Volvo AQ170 Elusive Neutral Position

[joemeltn1]

I have searched the forums for my problem but haven't found one similiar. The problem is returning to neutral from either FWD or REV. I have to "jiggle" the control around the Neutral detent to get it - sometimes the the drive goes into the opposite gear while "jiggling" - not to good on the unit. Docking is a bear with this thing. The shifting is easy and smooth no stiffness. I've checked the control all the way back to the attach point on the shift yoke in the drive for sloppiness and adjustment - I don't see any problem at either the control or I/O end. The cables are pretty new (less than 50 engine hours) Morse 33C Red Jacket Supreme.The control is a Morse control with individual throttle and shift levers. The cable has gentle sweeps in it ( cable is about 30 ft long). The one thing I notice is that this occurs when the engine is running - idle is 650 RPM. With the engine off a helper and I can hand spin the prop and the shift hits neutral fine - no "jiggling". I wonder if the cone may be an issue. The boat is 1973 Nautaline 34 foot houseboat - so it would be difficult to run it on a muff and work the problem and I don't want to be in the water while the engine is running. I'm kinda at a loss and need some advice, perhaps I've overlooked something simple in the adjustment. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo AQ170 Elusive Neutral Position

There should be a neutral detent position in your shifter control box. Where depends on the type control you have. Being a 73, something may be broken.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Volvo AQ170 Elusive Neutral Position

You may have "wear or sloppiness" inside the drive as well. Like Don said, that's an old unit.

 

[joemeltn1]

Re: Volvo AQ170 Elusive Neutral Position

Thanx for the responses!. Yes I did check the detent on the control and I "feel" it when I goto the neutral position. That's where I have to "jiggle" the control lever to get to neutral. The control is pretty smooth and tight not very worn at all. I bought the boat about 4 years ago - it had only 481 hours on it total time. I believe the hours just looking at the engines and having done some work on them. I suspect it is the cable since I can shift the shift yoke on the I/O unit and it works like a charm. I'm just having a hard time beleiving a cable would fail in 50 hrs and not really wanting to pull another one through. It's not the cost of cable - they aren't that much - it's just the aggravation of installing it and possibly not fixing the problem.