Volvo 120SE to 130 saildrive conversion

[Jeffatoms]

We own a 1998 38 Ocean and are at odds with the yard that completed a "full saildrive rebuild" 2 years ago that has failed spectacularly, disabling our boat.  The original yard wants to replace the 120SE saildrive with a 130.  No one at Volvo is aware that there is a path but the yard says they think it's as simple as an adapter kit.   Considering what they appear to already have done to wreck us, we too are doubtful but as our boat doesn't work in its present state we have to do something.  Another yard will be doing the repair.

Has anyone in the Bavaria family successfully replaced a 120 with a 130 saildrive on an MD22L engine?  If so, do you have a parts list?  Are you happy you did it or would you recommend a full repower?

Thanks much!
Jeff & Sue
S/V Zephyrus

[geoff]

Jeff, I have just rebuilt the saildrive  120se on my ocean 40. I have a complete gear section available if you feel that you can trust somebody to do the work. The only tricky bit is the split ring fixing which failed so badly for you . The only fault with my spare unit is the cone clutch [volvo call it a sliding bush] is worn . If your old unit was changing gear ok yours is probably ok. A simple swap of the cone clutch would produce a cheap result. You can check your by removing the four bolts on top of the casing, removing the part they hold down then lifting and twisting the bronze cone clutch off the shaft. If it is of help the gear section is £100 + postage which will not be cheap. Geoff

[Symphony]

The 120 and 130 are physically totally interchangeable - I had it done on my 37 in 2011. however you need to ensure that the replacement is a S -B or SR-B which has the same reduction ratio as the 120SE. I am surprised that your Volvo dealer is not aware as I remember there was a service bulletin issued st the time (around 2006/7) when the 120 was discontinued. This would have listed the correct model of the 130/150 design to suit your engine. Sorry don't have the reference but remember going through it with the dealer that did mine.

[blue bear]

The original 120 drive on my 38 Ocean was replaced with the 130. It had sat for years and the drive corroded away. Can't offer much detail about the install, other than it appears to be a straight bolt on. So it can be done. The 130 ratio is 2.2, I'm not sure what was original.

[Symphony]

The original was virtually the same.