Volvo TAMD63P with mechanical controls

[Whitelighter]

I've only ever experienced 63p engines with the electronic throttles. Where a boat has mechanical throttle/shift is it possible to retrofit the electronic ones?

I assume engines are still a version if EDC?

 

[kashurst]

the 63p has no electronics on it - you would have to fit a motorised throttle kit.

 

[rafiki_]

My boat has mechanical engines, but the ZF electronic controllers. Works very well.

 

[Whitelighter]

Ok. So I think the standard vp system is electronic actuation of a mechanical throttle/gear/hit using the classic black ball on silver arm shifter?

 

[Bandit]

I had a boat with 63Ps and mechanical controls a twin with fly bridge, quite clunky and heavy controls.

Current boat fly bridge with twin 63Ps and EC vp's own electric controls , very light and smooth.

ECs may not now be available but Vetus do a control unit.

 

[IDAMAY]

I had three Sealines with 63P engines (all of which BTW were super reliable). The first two had manual controls, the third (F42/5) had Morse electronic controls. However, they actuated the throttle/gearbox linkages so were not quite as instant in operation as full scale electronic controls. Still nice to handle though and the slight delay never gave me a problem at the helm.

 

[andy59]

Not sure but these may be an option , http://www.controlmastersinc.com/microcommander.htm

 

[Elessar]

I've only ever experienced 63p engines with the electronic throttles. Where a boat has mechanical throttle/shift is it possible to retrofit the electronic ones?

I assume engines are still a version if EDC?

£6k will sort it.

 

[andy59]

Is that for Volvo kit or something else Elessar ?

 

[Elessar]

Is that for Volvo kit or something else Elessar ?

Glendinning do a good quality retrofit solution

 

[Whitelighter]

£6k will sort it.

Mechanical controls it is then

 

[Elessar]

exactly. It is like power steering in a car, once upon a time it felt weird. Now it feels weird to drive a car without. Same with electronic controls, they have become the norm now. But actually there is nothing wrong with well maintained mechanical controls, and the lack of delay going into gear is a bonus.

Some people say there is too much to go wrong with electronic controls, but I don't subscribe to that, I would love them, but not enough to pay to retrofit.

As it happens I had an EDC bavaria fail stuck in gear yesterday. In close quarters too. But I have still had more failures on mechanicals than EDCs. At 2-1 now so ultimately they are reliable things.

 

[Whitelighter]

exactly. It is like power steering in a car, once upon a time it felt weird. Now it feels weird to drive a car without. Same with electronic controls, they have become the norm now. But actually there is nothing wrong with well maintained mechanical controls, and the lack of delay going into gear is a bonus.

Some people say there is too much to go wrong with electronic controls, but I don't subscribe to that, I would love them, but not enough to pay to retrofit.

As it happens I had an EDC bavaria fail stuck in gear yesterday. In close quarters too. But I have still had more failures on mechanicals than EDCs. At 2-1 now so ultimately they are reliable things.

Broke the Bank?

 

[Rickard]

I have never owned a boat with electric controls but have driven a lot of boats who have.
I do like how smooth it is to shift but I don´t like the delay in the system. My feeling is that I get more accuracy with manuals. Feels better when docking if it´s for example is windy so you need to use some throttle

 

[Bandit]

Tamd 63p's are about as Bullet proof as you can get.

EC controls have built in lag which you can adjust but the lag is there so you don't go from 3000rpm ahead to 3000rpm astern in one second or your gearbox will ingest itself and damage the engine as well.

On a flybridge with normal twin station even with new controls and cables they are very clunky and rely on the friction of the other unit to operate.

One thing to look out for on the normal IIRC HS 63 gear boxes is there is a little quadrant with a plunger below it that pushes a ball bearing into one of three holes: ahead, neutral or astern. This is to give three definite positions so the gear box does not creep into gear or slip out of gear and destroy the clutch. From time to time these need to be removed and greased or if worn replaced, not expensive but essential if you don't want a problem. Been there, done that got the T shirt!

 

[volvopaul]

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Tamd 63p's are about as Bullet proof as you can get.

EC controls have built in lag which you can adjust but the lag is there so you don't go from 3000rpm ahead to 3000rpm astern in one second or your gearbox will ingest itself and damage the engine as well.

On a flybridge with normal twin station even with new controls and cables they are very clunky and rely on the friction of the other unit to operate.

One thing to look out for on the normal IIRC HS 63 gear boxes is there is a little quadrant with a plunger below it that pushes a ball bearing into one of three holes: ahead, neutral or astern. This is to give three definite positions so the gear box does not creep into gear or slip out of gear and destroy the clutch. From time to time these need to be removed and greased or if worn replaced, not expensive but essential if you don't want a problem. Been there, done that got the T shirt!

It's a zf IRM 220 on the back of the 63p unless the twin disc was specified at order point . The HS 63 in my view judging by how many ive repaired in past years isn't any where as good, a cheap box in my view .

 

[Bandit]

Mine are 220 ae iirc. I must double check.

 

[Rickard]

Maybe I fall in love in the electronics the day I have them on my own boat and really gets used to them