Question w/ Reliability of Certain Marine Engines

[neilpride]

Volvos? very very expensive, the green virus!! parts here cost as double or triple compared with yanmars spare parts, if you choose a volvo ofiial dealer or site, thats the case of a normal impeller, if he come from a volvo box , it cost 50 or 60 , if you buy the Jabsco one, 20. Just figurate....

[NCboatrx]

Originally Posted by Vasco

The 20 series (2030 etc.) followed the 2000 series (2001 etc.). I think they got the 20 series from Perkins and the blocks were Kubota. The 2000 series were all Volvo.

Volvo do not use Kubota engines. The engines that replaced the 2000 series have all been made by ISM Shibaru which also has a joint venture with Perkins. Please do not associate Kubota with these things.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Vasco

The 20 series (2030 etc.) followed the 2000 series (2001 etc.). I think they got the 20 series from Perkins and the blocks were Kubota. The 2000 series were all Volvo.

I am not sure there are any Volvo blocks. Volvo never (?) made their own.

As you said, Perkins, Kubota, etc.

b.

[colemj]

The Volvo 20xx series are a completely different beast than the 200x series. The 200x were made by Volvo and have a history of problems, although many seem to run fine.

The 20xx series are made by Perkins and are identical to their Perama Mxx series. They are not Kubota blocks.

Parts for the Volvo 20xx engines can be sourced through Perkins for half the price of Volvo. Anywhere that Perkins parts are sold, you can get parts for the Volvo 20xx.

But not the 200x engines, which was the OP's engine.

In several threads in the past, I have posted price lists for parts from competing Volvo and Yanmar engines. There is no overall difference in prices, although specific parts are priced differently.

But people like their unexamined beliefs, so you will hear the pricing argument over and over.

As for availability, almost no one is warehousing parts anymore - the costs are prohibitive. The old saw of looking at your cruising grounds and buying diesels/outboards based on part availability no longer holds water (or won't for long). Dealers/suppliers now simply order parts as needed and having them shipped in. Maybe if you have the newest and most popular model of an engine, but not for older ones.

For example, we recently brought back a carburetor jet from the US for a friend's Yamaha Enduro 15 outboard because he could not source one in Panama. All the dealers told him they would order it and he could have it in 2-3 weeks. And that is the engine EVERYONE KNOWS you absolutely have to buy if you plan to cruise because parts are available everywhere.

Mark