I apologize in advance as this might be long. I posted a couple of months ago about shifting issues. My gut feeling is that after 1200 hours it is just time to replace the clutch. I have a couple of issues so I will address them individually. One question is making sure I have the right mechanic to do the job or even changing it myself and the other concerns what parts I really need.
Lets first address the mechanic. This mechanic (I will not name the company here/now) worked for me years ago and I was thrilled with his work. At that time he had an independant shop that did much work for the local Chaparral dealer and was in a building adjacent to the Chap dealer. I also think that at that time he was a certified Volvo guy, but I am not certain. He did a couple of things and was thorough and I thought nothing but good things about him. That was 3 or 4 years ago. He moved his shop and I found him - now operating behind a local used boat broker on the other side of the lake. I made contact with him and arranged from a friend to borrow his truck to move my boat (I no longer have a tow vehicle - which is a real PITA). Anyway I took the boat to him over 4 weeks ago. Mechanic said he would tell me the part number so I could get the part as he is not a VP repair facility. I have called him about once a week to check progress and get the number. He has told me for the last 3 weeks that he was having trouble getting the new VP part number. This just didn't make sense to me. Today, I was not far away so I went by there at about 3:30. I spoke with his sidekick as the mechanic is not due back until Tuesday. I wanted to get the serial number so I could see how difficult it was to get the part number.
The good - once I got the serial number I called VP's customer service and they gave me the number for the clutch in about 10 minutes. Not 3+ weeks - 10 minutes.
The bad - I have always been fanatical about where and how my boat is kept. Always in a shed and covered. I knew it would be exposed to the elements (with a cover I just bought about 3 months ago). When I arrived today my boat had about 20 gallons of water in the front of the cover and at least 100 gallons in the back. Outdrive kind of backed into a hill - not damaged but skeg maybe 1" in the dirt. Cover is stretched. We pumped out the standing water using a bilge pump rigged for the purpose. Pulled back the cover everything inside the boat is mildewed. Granted - I can clean it but it was horrible. All white interior. Even my hat in the driver's seat covered in mildew. I was pissed!! I have never let it get like this.
What would you do? I get the feeling he just doesn't even want to fix it. My confidence is shaken. I want it fixed ASAP and put back where I keep it. Don't forget, I don't have a tow vehicle to keep moving it around.
Now let's talk about what it needs. I was told by mechanic it needs a clutch. Marguret at VP (wonderful customer service rep) said the part I need is the Sliding Sleeve (original part #814601). She said that was changed to #3855783 and this was changed again to current part #3807613. I was also told that somewhere along the way in the part number changes that now you have to change another part (Shift Shoe #3856502). This is because the old Shoe does not work with the new Sliding Sleeve. Does this make sense? COULD THIS BE A DO-IT-YOURSELF JOB?
Bottom line. Should I let the mechanic I have do the job? Yes or find another or tackle it on my own.
Do the parts I mention sound like the right thing?
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
Lets first address the mechanic. This mechanic (I will not name the company here/now) worked for me years ago and I was thrilled with his work. At that time he had an independant shop that did much work for the local Chaparral dealer and was in a building adjacent to the Chap dealer. I also think that at that time he was a certified Volvo guy, but I am not certain. He did a couple of things and was thorough and I thought nothing but good things about him. That was 3 or 4 years ago. He moved his shop and I found him - now operating behind a local used boat broker on the other side of the lake. I made contact with him and arranged from a friend to borrow his truck to move my boat (I no longer have a tow vehicle - which is a real PITA). Anyway I took the boat to him over 4 weeks ago. Mechanic said he would tell me the part number so I could get the part as he is not a VP repair facility. I have called him about once a week to check progress and get the number. He has told me for the last 3 weeks that he was having trouble getting the new VP part number. This just didn't make sense to me. Today, I was not far away so I went by there at about 3:30. I spoke with his sidekick as the mechanic is not due back until Tuesday. I wanted to get the serial number so I could see how difficult it was to get the part number.
The good - once I got the serial number I called VP's customer service and they gave me the number for the clutch in about 10 minutes. Not 3+ weeks - 10 minutes.
The bad - I have always been fanatical about where and how my boat is kept. Always in a shed and covered. I knew it would be exposed to the elements (with a cover I just bought about 3 months ago). When I arrived today my boat had about 20 gallons of water in the front of the cover and at least 100 gallons in the back. Outdrive kind of backed into a hill - not damaged but skeg maybe 1" in the dirt. Cover is stretched. We pumped out the standing water using a bilge pump rigged for the purpose. Pulled back the cover everything inside the boat is mildewed. Granted - I can clean it but it was horrible. All white interior. Even my hat in the driver's seat covered in mildew. I was pissed!! I have never let it get like this.
What would you do? I get the feeling he just doesn't even want to fix it. My confidence is shaken. I want it fixed ASAP and put back where I keep it. Don't forget, I don't have a tow vehicle to keep moving it around.
Now let's talk about what it needs. I was told by mechanic it needs a clutch. Marguret at VP (wonderful customer service rep) said the part I need is the Sliding Sleeve (original part #814601). She said that was changed to #3855783 and this was changed again to current part #3807613. I was also told that somewhere along the way in the part number changes that now you have to change another part (Shift Shoe #3856502). This is because the old Shoe does not work with the new Sliding Sleeve. Does this make sense? COULD THIS BE A DO-IT-YOURSELF JOB?
Bottom line. Should I let the mechanic I have do the job? Yes or find another or tackle it on my own.
Do the parts I mention sound like the right thing?
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.