Volvo Penta bellows kit

[tangerine]

Hi ,Tight arse Im not, but I understand volvo spares are very expensive. Is it wise to buy pattern stuff. Im after a bellows kit for my AD31dp engines. I guess value for money is one criteria,but not at the expense of safety. Bit of advise from a seasoned forumite would be welcome.

 

[DavidJ]

Many of us here use Keypart and I haven't heard a bad word said. However on advice also from this forum I've started to use Aquapart and have found them very good with a great website and more competitive than Keypart.

 

[Chris_d]

I don't think anything Volvo make is actualy that high quality, they do afterall tell you to change bellows every two years and they are definately not as good quality as other makes of drive bellows i've used. The pattern parts from Keypart and Aquapart are of equal quality, however having said that I bought the Volvo ones as the price difference was only a fiver or so.

 

[Peanuts]

The bellows kit that Keypart supply is the genuine Volvo one but at a cheaper price. The last price I paid (21/10/08) was 20.60 (+VAT if applicable).

 

[Chris_d]

Thats the price I paid from Volvo, think they were doing a post boat show discount or something /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
The bellows kit that Keypart supply is the genuine Volvo one but at a cheaper price. The last price I paid (21/10/08) was 20.60 (+VAT if applicable).

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you sure of this? The bellows I bought from Keypart were significantly stiffer and thicker than the genuine Volvo and quite tricky to fit.

 

[smileygirl]

I now have a boat with the same engine/leg. Is changing the bellows a DIY job or do you need special tools ??
cheers

 

[Peanuts]

Until a couple of years ago Keypart supplied another make of bellows, as you mention thicker than the Volvo one, if fact Volvo took the manufactures to court in sweden and the lab reports came back with the pattern one's being stronger! However the main problem was the stainless clips, they didn't last a year in the water, well not in CQ in Poole. That's why they now supply the VP ones which do last the year.

 

[Nigelhg]

no special tools required....about 1 hour per leg if you've done it before

 

[jparham]

I want to second the problem with the stainless jubilee clips with Keyparts pattern parts. I bought volvo equivs bellows for the UJ and no probs with the clips, but pattern part for the exhausts I completely agree the clips lasted less than 12 months......

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Is changing the bellows a DIY job or do you need special tools ??
cheers

[/ QUOTE ]
Have a search for posts by DAKA he has a link called "lazy gits search engine" you'll find a detailed account of how to do the job without having to take the really heavy leg off.

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
That's why they now supply the VP ones which do last the year.

[/ QUOTE ]
Excellent information...thanks!

 

[oldgit]

Think I would allow a little more than an hour to do the job,perhaps a morning would be more like it and if you also intend cleaning and antifouling a day or two is quite possible what with waiting for paint coats to dry etc.

 

[Pendana]

If it's an annual service, you should really take the leg off, it's not difficult, this will then allow you to clean and antifoul the transom shield.

Eddie

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
If it's an annual service, you should really take the leg off, it's not difficult,


[/ QUOTE ]
I've done it once and I thought it was really heavy.....but depend what you're made of I guess /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Pendana]

Agree, it's heavy and really a two man operation, but straight forward with the most basic of tools.

Eddie