Volvo 280 slipping

[Dennis VR]

I'm new to the site, and would like to say hello.
I would like some advise on a Volvo 280 outdrive. I dont know much about these outdrives so here is what I've got.
I'm looking into buying a 1983 28' Bayliner with twin Volvo 280 outdrives.
Took it out the day before yesterday and it ran fine, took it out yesterday and about 1/2 hr into running it the starboard engine would rev up about 500 RPMs from 3000 to 3500 and then go back, like something was slipping. Took back to the dock and changed props thinking that maybe the hub was slipping. Took it back out and it did the same thing.
Are there clutches or something similar in the outdrive that would do this?
Any advise would be helpful, and thanks in advance.

Dennis

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo 280 slipping

There is a cone clutch in the upper gear box for shifting.
First thing to do is check the gear lube for water, that makes them slip.
Also check under the back cover and confirm that the shift cable is putting the shift mechanism all the way into gear. Old stiff cables sometimes don't allow them to push into gear properly.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Volvo 280 slipping

Give you a quick word of advice. If you haven't bought the boat yet, i'd keep looking. Unless this boat is pristined and maintenced regularly an 83 bayliner with twin volvo's is going to be the money pit of all money pits. Transom rot would be one of the very first things to check on that boat.

 

[Banditz]

Re: Volvo 280 slipping

DANG! Now thats how to bring a fellow down! LOL. True, and needed to be said as far as I know, but wow...at least its better to tell him now than in a few days when he has bought it and spent a good amount of cash on it.

 

[Dennis VR]

Re: Volvo 280 slipping

Thanks for the replies.
Don, I will check for water.
Jason, I know about money pits, I mean boats. I have a 1983 SeaRay Sundancer with twin OMCs.
I am wanting to change to a bridge boat with a cabin I can see out of.
The boat I'm looking to buy is a 1983 Bayliner Contessa Command Bridge, a friend of mine has had it for the last three years and has not used it much.
I pulled it to the ramp, about 15 miles and it pulls pretty good. Didn't take much time to get used to the 10 foot width.
I will check the oil and get back you.
Again thanks for your advise.
Dennis

 

[Dennis VR]

Re: Volvo 280 slipping

There is a cone clutch in the upper gear box for shifting.
First thing to do is check the gear lube for water, that makes them slip.
Also check under the back cover and confirm that the shift cable is putting the shift mechanism all the way into gear. Old stiff cables sometimes don't allow them to push into gear properly.

Don, I checked and there is no sign of any water in the oil. I looked at the shift mechanism and it looks pretty much like the other one.
One strange thing was I moved the shift mechanism to put in gear and I could turn the prop one way but not the other, but if I rocked it back and forth I could turn the prop a little at a time in the direction that it is locked in.
I tried it on the port outdrive but I could not advance the prop by rocking it back and forth.
Any Ideas?
Thanks

 

[wes_d]

Re: Volvo 280 slipping

Dennis,

If your shifter is going into the correct detented position, then it sounds like your cone clutch is worn smooth, probably in the forward direction. I just got thru replacing one on my DP-A2 outdrive. It's actually not too difficult to do, if you have the VP outdrive manual, or the Seloc manual is OK. Cone clutches appear on eBay (PN 814601) from time to time, and I have *heard* you can recondition them too (never done it). A few things I learned -

1. it's much easier to break the big left hand threaded nut loose from the vertical shaft while the upper gearbox is still mounted to the drive. You can block a prop blade to the lower gearcase to lock the shaft but be careful to block it near the base of the blade, not the tip, or you can bend it.

2. if you buy a short 3/8-16 eyebolt, you can screw it into the hole where the oil dipstick goes and rig a pulley from the transom or swimstep to help coax the upper gearbox and u-joint out (and back in).

3. Keep track of the shimming! Can't overemphasize that.

Wes

 

[Dennis VR]

Re: Volvo 280 slipping

Dennis,

If your shifter is going into the correct detented position, then it sounds like your cone clutch is worn smooth, probably in the forward direction. I just got thru replacing one on my DP-A2 outdrive. It's actually not too difficult to do, if you have the VP outdrive manual, or the Seloc manual is OK. Cone clutches appear on eBay (PN 814601) from time to time, and I have *heard* you can recondition them too (never done it). A few things I learned -

1. it's much easier to break the big left hand threaded nut loose from the vertical shaft while the upper gearbox is still mounted to the drive. You can block a prop blade to the lower gearcase to lock the shaft but be careful to block it near the base of the blade, not the tip, or you can bend it.

2. if you buy a short 3/8-16 eyebolt, you can screw it into the hole where the oil dipstick goes and rig a pulley from the transom or swimstep to help coax the upper gearbox and u-joint out (and back in).

3. Keep track of the shimming! Can't overemphasize that.

Wes

Wes, thanks for the reply. I looked in a Seloc manual and couldnt find any thing about a cone clutch, quess I need to look a little farther, and thanks for the part numbers I will look them up.

Edit.....I looked for the P/N on ebay and I quess they call them sliding sleeves, thats why I could find a cone clutch.
Again thanks for all the advise.