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Post by Tafika II on Feb 8, 2017 19:26:35 GMT
Has anyone install one of these devices on their engine? If so, please comment on your experience, ease of installations and results. Thanks!
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Post by MalcolmP on Feb 8, 2017 19:55:51 GMT
Good timing Brent ;-)
Just got one and will do install in April.
there is a somewhat lengthy but seemingly unbiased video review here:
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Post by Tafika II on Feb 8, 2017 23:35:16 GMT
Yes, I follow SV Prism...He should have received a free one of this endorsement!
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Post by vasko on Feb 9, 2017 0:13:13 GMT
sound very interesting...
what is the price ? and I'm curious if I can fit one on my volvo=penta 2003 ...
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Post by Tafika II on Feb 9, 2017 1:10:38 GMT
Around $500
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Post by ianqv on Feb 10, 2017 7:16:08 GMT
Hi All,
Yes I fitted one of these 2 seasons ago.
I've had no trouble with it.
Installation was ok, I had to fit a spacer between the gear box and the sigma drive unit (available in many sizes from Ambassador marine).
Best Regards
Ian
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Post by alenka on Feb 10, 2017 8:35:00 GMT
Ian,
Did you feel any benefit? Smoother or more quite?
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Post by ianqv on Feb 15, 2017 7:12:09 GMT
Ian, Did you feel any benefit? Smoother or more quite? Yes - it made a world of difference! Best Regards Ian |
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Post by fakinx on Jun 4, 2018 8:42:38 GMT
Hi all! I've had my volvo seal and cutlass bearing replaced this spring and I'm now stuck with very unpleasant vibrations between 1300 and 1600 RPM. Resonance is so bad somewhere in that area that my whole platform in cockpit vibrates (table and plotter mount aft of the table). I also can feel vibrations under my feet and it's very unpleasant. That wasn't the case before changing cutlass bearing (which had quite some play before replacement). I will have a mechanic on my boat this week to check engine - shaft alignment and expecting some improvement but for long-term solution I'm very fond to try installing SigmaDrive. Since I obliviously can not decouple my shaft before SigmaDrive arrives (I would still like to go sailing, you see...) my question is, which shaft type do I have on my boat? Is it tapered or straight? Yacht is SO 42 DS 2006 with Yanmar 4JH4E (39 kW) and KM35P gearbox. A question for ianqv: Did you install it yourself or sourced to a mechanic? Are you still satisfied after 3 years of use? Any more opinions on SigmaDrive? Calm sea! Borut |
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Post by JEF on Jun 4, 2018 10:12:42 GMT
Hi all
Just waiting for delivery of new SO440 .... now on 6 week countdown.
Moving from sail drive to conventional shaft drive on new yacht I was concerned that a engine mounted on flexible engine mountings is coupled to a fix mounted prop shaft with NO flexible coupling .... from an engineering perspective it dose not make sense.
Therefore I am seriously considering fitting a Sigma drive coupling from day one ... any tips or feedback in fitting would be much appreciated. |
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Post by MalcolmP on Jun 4, 2018 13:00:51 GMT
Have now done 200 hours plus with the sigmadrive, totally delighted. Easy to fit. Bruntons have the shaft specs for most Jeanneaus so will ensure correct fitting. Easy to install once you have wrestled the OEM coupling off.
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Post by JEF on Jun 4, 2018 14:03:35 GMT
Thanks Malcolm
Will contact Daniel @ Bruntons and get tech details and costing delivery etc.... looing like a straight forward job and if possible one I would like do in the commissioning period .
PS Tracking you down the coast of Portugal and watching the Jeanneau yachts taking the ARC Portugal .. fair winds to all. |
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Post by fakinx on Jun 4, 2018 14:18:47 GMT
Thanks Malcolm from me too.
Just received quote from Daniel at Bruntons Propellers for SD 55-30mm with register 2!
410 + 30 GBP delivery, roughly 500 EUR. Delivery 2-3 days.
Order in place.
Nice to have these communities...
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Post by MalcolmP on Jun 4, 2018 17:34:23 GMT
Thanks Malcolm
Will contact Daniel @ Bruntons and get tech details and costing delivery etc.... looing like a straight forward job and if possible one I would like do in the commissioning period .
PS Tracking you down the coast of Portugal and watching the Jeanneau yachts taking the ARC Portugal .. fair winds to all. Only other thing I should have mentioned, you should check your shaft alignment when you disconnect the original coupling, because the sigmadrive moves it is of course harder to check all is aligned and whilst the unit will absorb 3 degree alignment error, it is better to get it as straight as possible in case the bearers gradually compress. On ours I cannot feel any heat build up at all which you might find if the bearings are having to oscillate forward and back significantly. Cruise down the Portuguese coast going well, although not too much breeze we motored half the leg from Fig Foz to Nazare. Weather rather on the cool side too, but hey...very friendly people ashore and in Marina's would recommend. Have not seen much a fleet as of yet, but makes for easy berthing 😀😀 |
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Post by MalcolmP on Jun 4, 2018 17:48:44 GMT
At risk of me being warned by a moderator for straying off topic...😁 thanks Goldfinch for the reminder about the ARC Portugal rally www.worldcruising.com/arc_portugal/arcportugalitinerary.aspxI see with some relief that although we are sailing slowly we should stay ahead of their schedule for the Algarve. The Marina's tend to be pretty small hereabouts, I imagine Peniche will be chaotic when they arrive... |
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Post by ianqv on Jun 5, 2018 11:21:35 GMT
Hi all
Just waiting for delivery of new SO440 .... now on 6 week countdown.
Moving from sail drive to conventional shaft drive on new yacht I was concerned that a engine mounted on flexible engine mountings is coupled to a fix mounted prop shaft with NO flexible coupling .... from an engineering perspective it dose not make sense.
Therefore I am seriously considering fitting a Sigma drive coupling from day one ... any tips or feedback in fitting would be much appreciated. Hi, Well 3 years on..... BRILLIANT!!! I am so pleased I fitted it. Very Easy to fit, depending on your technical ability. Best Regards Ian |
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Post by markclement on Jun 18, 2018 23:41:06 GMT
Have now done 200 hours plus with the sigmadrive, totally delighted. Easy to fit. Bruntons have the shaft specs for most Jeanneaus so will ensure correct fitting. Easy to install once you have wrestled the OEM coupling off. Hi Malcolm and others, I have a 10 month old Jeanneau 51 and I like the idea of the Sigma drive even though at the moment I do not have vibration issues. A few questions if I may please (I have a Yanmar 110HP turbo/ intercooled shaft drive common rail motor). a) do you have to do anything to the the existing shaft when you change out the fixed coupling with the Sigma ? b) I am interpreting the SV Prism video as saying you need to push the shaft further outboard (push the shaft through the wet gland) to fit the Sigma drive in ? c) What did you require to get the OEM coupling off (mine is in good condition and done 200 hrs in 10 months) - does it require a bearing puller type tool or other. Thanks Mark (SV Beyond Cool) |
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Post by markclement on Jun 19, 2018 0:00:53 GMT
Have now done 200 hours plus with the sigmadrive, totally delighted. Easy to fit. Bruntons have the shaft specs for most Jeanneaus so will ensure correct fitting. Easy to install once you have wrestled the OEM coupling off. Hi Malcolm and others, I have a 10 month old Jeanneau 51 and I like the idea of the Sigma drive even though at the moment I do not have vibration issues. A few questions if I may please (I have a Yanmar 110HP turbo/ intercooled shaft drive common rail motor). a) do you have to do anything to the the existing shaft when you change out the fixed coupling with the Sigma ? b) I am interpreting the SV Prism video as saying you need to push the shaft further outboard (push the shaft through the wet gland) to fit the Sigma drive in ? c) What did you require to get the OEM coupling off (mine is in good condition and done 200 hrs in 10 months) - does it require a bearing puller type tool or other. Thanks Mark (SV Beyond Cool) Sorry - forgot one other question. Does it need to ... or preferable to make the changeover when out of the water slipped (we are antifouling in a month) ... or doesn't it matter ? Cheers |
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Post by MalcolmP on Jun 19, 2018 6:25:24 GMT
Hi Malcolm and others, I have a 10 month old Jeanneau 51 and I like the idea of the Sigma drive even though at the moment I do not have vibration issues. A few questions if I may please (I have a Yanmar 110HP turbo/ intercooled shaft drive common rail motor). a) do you have to do anything to the the existing shaft when you change out the fixed coupling with the Sigma ? b) I am interpreting the SV Prism video as saying you need to push the shaft further outboard (push the shaft through the wet gland) to fit the Sigma drive in ? c) What did you require to get the OEM coupling off (mine is in good condition and done 200 hrs in 10 months) - does it require a bearing puller type tool or other. Thanks Mark (SV Beyond Cool) Sorry - forgot one other question. Does it need to ... or preferable to make the changeover when out of the water slipped (we are antifouling in a month) ... or doesn't it matter ? Cheers Hi Mark Best to talk / email directly to David or Daniel at Bruntons, but from own experience I would say; Can be done in water You will need a puller and probably a hot air gun at least to get the existing coupling off. If you don't have the tools may be worth getting a yard or engineer to do it. Yes the shaft will need to be pushed back to give the gap to do the change but I expect the sigmadrive and the OEM coupling will be about the same length Bruntons should be able to match up with the existing shaft without any modifications to the shaft. |
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Post by kingprop on Jul 17, 2018 18:48:28 GMT
Hi Malcolm and everyone, Im on the other side of the world to everyone in the thread so no sales pitch but I am happy to give advice on issues relating these couplings. I am the Bruntons Rep in the USA - Rod Sampson. I actually supplied the drive to the Jon on SV Prism, (Bruntons gave him an Autoprop as thanks). For the technical Q's: You don't need to modify the shaft in most cases to fit one of these. Indeed the SigmaDrive is hollow so you should not have to cut the shaft at all to shorten it. The only time you typically need spacers is for using line cutters. After that it uses a taper lock collar to grip the shaft. It its the bit with 8 bolts in on the front of Jons video. Simply fit the keyway over the split in the collar and you are golden. The collar is actually an interference fit so heat and force are needed to get it on. The shaft needs to go all the way into the coupler, I think the rule is 1 shaft diameter plus 5mm. If you have an older shaft that is tapered on both ends, there is a SigmaDrive for that as well. Then there is the question of fitting in the water. If you have a PSS (dripless coupling) you may need to put the boat on the hard. Splitting the PSS can get exciting at times, and the amount of water that can come in is quite spectacular. For a regular stuffing box, just mark the shaft so you can set the propeller overhang correctly once installed and then break the old coupling, back off the shaft and tighten the gland seal on the stuffing box / shaft log. Be careful to restrain the shaft as it doesn't want to go too far. I have had people using heat, gear pullers and even hacksaws to get old couplers off. Often space is limited and this dictates what you can do. Great thing about SigmaDrive is that later on if you need to service the PSS, you can back off the coupler very easily service and replace. Also be aware that the shaft may be 25mm for example, but the yard may have turned it down to fit a coupler they had on the shelf. This happens a lot and there is no way to see it until the coupler is off. Contact Bruntons in your country and they will get the right one to you with no fuss. As for alignment. Best to set it with the hard coupler first. This device was intended to suppress noise and vibration but the alignment (or lack of) benefits are its selling point now. To align it in the future use the edge the taper lock collar (silver ring with 8 bolts) makes with the top body of the unit. A set square or similar can help for X and Y directions. For most sailors the SD55 will be it. You can get it up to 35mm shaft and depending on the gearbox 85hp or so for the engine. Again best to contact Bruntons in your country to find out. You can match them to most gearboxes by changing the inner register ring and using one of three sets of pilot drilled stud holes. (78mm, 80mm, 82.5mm PCD). SD55 is a 4" unit so some boats with a 5" flange on the gearbox need an adapter plate. This too is hollow and is pre drilled ready to go. Lastly greasing. It is sealed and should not require greasing. You can get into the front of the unit (instructions say do not!) to check it every couple of years. These things last and last if they have good alignment, way past other soft rubber couplers. You can get more info here from my Youtube episode. If I can answer any technical questions not covered, let me know and I can give you guidance in this thread. Sales would be in your own country or Bruntons direct in Clacton on Sea UK. Rod Virginia Beach, USA |
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Post by Tafika II on Jul 23, 2018 18:54:11 GMT
HI Rob!
I may elect to install one the next haul out in August. I just sent you an email through your website
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Post by kingprop on Jul 26, 2018 0:23:28 GMT
Please do leave feedback on your install. What you found easy and what you found hard. Honest opinion would be good for everyone!
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Post by JEF on Oct 1, 2018 11:00:50 GMT
Has anyone install one of these devices on their engine? If so, please comment on your experience, ease of installations and results. Thanks! Sigma Coupling.... just fitted one on a New SO440 no issues very easy to install. Installation advice and help from Bruntons absolutely first class ... resulting benefits much reduced noise and vibration would have no doubts in recommending this well engineered product to all owners.
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Post by snwl on Nov 10, 2018 16:27:52 GMT
I need advice around SD55. I have SF37, MD2040D, MS15L, year 2001/2002. Has anyone installed on the SF / SO 37? I assume that the shaft is 25 mm. Is the shaft straight or tapered? Thanks.
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paulx12
New Member
Posts: 5
Jeanneau Model: SO440
Yacht Name: Sallgood
Home Port: Sydney
Country: Australia
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Post by paulx12 on Apr 13, 2021 23:15:43 GMT
Hi guys, after reading this thread I purchased a Sigma Drive to install on my SO440. After receiving the unit (I live in Australia) I discovered that my shaft has a tapered end and the drive unit won’t fit! The local agent tells me I now have to purchase a new shaft with a straight end, not happy! Has anyone faced this problem before? Is it possible cut the taper off the shaft and then put a spacer between the Sigma drive and the gearbox flange?. Or is there an adaptor to allow the Sigma unit to fit onto a tapered shaft. Thanks.
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