Volvo 280 outdrive

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Last weekend, my shifter cable snapped going to my flybridge. I can still use the lower helm.

The boat is slipped for the season and I don't want to do a haul out to change the cable.

My question is, "Has anyone every changed the cable while the boat is in the water?" My main concern is dropping pieces parts/tools. I plan to get some rabbit wire and put underneath the outdrive just in case I would. Just curious if anyone else had accomplished such a task......Thanks in advance SS

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 280 outdrive

Are you sure you have 2 cables going into the drive? Most boats have the upper cable attached to the lower shifter, and the lower shifter hooked to the drive.
As far as doing in the water ............ NO way.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Volvo 280 outdrive (1977)

Re: Volvo 280 outdrive (1977)

Yes Sir Don, The lower helm goes to one side of the bellcrank on the outdrive and the upper helm goes to the other side. My throttle cables are hooked in the manner in which you described. The bridge helm throttle is tied into the cabin helm. The shifters are direct to the outdrive. As far as I know, it was like this at the factory. At least it was that way when I got the boat.

This is the only area the I have a major complaint on. The ends of the cable are in the water and after several years, the corrosion/gunk tends to seize them up.

The marina that I'm at has a ramp, but it has a drop off. I've tried it before and my trailer is so long that it drops off their concrete slab. The public ramp is only about 100 yards from my slip as a crow flies, but to drive from the dock to the ramp is 5 miles. Makes it a pain to do by myself. No doubt it would be easier to do on the trailer.

The cover plate is easy to remove while in the water. Only the dogbone cable clamp with the 10mm bolt would be the tricky part to do. It is what holds the outter jackets of the cable in place. It is located on the leading edge of the outdrive just underneath the universal bellows. Yep, if I drop that, and being stainless,,,,I'd be in the water with no shifting at all.

BTW, the water is about 3 to 4' deep at my slip. So it wouldn't be that hard to do standing on the bottom while doing it. Its a bummer no matter how I end up doing it. Of course I have to take the cable out to get a proper length measurement on it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 280 outdrive (1977)

Re: Volvo 280 outdrive (1977)

The REAL problem is getting to those bolts for the hold-down, both cables will have to pull forward to get one out, AND the problem of getting the cable thru the hose past the bellows (without poking a hole in the ujoint bellows) and getting it all simultaniously back together and hooked up.
When I do double cables like that, I remove the upper gear box just to get to the center cable hold down bolt.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Volvo 280 outdrive

No doubt that haul it is in order. Its been a couple of years since I had all that stuff out when I redone the transom. You are right, if something did go wrong,,,,,,getting it to the ramp and on the trailer without power would be a real job. Thanks for the help in getting my mind back to reality .........SS

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 280 outdrive

If it's been 2 years and the boat stays in the water, change the bellows while you have it out.