Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

[steve obrien]

My excel 18 with a 2.3 volvo engine ran perfectly last season. I dry docked it in October and went every two weeks to run it for a couple of minutes , every time I did this it got harder and harder to start until it just would not start. It would crank over really quite fast and then slow down and suddenly fire up for a split second. I can do this every time and it follows the same sequence, cranks fast ,slows and then catches for split second. It was running fine last summer. Please can anyone give me a clue

 

[Bondo]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Ayuh,... Fuel, Fire, Compression, 'n All at the Right Time...

You're missing 1 of the 4....

Ya gotta LOOK, or We're all just Guessin'...

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

You might want to check your battery. Sounds like it's getting weak from being started every 2 weeks. Low voltage from a low battery gives you very weak or no spark. Running for only a couple of minutes each time is not enough to recharge the battery.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Hi thanks for replying I have checked spark and its strong blue, also checked the gap at points and generally checked electrics. Fuel is getting to carb which puffs back sometimes when cranking.I understand that the battery needs to be in top condition so when Im trying to start it I use a battery from my 4x4. When I crank it over its like I have taken the plugs out it cranks really fast and after about 30 seconds it slows to normal and then starts for about 2 seconds then dies.
Does that sound like sticky valves????

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

You do pump the throttle a few times before cranking don't you? Does fuel squirt out of the accelerator pump tube when you pump the throttle?

Have you pulled the plugs out and looked at them, from starting and only running cold for a couple of minutes, they may be fouled.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Hi Don , yep I pump throttle usually 3 times before starting and fuel is sqirting down neck. The only reason I mentioned valves was that I had the whole head refurbished early last year because of compression problems, the mechanic said that the pistons and bores were fine but the head and valves needed doing, cost me a lot of cash so Im really nervous now

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

I dry docked it in October and went every two weeks to run it for a couple of minutes ,

Did you have water hooked up to the engine while you were doing all this running?

Try pumping the throttle WHILE you are cranking the engine over.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

muffs on and hose attatched every time I cant pump throttle while I crank, it will only crank with stick in nuetral. Do you think its lack of fuel or carb problem then, but why does it crank fast like I've taken plugs out?

 

[sqbtr]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

There's your prob. Fix your shifter so you can start at fast idle, usually 1,200 RPM.

It cranks fast because you've washed your piston bores with gas. It is possable it skipped cam time from the backfires.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Post a picture of your shift/throttle control. You didn't post any ID of your engine (Model number or year) so it's just anyones guess what you have other than an OHV 4 cyl Volvo engine of some unknown year.
ALL single lever throttle controls have a neutral only feature on them for starting in neutral and giving throttle.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Hi ok but is it not normal for it not to crank unless its in nuetral? how do I fix it so that I can throttle it while cranking? At the moment to throttle on requires me to to go through a forward gear, as soon as I do that it wont crank
.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

We were posting at the same time, read my reply above yours.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Ok will try and do a pic tomorrow. it seems that I might not understand fully the throttle contrl lever!! When its upright its in nuetral and will crank, if I move throttle lever forward even slightly it wont crank because I'm selecting a gear, the same if i move it backwards cos im selecting a gear.!! do i need to press and hold something to get it to throttle without putting it in gear?

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

do i need to press and hold something to get it to throttle without putting it in gear?

Depends on your control. If it's a Volvo control, there is usually a button like this.

On some controls, from the neutral position, you pull the complete handle away from the control and push it forward for neutral only. Some may have a button next to the handle, not in the handle.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Thanks for all your info. I'll go to yard in the morning and try all these things. I will get engine numbers etc. cheers

 

[Robj]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Pull the lever out towards the middle of the boat and push forward now you have throttle only

 

[Brucetafer]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

sounds like fuel is getting nasty... pull out on the lever like robj says, mines the same way, whens the last time you had any service done on it.. if the carb hasnt been rebuilt in the last 2 years, do it... timing belt, make sure its on there good... only way to check is have a professional do it... shouldnt take him more than 2-3 hours, your supposed to retension them every 50 hours... so when your outdrive oil change and engine oil change and check timing tension...

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

timing belt, make sure its on there good... only way to check is have a professional do it... shouldnt take him more than 2-3 hours, your supposed to retension them every 50 hours...

You DO NOT have to have the belt re tensioned every 50 hours, there is a spring loaded tensioner on the timing belt to keep it tight.
The belt should be checked for tension and condition each time you check the oil, just like any other belt. Just look at it for cracks and wear, and things like black belt dust on the front of the engine, and push on the belt to see if it's tight. Only takes a second.
Even if it needs replaced, it is NOT required to have a professional do it.
They have been replaced by many here.

You also don't need to rebuild carbs every 2 years, if you do, then you should have installed a water seperating fuel filter long ago.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Hi all and Don . Went down to yard the other day and managed to get the throttle free so that I could throttle while cranking, no problem, it was corroded, you where right Don. While I was pumping and cranking at same time all the fuel vapour was pumping back out of the carb but would spurt into life for only 1 second then just carry on puffing out of carb. Friends at yard also think valves but a new head was fitted last year and no problems starting till I put it away for winter. Would be very grateful If light can be thrown on this.

 

[steve obrien]

Re: Volvo penta 2.3 wont start

Did also notice that even after all that fuel being pumped into carb the plugs where dry, Starting to think that maybe the valve timing has slipped on belt. I checked belt , it is tight but it is not central on pulleys, it is well forward and almost touching the inside of the top of the radiator