KAMD44 Opinions please

andy59

andy59

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Does this look as though the rocker cover has ever been removed , ie , valve adjustment ? . Paint looks almost to perfect to me .
sealineF36019.jpg

sealineF36020.jpg

sealineF36023.jpg

Thanks for any opinions on this , i cant make up my mind .
 
I believe I'm seeing overspray also (look at the hoses with green paint on them). Hence, it's not possible to conclusively say whether the covers have been removed or not.
However, with valve adjustment such a critical thing, I would check them if in doubt.

Cheers,
Paul
 
When I do a valve adjustment and have the time I always give the top end a spray of green paint as rust will start to appear on the pipe nuts etc.

Where you will notice that the valves have been adjusted is the spill rail will have new copper sealing washers as it has to beremoved along with the injector pipes, also on number 1 injector there is a lead that tells the ecu when its firing on number 1 stroke, the clip and its paint will have been disturbed, also the rocker gasket is NLA so you have to use sealant, you can also look around the oil andfuel filter housing mount nuts and see if they have been disturbed.

Now Andy you did say Darthaven have serviced these motors from new so surely there must be all the history fom new that can be viewed, along with parts invoices that will show new copper washer and the injector sealing o rings, surely now ive brought up enough evidence to search for to satisfy you, BUT and a big BUT is if in doubt get them done asap as on the 44 the bal studs and nuts along with the pushrods wear out, when they do the valve drops as its bouncing off its seat at high rpm, then you need a full rebuild due to damaged pistons and bent rods along with of course a new head, when I last heard they were out of production.

Looking at the pics id say there is no visible evidence to say they have been touched.
 
Thanks Paul , I am going to have to dig deeper . They have done approx 350 hours to date , will that be to many hours over recommended service hours ? Thanks for your help , wish the boat was more local so that you could check it over .
 
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Hi Andy,
Interesting this. I'm no engineer, let alone Volvo expert, but I have just bought a 10 year old Sealine with KAD44s and have been surprised by some of what I have just recently found out - possibly just in time! And I share with you for what it may be worth...
Apparently there is a 'known problem' with KAD44s (which "Volvo deny", I am told). It is mainly an issue with boats kept in rivers, operating for most of their running hours at low revs. At low revs oil fails to sufficiently lubricate the rocker assembly and this is why some suggest that the valve clearances are checked every 100 hours (half the interval suggested by Volvo) if these running conditions apply. It's not such an issue to coastal-operating boats which presumably will run at much higher revs and so sufficiently lubricate.
I have been recommended to a local Volvo dealer (recognised local experts and acredited Volvo service agents) who have a modification they do to river-based KAD44s which overcomes the problem by grinding out a lubrication channel(s). Again, I'm no engineer, but I undcerstand this is the principle.
Just to reinforce the danger, if your engines are at risk, the results of failure can be a dropped valve or some-such and the consequential need for a new engine! My boat had a short engine change about a years ago costing the previous owner over £14K, which I guess is why he emphasised to me the need for regular valve clearance checks!
 
thames cruiser said:
Hi Andy,
Interesting this. I'm no engineer, let alone Volvo expert, but I have just bought a 10 year old Sealine with KAD44s and have been surprised by some of what I have just recently found out - possibly just in time! And I share with you for what it may be worth...
Apparently there is a 'known problem' with KAD44s (which "Volvo deny", I am told). It is mainly an issue with boats kept in rivers, operating for most of their running hours at low revs. At low revs oil fails to sufficiently lubricate the rocker assembly and this is why some suggest that the valve clearances are checked every 100 hours (half the interval suggested by Volvo) if these running conditions apply. It's not such an issue to coastal-operating boats which presumably will run at much higher revs and so sufficiently lubricate.
I have been recommended to a local Volvo dealer (recognised local experts and acredited Volvo service agents) who have a modification they do to river-based KAD44s which overcomes the problem by grinding out a lubrication channel(s). Again, I'm no engineer, but I undcerstand this is the principle.
Just to reinforce the danger, if your engines are at risk, the results of failure can be a dropped valve or some-such and the consequential need for a new engine! My boat had a short engine change about a years ago costing the previous owner over £14K, which I guess is why he emphasised to me the need for regular valve clearance checks!
Click to expand...

That's a bit scary! Do you (or Volvopaul) know if applies to earlier KADs as well (42 & 43)?? I am thinking perhaps not as there are more valves on the 44 but I am no engineer.
 
The river running problem is 44 and 300 related only because the dsign of the oil feed is poor to the point that it relies on splash lubrication to get oil across to the bridge piece that opens the valves, I forgot to mention this in my previous post, sorry Andy.

The first timeI came across this was on a Broom 38 with kad 44s in, it didnt go bang it just ran on 5 cylinders, when I took the cover off I found all the all the ball studs and pushrods had worn away giving a massive clearance, the bridge piece had fallen off due to the post it sits on breaking off, the result and cost was in the hundreds as no valves had failed, but as usuall volvo totally denied its a design flaw, but as its only designed to pump oil into the rocker shaft and lubricate the arms, oil cannot possibly reach the bridge piece or ball studs, unless the motors are revving around 3000 rpm, so rendering this design of engine not fit for river use, i you have these motors an only run above idle id recommend you have the valves checked under 50 hours use.

Andy I would insist on some service history before buying, id also be looking for leaks round the exhaust manifold gaskets between the head.
 
Greg2 said:
That's a bit scary! Do you (or Volvopaul) know if applies to earlier KADs as well (42 & 43)?? I am thinking perhaps not as there are more valves on the 44 but I am no engineer.
Click to expand...

Greg, 42/43s are ok they dont suffer this issue as there only a 12 valve engine, kad43 one of the best small cc displacement marine leisure motors around IMHO.
 
Thanks for the info guys , the owner is 110% certaian that its been done , i will check everything when we go to survey , thanks again.
 
volvopaul said:
Greg, 42/43s are ok they dont suffer this issue as there only a 12 valve engine, kad43 one of the best small cc displacement marine leisure motors around IMHO.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. We are in the market for another boat and are thinking a Sealine S37 may be an option. Lots on the market have KAD44's, the odd one has Mercruisers (250hp I think) and the odd one with AD41's (200hp). We are planning to move back into the Broads with occasional sea (high speed) cruising so based on what has been said here the AD41's may be a better option for our intended use than the 44's?? Just not sure if 200hp is enough for the size of boat at sea. Don't know a lot about the Mercruisers apart from a suggestion that they may use a bit more fuel than Volvos??
 
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