Volvo Penta gearbox/engine problem

T

The Madhatter

New Member
Joined
19 Jun 2010
Messages
18
Visit site
Hi all,

I have a volvo penta MD17D with a gearbox marked MSx but been told it is an MSB either way it is water cooled.

I am having trouble getting into forward and reverse gear and when further investigated had no oil in it. (Have just bought it)

I have had a ring around today and the general feeling is the sliding clutch sleeve has probably worn and causing the problem (it only started to misbehave the last time out)

Having spoken to Key part today I'm told the sleeve and 2 gears are somewhere close to £1000 without seals or anything else......:( and then gotta do it..........

Someone said that the MD2/3 and MD 17 A/B and C could all potentially have the same gearbox which points down slightly to suit the prop shaft (single screw and rudder) but not sure?

Does anyone have any advice or help they may be able to offer as I am at a lose with this...

Any help appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Just to clarify.

You are having difficulty operating the selector?
That all operates Ok but the drive slips?
 
VicS said:
Just to clarify.

You are having difficulty operating the selector?
That all operates Ok but the drive slips?
Click to expand...

No, the selector is having to move a long way to engage a gear and if done from the control lever means she is revving high......I have taken the control cable off and done it manually at the lever where it enters the gearbox and it is still having to travel a long way to engage forward or reverse.
 
It does sound as though the sleeve is probably worn and possibly the gears.
The marine parts express website shows the gears as coming as a set complete with the input shaft as well ... for over €1600 and another €500 for the sleeve.

Without stripping it down it is impossible to say what else might also be worn. If t has been run for long with no oil then it could be in a sorry state on the other hand if the oil level was only just off the bottom of the dipstick there may not be very much wrong at all.

I wonder if it is worth removing the sector shaft assembly and checking that ... just in the vain hope that the problem might be something cheaper to fix.

I am wondering if the fact that both forward and reverse are equally affected should be telling us something. Why would the engagement of reverse be affected so much?

It could be come so expensive that the only sensible option is a second-hand box.

There must be dozens of the MD11 and MD17 engines that have been removed but which still have serviceable MS gearboxes.

No I would not think a heavier oil would be any help. But there may not be anything to lose by trying a complete refill with EP 90.
 
Last edited:
VicS said:
It does sound as though the sleeve is probably worn and possibly the gears.
The marine parts express website shows the gears as coming as a set complete with the input shaft as well ... for over €1600 and another €500 for the sleeve.

Without stripping it down it is impossible to say what else might also be worn. If t has been run for long with no oil then it could be in a sorry state on the other hand if the oil level was only just off the bottom of the dipstick there may not be very much wrong at all.

I wonder if it is worth removing the sector shaft assembly and checking that ... just in the vain hope that the problem might be something cheaper to fix.

I am wondering if the fact that both forward and reverse are equally affected should be telling us something. Why would the engagement of reverse be affected so much?

It could be come so expensive that the only sensible option is a second-hand box.

There must be dozens of the MD11 and MD17 engines that have been removed but which still have serviceable MS gearboxes.

No I would not think a heavier oil would be any help. But there may not be anything to lose by trying a complete refill with EP 90.
Click to expand...

Hi there,
Thanks for the info.............the oil didn't work but i have managed to find a second hand MD2 which looks like it has the same box from the photo??
I will go and look this week, are they easy enough to swap over, anything I should look out for?
Thanks again
 
The Madhatter said:
Hi there,
Thanks for the info.............the oil didn't work but i have managed to find a second hand MD2 which looks like it has the same box from the photo??
I will go and look this week, are they easy enough to swap over, anything I should look out for?
Thanks again
Click to expand...

As far as i know MD2 were not fitted with MS gear boxes. The types that were fitted to MD1B/2B/3B are shown HERE

The boxes fitted to the MD11 and MD17 including the MS2 boxes are shown HERE
 
VicS said:
As far as i know MD2 were not fitted with MS gear boxes. The types that were fitted to MD1B/2B/3B are shown HERE

The boxes fitted to the MD11 and MD17 including the MS2 boxes are shown HERE
Click to expand...


You were correct, when i got down there it was an MD11c and the gearbox was the same as mine...........reasonably simple swap over and we were out to play again on Saturday :)
Thanks for your help and if you know anyone that wants an MD11c I now have one for sale!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top