Sail drive Volvo 120sd help please.

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Johnyhask

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Hi,
I would really appreciate any pointers or advice.
My boat is out of the water having the sail drive bellow replaced. It’s a Volvo penta md2010 with Volvo 120sd saildrive. The fitter discovered that my drive shaft is worn beyond use and the damper plate is damaged. It’s the top horizontal shaft that goes into the back of the engine. There has been lots of other extras, mounts, seacock, etc so to have this news was not good. I’ve been quoted £1700 just for the shaft and £500 for damper plate before any labour. My only option is to look for a second hand unit or gearbox. I can find plenty of 120 s or 120se but no specific 120sd. I would be ever so gratful if anyone could tell me if any of them are cross compatible. Or will any of the saildrives fit the MD2010? Maybe a 120s or SE will fit straight into the engine. Or would a 120se gearbox fit onto the leg? I really don’t know the difference between the models so a bit stuck.
I’m on a limited budget and not sure what to do. If anyone has any advice I’d be eternally gratful. Thanks for reading
John
 
Is it definitely a 2010
Volvo had the 2000 series 2001-2003(.these are not dates ) Which were known to have a problem in this area
The similar sounding but totally different 2010-2040 had a different damper
 
Not sure but I think the different 120S models may have different gear ratios. Parts suppliers like Volspec may have website data to help you.
 
Slowtack said:
Not sure but I think the different 120S models may have different gear ratios. Parts suppliers like Volspec may have website data to help you.
Click to expand...
Thanks ???? I’m trying to get my head around all the different models to see what will fit. Does the metal ID plate have the gear ratio on it? As in the numbers in the attached pic. Cheers ???BC527B27-ECE7-4130-B1B5-43A1A61FCFAA.jpeg
 
Johnyhask said:
Thanks ???? I’m trying to get my head around all the different models to see what will fit. Does the metal ID plate have the gear ratio on it? As in the numbers in the attached pic. Cheers ???View attachment 87987
Click to expand...


I think you will find that the 120S, 120S-B, 120S-C and 120S-D are just different versions of the same thing as it evolved with time. By the time the MD 2010 series of engines came along the 120S-D was the current model

The 120S-E is slightly different . It has a different gear ratio and was fitted to more powerful engines eg MD22 series ... it uses a GL5 gear oil, not engine oil, so one can deduce that the one in the photo is not a 120S-E
 
VicS said:
I think you will find that the 120S, 120S-B, 120S-C and 120S-D are just different versions of the same thing as it evolved with time. By the time the MD 2010 series of engines came along the 120S-D was the current model

That’s fab thanks. Helps a lot ??? So do you think I can safely say that the drive Input shafts (in attached pictures)
be the same. So I could buy the second hand 120se model and use the drive shaft on my 120sd. This would be a perfect solution if so. Thanks for helping ???
0AA65BCB-28F0-4226-9498-3A52C338BE9B.jpeg8BAE6912-3B8B-423B-B200-32BE388DA2BD.jpegwill
Click to expand...
 
What part of the drive shaft is worn?

He's not referring to the splines is he?

A friend of mine had a boat a LONG time ago that stripped the splines and I'm sure that there was a company that squared off the splined part. Sorry if this is a red herring but it was a long time ago.

If it is I'll contact him and get more details


Edit: wow what a memory ?.

DB Marine - The Centre for Volvo Penta

I amaze myself sometimes ??. Possibly not the issue .... older engine?

Oops ... you already have a damper plate ... might be worth talking to them as if they're clever enough to fix the splines probl they might have a fix for your actual problem that doesn't involve replacement. And they're open.
 
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Just_sayin' said:
What part of the drive shaft is worn?

He's not referring to the splines is he?

A friend of mine had a boat a LONG time ago that stripped the splines and I'm sure that there was a company that squared off the splined part. Sorry if this is a red herring but it was a long time ago.

If it is I'll contact him and get more details


Edit: wow what a memory ?.

DB Marine - The Centre for Volvo Penta

I amaze myself sometimes ??. Possibly not the issue .... older engine?
Click to expand...
Yes it’s the splines that the damper plate sits on. Both splines and damper plate have worn right down. It might be a case of putting the saildrive back in getting the boat back in the water and sorting it out without having to rush it. Thanks ??
 
Just_sayin' said:
What part of the drive shaft is worn?

He's not referring to the splines is he?

A friend of mine had a boat a LONG time ago that stripped the splines and I'm sure that there was a company that squared off the splined part. Sorry if this is a red herring but it was a long time ago.

If it is I'll contact him and get more details


Edit: wow what a memory ?.

DB Marine - The Centre for Volvo Penta

I amaze myself sometimes ??. Possibly not the issue .... older engine?

Oops ... you already have a damper plate ... might be worth talking to them as if they're clever enough to fix the splines probl they might have a fix for your actual problem that doesn't involve replacement. And they're open.
Click to expand...


There is even more info on this available from the Westerly Owners Association https://www.hisse-et-oh.com/system/assets/000/111/445/original/volvo_gearbox_spline.pdf?1443112921

but as you say it applies to the 2001/2/3 series of engines
 
VicS said:
I think you will find that the 120S, 120S-B, 120S-C and 120S-D are just different versions of the same thing as it evolved with time. By the time the MD 2010 series of engines came along the 120S-D was the current model

The 120S-E is slightly different . It has a different gear ratio and was fitted to more powerful engines eg MD22 series ... it uses a GL5 gear oil, not engine oil, so one can deduce that the one in the photo is not a 120S-E
Click to expand...
Yes the one in the picture is my 120sd ?? If I could just find out if the input shafts were the same my problems would be over ??? Thanks
 
Just_sayin' said:
What part of the drive shaft is worn?

He's not referring to the splines is he?

A friend of mine had a boat a LONG time ago that stripped the splines and I'm sure that there was a company that squared off the splined part. Sorry if this is a red herring but it was a long time ago.

If it is I'll contact him and get more details


Edit: wow what a memory ?.

DB Marine - The Centre for Volvo Penta

I amaze myself sometimes ??. Possibly not the issue .... older engine?

Oops ... you already have a damper plate ... might be worth talking to them as if they're clever enough to fix the splines probl they might have a fix for your actual problem that doesn't involve replacement. And they're open.
Click to expand...
That’s fab. Thanks loads ??
 
Johnyhask said:
That’s fab thanks. Helps a lot ??? So do you think I can safely say that the drive Input shafts (in attached pictures)
be the same. So I could buy the second hand 120se model and use the drive shaft on my 120sd. This would be a perfect solution if so. Thanks for helping
Click to expand...

You will have to compare the part numbers for the D and E versions before you do that ( I don't know whether the different gear ratios are achieved in the upper or the lower gear box)

Even then you will have noticed that the input shaft and pinion is supplied complete with new matched forward and reverse gears, so you will have to swap the entire gear set over

You might find the workshop manual useful http://www.plaisance-pratique.com/IMG/pdf/VolvoMS2-SD120_manual.pdf


I think I would contact DB Marine for help/advice.
 
Last edited:
I had mine re-engineered by DB Marine. Don't ignore wear on the splines. They apparently give way without any warning at all. The photo shows the spline wear and the part that you need to send off. I can't find the photo of the modified unit at the moment.

Splines.jpg
 
Dipper said:
I had mine re-engineered by DB Marine. Don't ignore wear on the splines. They apparently give way without any warning at all. The photo shows the spline wear and the part that you need to send off. I can't find the photo of the modified unit at the moment.
Click to expand...
There are photos in the link I posted in # 11
 
I have a thought that when the 120 drive was changed the housing for the input shaft was shorter to allow room for the damper
The shaft was part of the upper gear set and I believe that the reduction was in the bevel gear at the lower end
I no longer have access to the parts books which were necessary to track the changes and even then it was difficult
The online system show the current parts but not the steps in between
 
Your fitters advice will be whats easiest for him he is not paying the bill shop round there is usually a cheaper solution.
 
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