Yanmar SD40 & SD50 "slipping" Saildrive Upgrade

[Jon Hacking]

A very interesting thread - thank you all.

We have Yanmar 4JH2 engines (c1995, 48hp) & SD31 saildrives. At 8,300 hours, the SD input shaft seals (& bearings) from the engines both let go, a bit of a cow of a job to replace. But they've been pretty trouble free otherwise, aside from one prop shaft dying. I fitted header tanks for the oil in 2008 & they've been wonderful. Changed the propshaft seals a few times, & replaced all the top-end bearings when I did the input shaft seals & bearings. But I usually only change the oil when we haul, which has usually only been every 3 years or so.

But it's also getting to be time to think about replacing both engines & saildrives, so this talk of poor quality in the newer products is ... disturbing. The new 4JH engines are more powerful, probably more powerful than we need, as we don't really use more than 2,000rpm even now (& that's not good for the engines). 40hp would probably be fine.

But I'm also wondering what SDs to get? Do the SD60s have the reliability issues of the SD40 & 50? What kind of clutch do they use?

Anyone have any suggestions for a reliable engine/SD setup? We're live-aboard cruisers, currently in SE Asia. In the last year we've added almost 400 hours to each engine (not much wind in PNG & the Solomons).

TIA!

[more]

Originally Posted by ChrisseH

By-the-way, what is the material of Volvo's clutch cone? The same as in SD50?

volvo don't have cone clutch(except for older saildrive before 2000 depend the model)
Volvo penta have clutch plate,very expensive ,tool for asambling very expensive, skill needed very high.
we charge for this exchange 2000-3000€ sometime more. under 2000€ not possible exchange because clutch kit lamel cost 1400€,best is aftermarket kit make in GB london. and in saildrive don't go ATF oil. regular oil go in engine go in saildrive,depend location different oil.But for Mediteran best is Shell rimula R4 15-40