Dazzajohm
N/A
After some issues with my gearbox, it’s now been taken apart and the input gears are completely knackered. Seems these are no longer produced by Volvo - does anyone know where I might find some second hand? 2.63/1 ratio.
MS4a Input Gears Required
- Thread starter Dazzajohm
- Start date
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
The gear ratio is in the bottom of the drive .
So that’s what the noise was , what baffles me is that you sent this gearbox for a rebuild not long ago , is this the one they put the cone in and allegedly shimmed it ?
If so it looks like they have trashed your box .
I do have an upper gear set . Casing and a few other parts .
Dazzajohm
N/A
Hi Paul,
Yes you’re right on all accounts. Seems I’ve been done up like a kipper buy a firm that said they have done these before and knew what they were doing.
The guys it’s with now are specialists who are vouched for by various different people but it’s being looked at on the quiet hence I can’t give away too much info. They tell me they can get a second hand complete gear set (which apparently the whole gear set is required) for £2.5k and the other parts - bearings, seals etc and be labour will be another £1.5k so I’m wondering whether I should just look at the new ZF option which would end up a similar price but with a new waranteed gearbox.
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
Done up like a kipper , sure your not using same company,
2500 for a used set of gears is plain stupid , why would the Labour be 1500 to strip and build a very simple gearbox , I offered last time for you to put in on a courier to me . 4K for a second hand box , your out of your mind.
colhel
Well-Known Member
I've had a few dealings with a gear cutting firm in the past, would there be enough demand to look at getting a few sets made up? I can machine the blanks and get them ground and hardened etc
gery w
Well-Known Member
There have been a fair few posts on here lately regarding these boxes. Failure of the boxes and lack of spare parts were a huge factor in my decision to change boats, there must be a box that would be a suitable direct replacement for the ms4.
I appreciate this may not be a cheap option but would allow you to enjoy the boat.
I appreciate this may not be a cheap option but would allow you to enjoy the boat.
Mr Googler
Well-Known Member
Send it to Paul....problem solved!
CLB
Well-Known Member
moresparks
Well-Known Member
Just as an aside.... do these gearboxes just fail without warning?
Do you get an indication of imminent failure or regular maintenance checks that can be undertaken to give you a clue?
The reason for asking is that just looking at my next boat and in the current field I am looking at and in my style, age, length and price range, the boat are typically single engine and more than likely to have this gearbox.
Over the years I have always had a back-up to get me home whether its sails or twin engines.
Do you get an indication of imminent failure or regular maintenance checks that can be undertaken to give you a clue?
The reason for asking is that just looking at my next boat and in the current field I am looking at and in my style, age, length and price range, the boat are typically single engine and more than likely to have this gearbox.
Over the years I have always had a back-up to get me home whether its sails or twin engines.
Dazzajohm
N/A
The problem with mine is that I had an issue earlier in the year with a worn cone, and it would appear it wasn’t rebuilt properly which has lead to the failure I have now.
It seems from the enquiries I’ve been making over the past few days that half the people I’ve spoken to have said to rebuild the gearbox as long as I don’t need a mortgage for it and the other half are saying they are renound for issues so better to invest and replace with a ZF.
I think as long as they are maintained well, they should last years but of course as lots of these have been in older boats around 30 years it’s impossible to really know the history and how well they’ve been looked after.
[2068]
...
You seem to be ignoring the best option, which would be to send it to VolvoPaul.
I don’t understand why you are not grabbing that offer with both feet.
I would.
I don’t understand why you are not grabbing that offer with both feet.
I would.
gery w
Well-Known Member
Yep if Paul has the gear set then he's your man.
Dazzajohm
N/A
Defo not ignoring that option. Still waiting to hear back on some enquiries before weighing up what I’m going to to. Half my problem before has been rushing as I just want to use the boat but not this time going to take my time
jrudge
Well-Known Member
Other than making sure it has enough oil I am not sure how looked after a gearbox can be short of repeated crash stops
James1971
New Member
I have a MS4A for sale if anyone interested. I am in Australia though.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
MS4 A/B reverse gear are now as rare as hens teeth.
The hardest one to find is the 2.63 ratio.
The 1:93 a bit more common.
Some of the bits that break are still available from Volvo...at a cost .
Ferrinstance the Drive shaft is still available about EU 1200.00
There was a new one on Ebay in USA at about $4,500 recently, secondhand again about $4.5K plus shipping.
The only other route is new replacement hydraulic reverse gearbox about 2.5K each.
Entails a fair amount of jiggling to get things to line up and you will probably want to replace both gearboxes.
Chum of mine had one let go in Princess 33 flybridge 150 HP. , replaced both gearboxes .
Several folks I know have an MS4 carefully and lovingly tucked away in the garage.....just in case.
Many failed early , my boat had three replacement boxes fitted before it was 10 years old in the 1990s.
They seem to rarely fail now and there must be thousands still in use.
If somebody has still got bits to fix "your" broken MS4 box be very nice to them indeed.
Last edited:
janfonteijn
Member
Hi,
I have a box 2.63 second hand ,bought it with engine complete,but only needed the motor.
I'm in Holland
Pm me if interessted
I have a box 2.63 second hand ,bought it with engine complete,but only needed the motor.
I'm in Holland
Pm me if interessted