Volvo 275 outdrive trim lock in down position

[twozeroone]

Hello,
I have a Volvo 275 outdrive. I'm new to boating and am just learning how to effectively use the trim. The previous owner said that when he put the trim all the way down and the 2 clips that are spring loaded clip onto the bar at the bottom of the outdrive it has and issue unclipping unless you get out of the boat and pull it up a bit. Is this just a spring tension problem? Do I just need a couple new springs? What is supposed to make the clips unclip when you push up on the electric trim switch to make the outdrive unclip and go up?

Thanks,
Scott

[ftl900]

Yeah, what?? How does it work?? Cause mine DOESN'T work, and I have to manually lift the retainer bar before I can lift the outdrive.

How is it SUPPOSED to work?

[captmello]

There is a rod from the retaining pawl up to where the foot from the tilt mechanism contacts the outdrive. This rod releases the retaining pawl and allow the outdrive to raise.



[IMG][/IMG]


There is a spring in the center that lifts the pawl into place when locking

[twozeroone]

Thanks Captmello... I had to adjust the bar that the pushrod hits. Also I had to replace the single spring under the clip thing as it lost tension. It clips in now and unclips (most of the time).

I took it into the open ocean the other day and it unclipped in some 2/3 ft choppy waves.... Any advice on keeping this clip thing clipped in now in choppy water?

[Don S]

First of all, it is NOT a trim lock. It's called a reverse lock. It has nothing to do with trim. There is no trim on that drive. Only the electro mechanical lift that raises the drive for trailering.
When in forward gear, the lock is disconnected completely. That way, if you hit something while going forward the drive will lift without breaking anything. Prop forward pressure is what hold the drive down while underway.
When you put the drive in reverse is when the lock is used. They keep the drive from kicking up out of the water when you are in reverse and give it some throttle.

[captmello]

Don is correct, of course. It doesn't "lock" until you put it in reverse. But it should still hold the outdrive in place while in all gears. At least thats how mine works.

Are you trying to trim the outdrive while cruising?

With the boat on the trailer turned off, with the outdrive all the way down, can you pull up the outdrive without releasing the reverse lock mechanism? In any gear?

[twozeroone]

Hello,
Thank you for all of the feedback.

let me start with my original problem (and admit that I didn't realize it was a lock only for reverse!). When accellerating and it starts to plane out at top speed I am getting a vibration from the outdrive and it appears to be rising up (not completely out of the water, but none the less rising up) and it slightly looses power, RPM stays stable though.

I moved the reverse lock bar to the most forward position so when my outdrive is all the way down it locks in when all the way down. Since I did this it has worked perfectly, except in those 2/3 ft waves. So with my current setup my outdrive is locked in at all times when the outdrive is all the way down and it works well that way, until it unclips itself in rough water.

I just bought a new spring kit from Iboats for the clip mechanism in the pics above and was going to try that to see if it helps as the springs were rotted out.

If the outdrive is not supposed to be locked in when it is all the way down (which seems to fix the vibration/loss of power issue), then are there any ideas what this vibration is that I get only at top speed once planed out? I have also heard this when doing a high speed somewhat sharp turn and the outdrive is close to the top of the water.

Thanks again!
-Scott

[captmello]

Sounds like you may have a couple issues. I don't see how the reverse lock could effect a vibration. While in forward, the drive is pushed in place by the prop pushing the boat, no way it could raise up while in forward.

The vibration could be worn ujoints, bent prop, hard to say. When was the last time you pulled the upper gear box and inspected the ujoints, bellows, etc.?

The lock should lock with the rod in any of the three adjustment holes. Hopefully the new springs will help.