Need feedback for 10hp Volvo.

[goodbasil]

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/boa/893949210.html

I posted this earlier for anyone who is interested. Now I'm thinking of going for it.
Has anyone ever owned one and can tell me the pros and cons?
Vibration, noise, reliablity etc, etc.

[Thad]

I had one and rather liked it. Some vibration, heavy but not high speed vibration. Sort of noisy but of the putt-putt sort. I got water in the oil from the boat pitching at the mooring in stormy conditions and gave up on the engine, but until then all the problems had turned out to be minor and easy. Burned about 1/4 gal/hour. Had been in SEA HARMONY for 30 years.

[Larks]

Before you go ahead it may pay to take the serial number and check on parts availability, both for basic servicing and repairs. I've had trouble matching Volvo serial numbers with basic parts in the past - for a couple of different Volvo marine engines.

[Oyvind Snibsoer]

I have a slightly larger brother in my boat, an MD7A, new in '79. It starts and runs reliably, but leaks a lot of oil which makes for a rather messy bilge - apart from the environmental concerns. Also lots of soot in the exhaust, but that may perhaps be fixed when/if I have the injectors overhauled.

Parts are becoming scarce for these old Volvos, and some standard gaskets are no longer available. Especially if it's been raw water cooled, like mine, I wouldn't sink too much money into it. Considering replacing my unit next year with a new Solé 16hp that will fit right onto the Volvo saildrive and mounts.

If I could have fitted an old Sabb 10hp into my boat, that would have been my choice if I were to go for an old engine. They are as solid as they come, and the company really stands by their old stuff. Last year they replaced, free of charge, an old engine that had run for an amazing 95 000 trouble free hours in a small harbor ferry!!! They replaced it with a factory refurbished engine of the same model.

[PeterSibley]

. Last year they replaced, free of charge, an old engine that had run for an amazing 95 000 trouble free hours in a small harbor ferry!!! They replaced it with a factory refurbished engine of the same model.

Impressive !! I think I have seen similar life from a P2 Kelvin , also in a small ferry .A good life for a small diesel ,always at working temperature .

[Popeye]

i had the MD1A

it ran great , parts are expensive

[farwesthoops]

As others have already pointed out, be aware of the extreme difficulty of getting parts and then, once finding them, of affording them. I married an MD3B for a dozen years and evidently didn't learn a thing as I was given a free MD1B, non-working of course...and took it. There was a thread a year or two ago on replacement parts for these 1 cyl Volvos..I recall a gasket kit being 3.5 times the purchase price of this engine you are looking at...mind boggling if you ever have to fix them. They are good until they have to be repaired...regards.