchange drive from VP which would most likely be a brand new unit at a cost ov several days thousand pounds or alternatively try to find someone like Volvo
Paul try to identify it!
 
It's hard to tell from the photo, but there should be a metal "deflector plate" fitted behind the anode at the bottom of the drive shield.
Is it there?

Also, it would be interesting to see a close up of the lower unit ... the exhaust arrangement changed quite a bit from DP-D onwards.

.
 
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FlowerPower said:
It's hard to tell from the photo, but there should be a metal "deflector plate" fitted behind the anode at the bottom of the drive shield.
Is it there?

Also, it would be interesting to see a close up of the lower unit ... the exhaust arrangement changed quite a bit from DP-D onwards.

.
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Looks like that plate is missing, in those pics.

What's the purpose of those plates, anyway? Always wonders their purpose when I was changing anodes.
 
What are those bolts doing at the end of the cavitation plate? I've not seen that before, Could they be causing back pressure?

As for your speed performance I notice you have A series props on the back and they look particularly coarse. I'm no prop expert and could be barking up the wrong tree but I can tell you the KAD 44 recommended props are B or C series and for your boat I'd expect a B5 / C4 at least if you are running the correct drive and reduction ratio that is
 
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