Volvo Stands Behind MS4A Transmission :-)

[Walt Bilofsky]

It took a while, but Volvo-Penta finally stood behind their product and picked up some of the cost of replacing my MS4A transmissions with HS1’s.

Previous posts by myself and others have discussed the problem with the MS4A transmissions which Volvo used to match with their TAMD41 diesel engines on pleasure boats. The cone clutches glaze over, typically after about 1000 hours. Resulting problems range from a delay going into gear all the way up to having the clutch unit explode through the top of the transmission. This problem was reportedly endemic on sportfishing boats such as Rampage in the early ‘90s, and has been reported in several publications.

When my clutches failed with 900 hours on the engines, I decided to replace the transmissions with the new hydraulic HS1 units, which Volvo apparently now uses with these engines. The HS1 is stronger, shifts smoothly, and is quieter than the MS4A (except at idle where the HS1 has a lot of backlash noise). It would cost as much as three or four clutch replacements, but I plan to keep the boat for a long time so was willing to pay up front to have more reliable transmissions.

I called Volvo Customer Relations (757-436-5100) and asked that they absorb some of the cost, since the MS4's were known lemons. They said they would consider my request but would only work through my dealer. I went ahead with the replacement, which dragged on through five weeks in the shop spread over a couple of months, while my dealer played phone tag with Volvo-Penta.

The repair job and the negotiations ended about the same time, and the happy news was that Volvo provided the transmissions for about half of list price. It still cost me a lot - I paid for half the transmissions and all the labor - but now have better gear that I feel is reliable, and at least Volvo stood behind their product and did not blow me off.

Volvo cautions that they deal with each customer request on a case-by-case basis, and that every case is different.

In my opinion, my dealer, Helmut’s Marine of San Rafael, CA, deserves a lot of credit for making this happen. Helmut is a major Volvo-Penta dealer and maintains close relations with Volvo in the U.S. and Europe. Of course, if you’re not in the San Francisco Bay area, he can’t fix your boat, but he knows a lot of dealers and can probably refer you to a good one in your area. Helmut is hard to get on the phone, but can be reached by email at helmut@helmutsmarine.com.



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[Joe Merenda]

Walt,
I'm glad to hear things went well between you and Volvo! Maybe there's hope for the rest of us as well!
I agree with your comments about reputable dealers being able to make a difference and ultimatly influence outcomes in their customers favor. Your fortunate to have such a dealer nearby.
Good luck with the HS1's and let us know how they perform.
Regards



jmerenda@nassau.cv.net

[Ned Kroeker]

Very timely post for me, just 2 weeks ago I removed the MS4A from my 28 and brought it home, and was about to start the process of choosing a rebuilder. Now, I'll consider the HS1 and in parallel start working through a dealer on the HS1 option.

Have you had any cooling problems with the HS1? Did it plumb into the same cooling connection used by the MS4A? (I ask about cooling since I know of another CD28 that had/still has severe cooling problems...but thought to be an issue with shaft alignment rather than transmission design).

regards,
Ned Kroeker
CD 28 power #190 "Sea Queue"



ekroeker@ma.ultranet.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

Have you had any cooling problems with the HS1? Did it plumb into the same cooling connection used by the MS4A? (I ask about cooling since I know of another CD28 that had/still has severe cooling problems...but thought to be an issue with shaft alignment rather than transmission design).

No cooling problems yet. It might become an issue - my propshafts are either difficult or impossible to rotate by hand.

The plumbing is a little different - the HS1 transmission came with (or was ordered with) an installation kit of parts including some new hoses to the transmission, and a different top cover for the aftercooler with different fittings to accommodate those hoses.

- Walt



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[Tony Raymond]

I went to the New England Boat Show last month. The Marine Insurance agent who I was speaking with about a quote had the same recent experience with Volvo. He had a Rampage with the same setup TAMD41 with an MS4 that failed at 900hrs. He complained through his dealer to Volvo and got the same deal. Upgrade to HS1 and Volvo split the cost. This was on Cape Cod. So, I guess they are doing this nation wide. My problem is that I bought the boat used from private party so I don't have a "dealer" to go back to. Any thoughts on how to approach this without a dealer. Thanks



tonyraymond@digital.com

[Walt Bilofsky]

My problem is that I bought the boat used from private party so I don't have a "dealer" to go back to. Any thoughts on how to approach this without a dealer. Thanks

When I said "dealer" I meant an authorized Volvo dealer. If you can't get satisfaction working through your local Volvo repair place, I suggest you call Volvo's consumer relations (you'll probably talk to Bill Grobes) at 757-436-5100 and ask him whether he can help you with your dealer, or suggest a more responsive dealer in your area. Don't expect instant answers - Bill is cautious and probably wants to negotiate through a dealer, not directly - but that is how I got my deal.

Or you can try emailing my Volvo dealer, Helmut, at helmut@helmutsmarine.com and ask if he can suggest a local Volvo dealer to you.



bilofsky@toolworks.com