peterandjeanette
Well-Known Member
The problem occured in July when en route to Brixham from Southampton. Just past the Shingles we lost drive on the port engine. Engine performing OK, gear lever on top of gearbox moves OK, but no drive. Prop still there as the shaft was still turning from the drag. Limp back to Southampton on one engine. Called a well known Volvo agent in the area, but after two weeks I got the impression he didn't want to know. The job went to another company at Saxon Wharf.
Good as gold they picked up the boat, lifted her out, dropped the shaft back and removed the gearbox. The problem was soon evident. The coupling between the flywheel and gearbox had fallen apart. ( Bear in mind the boat is only 4 years old.)
This is what it should look like. Large plate goes on the flywheel, the gearbox drive shaft goes in the spline in the centre. There is a rubber vibration damper in the middle.
and this is what happens when the vulcanising/superglue/bluetack gives up
The middle falls out
So, we call up volvo for a replacement
" Sorry, they're on back order"
" OK, when can I get one ?"
"No idea - goodbye."
Call in Fairline. They couldn't help. To be fair, they buy in a complete powertrain of Volvo engine, coupling and ZF gearbox in one lump.
The guys at Fairline Southampton put me in touch with M.I.T. Ltd who sent a possible replacement to Saxon Wharf. It didn't fit. "It needs a factory modified unit - and the factory is closed for August - sorry"
Boat still of the water. September arrives - and so does the factory modified unit - it doesn't fit.
Call up Volvo again. "Sorry, that part's on back order."
"I know it's on back order. Don't you have any idea when there will be a delivery?"
"No. Sorry - goodbye."
It's time for SIBS. I take the broken unit to the Volvo stand.
"I want on of these"
"Sorry, they're on back order. We don't keep spares of these - they never fail"
"I bloody know they're on back order - it doesn't help me. Why are they on back order? This one HAS failed."
"I'll find out and let you know"
Did they hell.
{ I have discovered that Volvo rarely order spares until they have a need for at least one hundred parts. OK. If they never fail and this is the first - how long until the next 99 fail?.}
By digging around, and rattling cages I discover that Volvo buy their couplings from Centa. A company based in Germany. So, call Centa. What is the part number?. It's not the Volvo part number. Dead end.
Call Volvo.
" I know you buy the couplings from Centa - but under what part number?"
"Can't tell you that. It's privaliged information. What is the Volvo part number?"
I tell him.
"That's on back order."
" I ******* know it's on back order. Why?"
"I'll call you back."
Yeah, yeah.
But he DID call me back.
" Don't think we'll be getting any more of these parts - there are financial difficulties."
Oh sh!t. What now? Are they in liquidation, receivership? Put a match to the boat? Re-engine with Cats or Yanmars?
Or is it just a case that Volvo haven't paid their bill? Do Centa want to up the price or are Volvo screwing them into the ground.
"Where does that leave me?"
AND THIS IS WHERE IT ALL FALLS INTO PLACE.
"Under the circumsatnces I will tell you that we NOW obtain couplings from Centa for the D series engines, but this one was supplied by another company who we no longer use. A German company called Vulkan and the part number is ***********."
Yippee.
Then chat to Fairline at Southampton and discover that Vulkan have an office in Yorkshire. So, phone Yorkshire.
"Can I buy a coupling from you part number ***********?"
" Yes - we have those in stock in Germany. How soon do you want it?"
"Now"
"OK, we'll send one over from Germany. it should be with you Tuesday 23rd.
and it was.
I took it down to Saxon Wharf on Wednesday - they fitted it immediately. Boat re-launched Thursday and back at Ocean Village on Friday - ready for what must have been the best weekend of the summer.
It just shows that some companies are SOOOOOOOO unhelpful, whilst others do their best for you.
To those who DID help me I would commend:-
Ian and Trevor at Fairline Southampton
Kenny, Tony at Golden Arrow
Chris at M.I.T.Ltd
and last but not least - and I won't name the person for breaking ranks just in case - the person at Volvo who gave me the vital information.
That's it. Rant over.
Good as gold they picked up the boat, lifted her out, dropped the shaft back and removed the gearbox. The problem was soon evident. The coupling between the flywheel and gearbox had fallen apart. ( Bear in mind the boat is only 4 years old.)
This is what it should look like. Large plate goes on the flywheel, the gearbox drive shaft goes in the spline in the centre. There is a rubber vibration damper in the middle.
and this is what happens when the vulcanising/superglue/bluetack gives up
The middle falls out
So, we call up volvo for a replacement
" Sorry, they're on back order"
" OK, when can I get one ?"
"No idea - goodbye."
Call in Fairline. They couldn't help. To be fair, they buy in a complete powertrain of Volvo engine, coupling and ZF gearbox in one lump.
The guys at Fairline Southampton put me in touch with M.I.T. Ltd who sent a possible replacement to Saxon Wharf. It didn't fit. "It needs a factory modified unit - and the factory is closed for August - sorry"
Boat still of the water. September arrives - and so does the factory modified unit - it doesn't fit.
Call up Volvo again. "Sorry, that part's on back order."
"I know it's on back order. Don't you have any idea when there will be a delivery?"
"No. Sorry - goodbye."
It's time for SIBS. I take the broken unit to the Volvo stand.
"I want on of these"
"Sorry, they're on back order. We don't keep spares of these - they never fail"
"I bloody know they're on back order - it doesn't help me. Why are they on back order? This one HAS failed."
"I'll find out and let you know"
Did they hell.
{ I have discovered that Volvo rarely order spares until they have a need for at least one hundred parts. OK. If they never fail and this is the first - how long until the next 99 fail?.}
By digging around, and rattling cages I discover that Volvo buy their couplings from Centa. A company based in Germany. So, call Centa. What is the part number?. It's not the Volvo part number. Dead end.
Call Volvo.
" I know you buy the couplings from Centa - but under what part number?"
"Can't tell you that. It's privaliged information. What is the Volvo part number?"
I tell him.
"That's on back order."
" I ******* know it's on back order. Why?"
"I'll call you back."
Yeah, yeah.
But he DID call me back.
" Don't think we'll be getting any more of these parts - there are financial difficulties."
Oh sh!t. What now? Are they in liquidation, receivership? Put a match to the boat? Re-engine with Cats or Yanmars?
Or is it just a case that Volvo haven't paid their bill? Do Centa want to up the price or are Volvo screwing them into the ground.
"Where does that leave me?"
AND THIS IS WHERE IT ALL FALLS INTO PLACE.
"Under the circumsatnces I will tell you that we NOW obtain couplings from Centa for the D series engines, but this one was supplied by another company who we no longer use. A German company called Vulkan and the part number is ***********."
Yippee.
Then chat to Fairline at Southampton and discover that Vulkan have an office in Yorkshire. So, phone Yorkshire.
"Can I buy a coupling from you part number ***********?"
" Yes - we have those in stock in Germany. How soon do you want it?"
"Now"
"OK, we'll send one over from Germany. it should be with you Tuesday 23rd.
and it was.
I took it down to Saxon Wharf on Wednesday - they fitted it immediately. Boat re-launched Thursday and back at Ocean Village on Friday - ready for what must have been the best weekend of the summer.
It just shows that some companies are SOOOOOOOO unhelpful, whilst others do their best for you.
To those who DID help me I would commend:-
Ian and Trevor at Fairline Southampton
Kenny, Tony at Golden Arrow
Chris at M.I.T.Ltd
and last but not least - and I won't name the person for breaking ranks just in case - the person at Volvo who gave me the vital information.
That's it. Rant over.
