Portland Billy
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know where I might find one of these for an onboard shaft driven AD41;?
Volvo MS4A gearbox
- Thread starter Portland Billy
- Start date
oldgit
Well-Known Member
If you thought the LOR was an impossible quest, try to find a secondhand one of these.
Are you sitting comfortably. ?
Any body with a spare one will have it under lock and key in vault somewhere.
MS4 was advertised in the States some time ago at around $4.500, you would of course have to pay shipping and VAT and now no doubt a special Trump Tax on top.
One came up for sale years ago with the rare correct reduction ratio for my Princess 35, drove up to and collected pronto, it lived in my garage for ages and never needed it. Once a year would turn it over to lubricate internal bits.
The MS4 comes in several reduction ratios usually dependant on the boat it was fitted to. Vital you check which reduction you need.
Princess 35 was sold and no way was the gearbox going with it.
Box put up for sale at a modest profit.
The MS3 might fit and its descendant the HS1 should in theory, you would need to confirm this.
Boat owner in Germany, who needed " a reverse gear" , personally drove over to collect it , to ensure he got it and to avoid the paperwork and financial complications of the BREXIT disaster.
We met in a cold ferry port car park both of us highly please with the transaction.
First priority, can it be repaired ?, most marine repairers will not touch it with a barge pole but it is simple box to sort if the bits are available.
Try to speak to VolvoPaul.
The last resort is a replacement new hydraulic box , this is right drama as the new box usually has slightly different dimensions and down angle for the output shaft which involves moving the entire engine and altering the angle of the engine to match the propeller shaft.
You will need to alter the pitch of the prop connected to any new box as the available ratios are , close but different.
Do know of one boat where to owner of Princess 33 replaced both of his MS3 boxes when one failed and a Corniche which now has a MS4 sitting alongside a new hydraulic box.
Good Luck.
There must be a box or two out there but persuading any owner to sell it will not be easy.
Are you sitting comfortably. ?
Any body with a spare one will have it under lock and key in vault somewhere.
MS4 was advertised in the States some time ago at around $4.500, you would of course have to pay shipping and VAT and now no doubt a special Trump Tax on top.
One came up for sale years ago with the rare correct reduction ratio for my Princess 35, drove up to and collected pronto, it lived in my garage for ages and never needed it. Once a year would turn it over to lubricate internal bits.
The MS4 comes in several reduction ratios usually dependant on the boat it was fitted to. Vital you check which reduction you need.
Princess 35 was sold and no way was the gearbox going with it.
Box put up for sale at a modest profit.
The MS3 might fit and its descendant the HS1 should in theory, you would need to confirm this.
Boat owner in Germany, who needed " a reverse gear" , personally drove over to collect it , to ensure he got it and to avoid the paperwork and financial complications of the BREXIT disaster.
We met in a cold ferry port car park both of us highly please with the transaction.
First priority, can it be repaired ?, most marine repairers will not touch it with a barge pole but it is simple box to sort if the bits are available.
Try to speak to VolvoPaul.
The last resort is a replacement new hydraulic box , this is right drama as the new box usually has slightly different dimensions and down angle for the output shaft which involves moving the entire engine and altering the angle of the engine to match the propeller shaft.
You will need to alter the pitch of the prop connected to any new box as the available ratios are , close but different.
Do know of one boat where to owner of Princess 33 replaced both of his MS3 boxes when one failed and a Corniche which now has a MS4 sitting alongside a new hydraulic box.
Good Luck.
There must be a box or two out there but persuading any owner to sell it will not be easy.
Last edited:
Portland Billy
Well-Known Member
Found three!!
Two in France and one in Holland.
One from France now on its way, should be here in a week or so, back boating by mid June,
Two in France and one in Holland.
One from France now on its way, should be here in a week or so, back boating by mid June,
oldgit
Well-Known Member
What was the problem with the old box ?
Portland Billy
Well-Known Member
The old box first gave trouble last year when the astern select wouldn't transfer power to the shaft.
Had that fixed. Then last month the ahead selection started doing the same (like driving a car with a slipping clutch !!).
The old box is away being assessed to see if a rebuild is poss, but I don't hold too much hope. If it can be rebuilt then a spare would be nice.
Had that fixed. Then last month the ahead selection started doing the same (like driving a car with a slipping clutch !!).
The old box is away being assessed to see if a rebuild is poss, but I don't hold too much hope. If it can be rebuilt then a spare would be nice.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
We needed a new shaft to fix this in my P35.
Pleased you managed to find a box with the correct ratio so quickly.
and this one came from a Corniche 31
Both probably the result of a previous impact .
Pleased you managed to find a box with the correct ratio so quickly.
and this one came from a Corniche 31
Both probably the result of a previous impact .
colhel
Well-Known Member
How did you find them? Did you know where to look, or a general Internet search?
Portland Billy
Well-Known Member
General and persistent internet search