Volvo Penta D1-30 Rubber Cushions - any alternative ?

[kostasc]

Originally Posted by wotdoino

Hi Kostasc, have you been able to give the Vetus a try yet? Also, how easy were they to fit?

Hi,
Vetus cushions tested at dry (not at sea yet) and performed fine. Except at the engine start and stop, no other vibrations .As expected.
In order to fit them, i've installed new iron base plate with a 10mm thick, 8cm wide base to accommodate them at the right place.
In a few days hopefully i'll test them at the sea, so i 'll post my impressions.

[Newf1]

Originally Posted by kostasc

Hi,
Vetus cushions tested at dry (not at sea yet) and performed fine. Except at the engine start and stop, no other vibrations .As expected.
In order to fit them, i've installed new iron base plate with a 10mm thick, 8cm wide base to accommodate them at the right place.
In a few days hopefully i'll test them at the sea, so i 'll post my impressions.

Hi kostasc,, Any update from your "sea run"? I'm getting close to needing another set and do not want to use the cast aluminum style if I don't have too. Did you notice a difference in engine or hull vibration between the two sets when idling or in gear but at low RPM's (850-1100) ??? I would like to reduce my engine vibration in this rpm range as I'm trolling most of the time but do not want to increase the vibration felt through the hull. Not sure that's even possible but one can always hope.

[kostasc]

Hi. I don't have a good comparison with old ones as when i bought the boat, they where already broken.
But, I see no problems and any serious vibrations at low rpms. Surely is more in low rev than high, but something that cushions can equalize in a very acceptable level.

If I had to decide without taking in account the cost, I would buy the original ones. They seem to me softer and it's like the engine flowing on there rather sitting on rubber.

If there is any other help or test I can do, please ask freely as it would be quite easy for me the next days.

Originally Posted by Newf1

Hi kostasc,, Any update from your "sea run"? I'm getting close to needing another set and do not want to use the cast aluminum style if I don't have too. Did you notice a difference in engine or hull vibration between the two sets when idling or in gear but at low RPM's (850-1100) ??? I would like to reduce my engine vibration in this rpm range as I'm trolling most of the time but do not want to increase the vibration felt through the hull. Not sure that's even possible but one can always hope.

[Newf1]

Originally Posted by kostasc

Hi. I don't have a good comparison with old ones as when i bought the boat, they where already broken.
But, I see no problems and any serious vibrations at low rpms. Surely is more in low rev than high, but something that cushions can equalize in a very acceptable level.

If I had to decide without taking in account the cost, I would buy the original ones. They seem to me softer and it's like the engine flowing on there rather sitting on rubber.

If there is any other help or test I can do, please ask freely as it would be quite easy for me the next days.

Thanks kostasc. The type I have is definitely softer. Due to the design of the mount and with the higher engine vibration at low rpm's, the rubber tears away from the top of the casting and crack growth in the rubber continues to a point when it needs replacing. At $900 CDN they are not cheap.

Also, thanks for the offer for further checks but nothing that I can think of.

[Searles]

Here in oz ,we have poly flex mounts for all engines petrol ,diesel, electric ,unbeatable customer service ,plus drive savers i.e flexible couplings ,having used these products for commercial and pleasure craft of all hp and tonnage ,I as a professional shipwright boatbuilder have used these units over 35 yrs .ps I have commercial or professional ties with poly flex .

[Searles]

Ps should read that I have NO ties with poly flex

[Newf1]

Originally Posted by Searles

Here in oz ,we have poly flex mounts for all engines petrol ,diesel, electric ,unbeatable customer service ,plus drive savers i.e flexible couplings ,having used these products for commercial and pleasure craft of all hp and tonnage ,I as a professional shipwright boatbuilder have used these units over 35 yrs .ps I have commercial or professional ties with poly flex .

Thanks Searles

I am currently checking out Isoflex mounts but will give these a look as well.

[kostasc]

Originally Posted by Newf1

Thanks kostasc. The type I have is definitely softer. Due to the design of the mount and with the higher engine vibration at low rpm's, the rubber tears away from the top of the casting and crack growth in the rubber continues to a point when it needs replacing. At $900 CDN they are not cheap.

Also, thanks for the offer for further checks but nothing that I can think of.

Hi Newf1,
The rubber cushions i used is Vetus KSTEUN50, for engines with weight no more than 50kg per mounting.
As i've seen in vetus shop, a similar engine to D1-30F (135kg) they where with the softer KSTEUN40 with weight no more than 40kg per mounting (and seemed very flexible). But seller insisted to use KSTEUN50 as the proper one.

If the Vetus cushions suit on the same holes, why not try them.
price was about 55euro each

[f4tyogi]

Originally Posted by Searles

Here in oz ,we have poly flex mounts for all engines petrol ,diesel, electric ,unbeatable customer service ,plus drive savers i.e flexible couplings ,having used these products for commercial and pleasure craft of all hp and tonnage ,I as a professional shipwright boatbuilder have used these units over 35 yrs .ps I have commercial or professional ties with poly flex .

Thank you Searles, I also heard good stories about them. Since you have probably used hundreds of them, which one of the Polyflex mounts is a direct replacement of the Volvo #3888806 cushions?

[f4tyogi]

Originally Posted by kostasc

Hi Newf1,
The rubber cushions i used is Vetus KSTEUN50, for engines with weight no more than 50kg per mounting. If the Vetus cushions suit on the same holes, why not try them.

Hi kostac, did you try the Vetus ones? How did it go?

[Searles]

E mail pollyflex with the part no ,they will tell you there direct replacement for those parts ,verry good and prompt service in my experience .⛵️⚓️

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by coastalexplorer

simplest answer....


R&D Marine Ltd.
Meadow Works
Clothall Road
Baldock
Herts
SG7 6PD
England
Telephone: +44 (0)1462 892391 Fax: +44 (0)1462 896448

Only if on U.K. after Brexit U.K. suppliers are largely useless

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Suliwar

Last winter we had to replace the engine-mounts of our 40year old 55HP Volvo Penta engine, and bought commercial off-the-shelf mounts for totally 70Euro. The new ones worked perfectly this year, better than the original ones. Criteria for selecting engine-mounts: 1) mechanical compatibility (distance between mounting bolts in the baseplate, height between engine bracket and mounting base, possibly adjustable, upper bolt-diameter). 2) Static weight rating needs to be more than the engine-weight divided by the number of mounts. 3) the softer the better.
Larger height adjustments should be done by adding a distance plate below the new engine-mounts, rather than above at the engine bracket (to reduce leverage).

Where pray tell did you get these mounts

[frajolex]

I have a D1-20 and I just replaced the engine cushions. That was the biggest ripoff ever. paid CAD$1200 for 4. I will never, EVER buy this again.

There are similar aftermarket that I will for sure use next time... I did follow some recommendations here in the forum, and also did my own research... the following ones are very promising:

https://webshop.vetus.com/en/product...us-flex-engine

or

https://isoflextech.com/products/eng...machinery/210/

The isoflex one lists my engine (D1-20) and yours (D1-30) officially in their page. However, the bolt distance is shorter! be careful!

[f4tyogi]

Did you go for the original mounts once again? Gosh they are a pain for sure, especially at this price.

I am choosing between Polyflex (made in Brisbane) and Isoflex. The Polyflex P#7.5CTF73-20-16(shore 60) is the mount they recommend, and the distance between the bolts is also 140, which is easy. The cost for 4 mounts is just over 1000AUD, which is about the same as you paid for the Volvos.

A similar sized mount from Isoflex falls into the next category up and costs twice the price of the Polyflex one. I reached out to Isoflex to see if I can get a better deal, however I doubt it.