Victoria Shadow Association Members' Forum

Leon_Ferguson

Member

Registered: 2004-03-18

Posts: 56

Beta 16 for a Victoria 800

Hi All.  I know there have been quite a few posts about reengining with a Beta 16, but wonder if anyone has done this with a Victoria 800, replacing the Volvo MD2010 that were fitted on the Vic 800 ?   My engineer who has fitted quite a  few Beta has confirmed on lifting out the 2010 that it has an angled gearbox as he suspected from looking at the boat.  The Beta 16 only comes with a TM60 with an angle, so is slightly longer, some 59mm than the Beta 16 with the TM40 but still some 13mm shorter than the Volvo 2010 overall.  656 on the Beta 15 as opposed to 669 on the Volvo.  Beta are surprised I need the angled gearbox, but they have mainly supplied to owners reengining on Frances 26 and Victoria 26 so I'm wondering if they changed the  aft hull section  on the 800 ?  I'm  not at all technical, but am trying to find as much info as possible to assist the chap who is fitting it.

Simon_Dewing

Member

From: Torquay / Texas

Registered: 2022-08-04

Posts: 62

Re: Beta 16 for a Victoria 800

Leon,

The prop shaft in the Frances has a tilt to it of some 10-15 degrees, as does the engine on the beds with as you observed a straight gearbox. I believe the Yanmars were similarly tilted as Mithrils engine beds have not been adjusted.

The Beta 16 seems to work fine like this, critical thing is probably the position of the oil pick up in the sump so it does not suck in
air. The engine specs should tell you the maximum recommended tilt. I have not checked the manual in sufficient detail to understand the maximum.

You can see the tilt in the photo below.

.

I would be surprised if the V800 shaft is any different, although the engine beds may have been adjusted for the volvo in which case a tapered  packing piece might be needed to use a straight gearbox.

I can't find a similar photo of an 800 out of the water to compare.

V30's have even more of a tilt some 30 degrees (and the yanmar manuals recommend a maximum of 25 degrees) but they still have straight gearboxes so maybe not entirely critical if the pick up is central or to the rear of the engine.

Simon

Leon_Ferguson

Member

Registered: 2004-03-18

Posts: 56

Re: Beta 16 for a Victoria 800

Thanks Simon that's really useful to know.  The angled TM60 gearbox is actually slightly shorter than the straight TM60, but the TM 40, which doesn't come with an angled gearbox is of course shorter.   The Volvo 2010 is 669 long and the Beta 16 with the angled gearbox is   656 so it may not be an issue after all.  Hugh my boatwright was more concerned about the feet of the Volvo not sitting flat on the glass bearers, there is a slight over hang, so we're looking at what can be done with the Beta.  I'm just heading down to the boat so will take some pics of the prop angle etc.

Simon_Dewing

Member

From: Torquay / Texas

Registered: 2022-08-04

Posts: 62

Re: Beta 16 for a Victoria 800

No problem, I actually looked at the photo's of the 800 that's for sale in Plymouth.
Based on an eyeball comparison prop shafts have the same angle but the cutlass bearing is inset on the 800 and the aperture in the keel has been reshaped.
That one appears to have a late model Yanmar with a straight gearbox and the 10-15 degree down angle on the engine.

I am away working at the moment so can't be much help with any measurements etc. for the Beta from Mithril.
There is actually another west country based member about to re-engine his Frances and likely visiting Mithril to measure and look at the parts needed for the installation later this month.
He may chime in and help with any information he gleans. 

As my installation was done at the behest of a previous owner I am a little less familiar with the details than I would be had I done it myself.

Simon

Leon_Ferguson

Member

Registered: 2004-03-18

Posts: 56

Re: Beta 16 for a Victoria 800

Hi Simon.  Spent ages on the boat yesterday with Hugh, the chap fitting it. he's fitted around 25 Betas of varying sizes and is also an excellent all round boatwright.  The new bowsprit on Thalia is a thing of beauty.  Once he's fitted it the local Beta agent who is also a tugboat skipper commissions it.   Hugh has wooden blocks which he'd put in place, complete with the shallow sump.  The tilt would be sharp if we went for the straight gearbox, so going for the angled. The engine beds will have to be modified  as the rear feet will hang off the current beds, so it will need to be pulled forward or the bed extended.  Pulling it forward means even the shallow sump will not clear the forward edge that forms a tray under the engine sufficiently, but he thinks chamfering the glassfibre at an angle will be the solution.  I have a PSS seal which is quite long as as we have to add in the the flexible coupling, the Volvo doesn't have one, we might need the extra length. I can take some better pics now the engine is out if anyone is interested.