Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

[dodgetkboy78]

I recently have bought a 71 bayliner 22' cuddy cabin, with a AQ170/270 on the back. (First boat, don't pick on me) The motor ran good, but knocked. Well, the guy told me it was a motor knock. Good price, came with poles, jackets, flares, tackle, all the good stuff. Anyway, the motor runs like a watch, has great oil pressure, but that knocking, sounded like a rod, but didn't. Having lots of experience with every other kind of engine, it was hard to pinpoint, but, I didn't take too much time either. So, I started pulling the motor. When I removed the starter, I found pieces of pressure plate spring and a beat up starter nose. I ordered a new pressure plate, but would that cause the knock? The thing ran like a swiss watch, and the knock wouldn't change pulling off the plug wires one at a time, ect..........
I hope so.

Second, it has a one handle throttle/drive control, and the thing revs up before it engages in gear, so it hits real hard, cant be good on things, not to mention it will not idle in gear. Is there an adjustment for this? Or can I just get a throttle control and D/C the throttle from the one handle does all deal? For the life of me I cant figure out how to get it in gear BEFORE the throttle is opened.

And third, am I the only one left that is running one of these old volvos?

Fourth, I can get a sweet running AQ135 and outdrive, for 500$, would it push the 22' bayliner? I am looking for MPG over speed. (Will eventually use it for 30-60 mile per way trips)

Thanks much!

 

[captmello]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Welcome.

Well you've stumbled onto one of the more unique Volvo Penta engines. That was the only six cylinder Volvo used until the early 90's when they mixed in the 4.3 V6.

I don't know if the broken dampener would cause the knocking noise or not, I haven't had one break on me.

You must get the shifting and throttle control issue worked out right away. could be a simple adjustment of the cables. You think the previous owner ran it that way? Not good. Those outdrives are known for their smooth shifting.


Go to this link and type in aq170 in the engine type box. scroll down and click on one of the choices aq170a,b,c etc. There should be some useful info to be had there.

http://www.volvo.com/volvopenta/global/en-gb/marine_leisure_engines/parts_service/publication_search/publication_search.htm

Fourth, I can get a sweet running AQ135 and outdrive, for 500$, would it push the 22' bayliner? I am looking for MPG over speed. (Will eventually use it for 30-60 mile per way trips)

Never heard of an aq135. However, you have a six cylinder which requires a different gear ratio in the drive than a 4 cyl or V8 so you would have to swap the outdrives as well.

Has the boat been run in salt water in the past?

 

[Maclin]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Welcome! Where are you from TK? Your name reminds me of a MoPar chat buddy from Alaska I think.

That 170 has a load of torque and good HP also. Stepping down to the AQ135 would be a mistake in that boat in my opinion. I have a 22 foot cuddy with the Volvo AQ271 which is a GM 5.7l 4bbl with 275hp and I cannot even imagine going down to 135hp with it.

I would stay with the 170 until the problems are worked out. I believe you will end up much happier and with a good running powerful boat.

 

[dodgetkboy78]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Yep, it's me.......... TK.

Cant escape you Mopar guys can I? Not even with a B30 Volvo!

The boat has been ran in the salt water, the owner, was mechanically declined, but followed the storing and flushing instructions religiously. I looked and looked, I just cant figure out how to get it to shift without throttling up. And yeah, the owner ran it that way. A separate throttle was my idea for a fix, I don't like the idea of the one handle does all anyway.

I hope the broken stuff in the housing was the knocking.

Anyone know how much fuel these guys burn?

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Look into the procedure for adjusting the throttle and shift cables. In non-technical terms, there is "slop" in the connection for the throttle cable. So, when you first start to move the throttle lever, that cable will move, but not actually turn the throttle linkage on the carb. The cable for the shift, should start to actually reposition stuff in the outdrive as soon as the throttle is moved FROM neutral.

You could try finding the install manual for your throttle. I have found a few for the Teleflex Marine models. There are different locations on the throttle lever where the two cables will attach. The spefic point depends on the application (outboard Yamaha, Mercruiser, OMC, Volvo etc..) If someone had previously disconnect the throttle lever for some reason (cable replacement, restoring interior of boat, ...) maybe the mounting point for the cables was screwed up.

I would start with the cable adjustment back at the engine, first though. If it doesn't seem to work out, then I would check the lever mounting points.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Welcome! I know you had asked about a boat last year on MC, glad you found this board. Lots of knowledge, and one of the best helpers is very good on Volvo's.

Is yours a dual carb? I think those have good power and OK on fuel. But, ok in a boat is like 2-3mpg!

I don't even keep track of mine.

Oh yeah, my MoPar heritage will not let me admit mine is a GM based engine, I stick with "Volvo". Yours is Volvo all the way, and that particular inline 6 is one of the Volvo world's stalwarts from the older days. Lots of hotrodder tricks for those in the auto world.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Definitely do what Ken said and go to the drive and adjust the linkage. That is what caused the damper to break.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

btw.....I am BeepBeepsRule on MC......

 

[dodgetkboy78]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Hi Beeps!

Yeah, I will try to find this slop. I can see there is a spring loaded dealy for reverse, I'll pay more attention.

This one has three Solex's with no choke, kinda neat eh?

Is there supposed to be the "give" in the throttle control, or at the carb linkage?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Not sure what you mean by give.

Basically when you push the throttle forward you should feel a slight "detent". At this point the drive should already be in gear and the throttle cable should not have moved yet. You can test this easily by having someone watch at the carbs.

What I would do is to remove the cable at the drive, manually put the drive into gear with your hand, put the shift control to that first detent and then hook the cable back up making any necessary adjustments.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Yes, I 'member now, 3 carbs on the 170, too many things going on at once today. I personally think that setup has potential for good power and yet maintain economy.

The throttle mechanism will not move the carb throttle linkage until the shift cable moves to work the shifter. Moving the throttle farther then begins to work the carb throttle linkage and leaves the shift cable where it is. So, no real "slop", just very specific cable actuations inside the throttle control.

The carb linkage should allow you to move the carb throttle at the carb and not bother the cable.

As far as smaller engines, that smaller engine may not be able to get it up on plane and that wastes a lot of fuel just plowing around at below planing speeds. Plus, at some point you may have to skeedaddle home from a storm or something and need the boat to plane out and go.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

I was using the phrase "slop" in a very non-technical nature.

When you first move the throttle from the "neutral" position, the shift lever moves, which causes the shift cable to move and then gets the drive into gear.

Then, once you get the lever beyond a certain point, then the "throttle arm", as the picture calls it, starts to move.

So, with everything working properly and all cables adjusted properly, there should be NO MOVEMENT of the throttle cable before the drive gets put in gear.

I am assuming the Volvo uses similar throttle levers as the above picture.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

I was using the phrase "slop" in a very non-technical nature.

I was right there with ya!

Great pic btw, good stuff.....

 

[dodgetkboy78]

Re: Good old aq170 (Lots of questions)

Yeah. The thing seems to be wore out, it moves the throttle and the shifter at the same time.
My fix?
I found a seperate throttle on craigslist, right down the street. I wish I could find someone who is actually running one, most seem to have Chev's in them.