Volvo DPH power trim problems

[mikemcgregor]

Just lifted boat out for its annual bottom scrape and servicing. (Pelican 32 with 2 x VP 225 and DPH legs)

Imagine my dismay to find all 4 of the power trim cylinders need changing as the caps have corroded and the seals are in danger of bursting out.
Why oh why did volvo think that aluminium cylinders would last under sea water? Cylinders are around £600 each!!!

Not only that the stb engine will have to be moved to allow access to the inboard cylinder on stb leg!!!!! madness!!

You could possibly fix them by replacing the end caps................ but do Volvo sell end caps? Nope you have to buy the complete cylinder!!!!"

My engineer is going to see if he can get the local machine shop to mill new end caps at a fraction of the price.


watch this space.

 

[spannerman]

Bad luck with your trim cylinders, just check the colour of the oil in the trim pump reservoir, it should be dark red, if its pale pink then you have seawater in the oil and you may have pump problems soon also. And if you have to move the engine then I'd advise replacing all the trim and steering hoses if they are not of the latest spec otherwise you will have to go in there again at some point.
I have changed dozens and dozens of VP steering and trim cylinders and in 18 years only one set of Mercruiser trim cylinders which funnily enough are also made of aluminium! and that was only because of a shorepower problem causing corrosion. Its no coincidence that none of the 6 engineers in our dealership have a VP powered boat, we all have Mercruiser or Yamnar, there are just too many on going problems with VP for me to ever consider having one, the quality is long gone, and I work for VP! I have a 1997 Magnum 350 and it looks like new and runs perfectly.

 

[mikemcgregor]

Yep. Next boat will be shaft driven and devoid of anything with a Volvo stamp on it!

 

[volvopaul]

Bad luck with your trim cylinders, just check the colour of the oil in the trim pump reservoir, it should be dark red, if its pale pink then you have seawater in the oil and you may have pump problems soon also. And if you have to move the engine then I'd advise replacing all the trim and steering hoses if they are not of the latest spec otherwise you will have to go in there again at some point.
I have changed dozens and dozens of VP steering and trim cylinders and in 18 years only one set of Mercruiser trim cylinders which funnily enough are also made of aluminium! and that was only because of a shorepower problem causing corrosion. Its no coincidence that none of the 6 engineers in our dealership have a VP powered boat, we all have Mercruiser or Yamnar, there are just too many on going problems with VP for me to ever consider having one, the quality is long gone, and I work for VP! I have a 1997 Magnum 350 and it looks like new and runs perfectly.

A brave statement and you work for a vp dealer . I've said much the same before on here and been threatened through uk dealer and yet I'm an independent engineer and company with no connection to vp at all.
I agree with all you say on the quality of today's product on certain parts supplied that are simply not fit for purpose. I do feel for customers who put there hard earned into a new boat that they expect trouble free boating from , it simply does not work for some people. For once I'd agree about some mercruisers parts , ive never fitted rams to a Merc leg , other parts i can write a book!! Green engines included .

 

[spannerman]

As the saying goes, 'they don't make them like they used to'. We thought the KAD¨s were a nightmare when they first came out with head gasket problems and dropping valves etc, but I think the older stuff is a lot more reliable, especially the bigger engines 63,72-74.
I know some owners of D series have never had a problem, but they are a minority, and as you say when you are investing £50-60k in a motor you expect it to work, if car manufacturers had the amount of problems that VP have had you wouldn't be able to give them away.

 

[mikemcgregor]

A brave statement and you work for a vp dealer . I've said much the same before on here and been threatened through uk dealer and yet I'm an independent engineer and company with no connection to vp at all.
I agree with all you say on the quality of today's product on certain parts supplied that are simply not fit for purpose. I do feel for customers who put there hard earned into a new boat that they expect trouble free boating from , it simply does not work for some people. For once I'd agree about some mercruisers parts , ive never fitted rams to a Merc leg , other parts i can write a book!! Green engines included .

Have you ever just replaced the end caps?

 

[spannerman]

No I haven't tried that, as dealers only stock complete cylinders.

 

[mikemcgregor]

No I haven't tried that, as dealers only stock complete cylinders.

OK. Thanks anyway.

Just heard that the machine shop are able to mill 4 replacement caps for around £120 each. A total of £480 against having to buy 4 complete cylinders at a total of
£2280. Also no need to remove the engine! Volvo penta should be ashamed of themselves for designing such shoddy, not fit for purpose legs. And don't get me started on the steering rams

 

[beejay190]

Sorry to read of your problems. I keep my Volvo D4 260 Nimbus 27 in the DryStack - so hopefully corrosion will be less of an issue.

 

[mikemcgregor]

Sorry to read of your problems. I keep my Volvo D4 260 Nimbus 27 in the DryStack - so hopefully corrosion will be less of an issue.

Yes a dry stack would be a solution.... but none out here in Empuriabrava (Spain).

 

[mikemcgregor]

Just got the 4 newly milled end caps back from machine shop. They look the part and a very professional job it seems to be.
Of course they remain to be fitted and tested so hopefully the boat will be back in the water on Saturday and my boating season can begin.

Will report end result.

 

[CHI]

Good Luck Mike.

Keith
CHI

 

[mikemcgregor]

Result!

New caps fitted to power trim cylinders, tested and all working fine. Feeing much better now that I have saved so much money and that volvo penta
have not ripped me off for around 3600 euros to replace all 4 cylinders.

The DPH legs are very much "not fit for purpose" and the sooner VP start offering some support and voluntarily give owners free or heavily discounted replacement parts the better!

 

[mikemcgregor]

Just a thought.... there maybe other people with the same problem and I would suggest getting end caps milled at a machine shop will be a very cost effective way of solving the problem. Happy to put you in touch with my English engineer who can get them milled and shipped over to you at fraction of the cost of having to buy complete cylinders
I am not involved with his company other than a very satisfied customer.