Volvo KAD300

Ripster

Ripster

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Its probably been asked before so forgive the repeat .... 2003 vintage Volvo KAD300s (285hp) on shafts about 300 hours, FSH - are these likely to be fairly sound engines? Very reliable and solid or poor and problematic. Any tips on spotting problems? Going to view a boat with this configuration tomorrow....

As always, any advice or comments welcome
 
[pedant] Technically on shafts the engines you are looking at are KAMD300s [/pedant]

They are reliable engines if they have been serviced correctly. These need the tappits adjusting every 200 hours. This is not an option, so look for well documented evidence that it has been done.

Other than that they are a developement of the AD41, which ran through the KAMD42/43/44 and up to the 300. Early engines actually had 300Hp but quite quickly they were detuned electronically to 285Hp.

Apart from the tappits, the only things that can go worng are the electronic black boxes that are part of the EDC system and the supercharger control system. these will either work or they wont. Check the superchargers kick in correctly at about 1500rpm and shut off again at around 2100rpm. Check that the gear shift is good and try to get the boat to acheive max revs on the seatrial. Make sure one engine sint dragging behind the other.

Sure there will be others who offer advise as well, but if all the above is good then its just down to normal engine stuff like oil and temps etc etc
 
Ripster said:
Its probably been asked before so forgive the repeat .... 2003 vintage Volvo KAD300s (285hp) on shafts about 300 hours, FSH - are these likely to be fairly sound engines? Very reliable and solid or poor and problematic. Any tips on spotting problems? Going to view a boat with this configuration tomorrow....

As always, any advice or comments welcome
Click to expand...

that's what we've got on our current boat (had a single kad43) on our previous. As stated in another reply, they are the last generation on engines derived from the block with a long history so things should be pretty well thought out. While not the latest technology, it is tried and tested.

If service record is fine and everything seems to be working as per normal, I'd be pretty confident with those engines.
 
MarieK said:
Supercharger on my kad300 doesnt shut off until around 2500 -2700 RPM. I think when it comes in/out is impacted by sea state and weight of boat etc
Click to expand...

You may well be right about the revs for the cut out, but the cut in (or any of it) has bugger all to do with the sea state. Love to know what you have been smoking on that one, or even how you could consider that could even work!!!!!:confused::confused::confused::confused:
 
Whitelighter said:
You may well be right about the revs for the cut out, but the cut in (or any of it) has bugger all to do with the sea state. Love to know what you have been smoking on that one, or even how you could consider that could even work!!!!!:confused::confused::confused::confused:
Click to expand...


Regardless of what I have been smoking my friend, I do believe my information to "Ripster" is rather closer to reality than your own, correct? Does anyone have a KAD/KAMD300 with a supercharger that shuts off at 2100 RPM? I think not.

Bon Soir
 
No, I would say they both have about the same level or inaccuracy. I said 2100, which I will happily conceed could well be 2500rpm for the Supercharger shut of.

You are telling him the supercharger kicks in according to sea state when in fact it is a set rev limit, I belive to be 1500rpm.

In addition the info I gave about the series engines, tappits etc etc should all be of some use.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

They were indeed KAMD300s on the vessel. They appear to be a good bet provided servicing has been done correctly and regularly, which appears to be the case, but I am specifically checking the valve clearances were done. The Supercharger cut in and out was interesting!! - now I know what those big dials are on the dash - the seastateometers - used to be called a tachos!
 
superchargers on Kad 44's and 300's are load relative and run at idle speed when the engine is cold. The Kad 42's and 43's are rev relative. You need to bring the revs up very slowly until the superchargers just cut out and see if the revs start to drop until they cut back in again. This can indicate worn turbos particually on sterndrive boats where the water level in the exhaust is close to the exhaust side of the turbo.

I know this is a but late but hope it helps.
 
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