Volvo penta Questions

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cm5408

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hey guys, i recently purchased a boat with a volvo penta I/O. i have been around mercrusiers in the past and am a little confussed with volvo's designs. My motor is an AQ231b (a gm 305) and the outdrive is an aqumatic 285 (yes a 285 not 270, 280, or 290) and the prop is counter rotation.<br /><br />1. i realize that the lower unit only uses power or hydrolic assist on the way up and uses gravity on the way down. which also translates to the unit must be all of the way down and locked in order to use reverse. right? if the unit is not locked down the prop in reverse will pull the outdrive up.<br /><br /> with that being stated, how do you back up off of the trailer or back up if you have beached the boat? in those situations you cant really put the outdrive down (damage to the skeg) but you need to use reverse.<br /><br /> can you trim the outdrive at all? all the way down to come out of the hole, and then up just a bit to keep the bow up. i have tried this and the outdrive just bounces around. I end up using the trim tabs to correct. the problem with this is i dont like constantly messing with the trim tabs. i like to keep it simple. Would a hydrofoil help out? bring me to plane quicker?<br /><br />2. is there a "cupped" prop availible for this counter rotation application? i have a hard time finding props as it is, but have never found a "cupped" prop and would like one.<br /><br />3. the power steering seems a little too responsive. is there any way to tame it a little? i would like to have a little more resistance.<br /><br />4. BIG QUESTION: on a mercruiser application, you can take the throttle control and raise the rpms without engaging the drive in forward or reverse. Is that possible with vovlo? on my throttle control i have one button to engage forward or reverse, but nothing to just raise the motor's rps. this becomes a pain in the rump when you are trying to start the motor on the trailer on the ramp and you need a little more gas in your carburated motor (dont forget that the outdrive is up to protect the skeg so in any direction it will move around).<br /><br />thanks ahead for your help. i am becoming irritated with this type of outdrive and i hope it is because i am just not familiar with it. :confused:
 

Don S

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

1. i realize that the lower unit only uses power or hydrolic assist on the way up and uses gravity on the way down. which also translates to the unit must be all of the way down and locked in order to use reverse. right?
You are correct, it must be all the way down.<br /><br />
how do you back up off of the trailer or back up if you have beached the boat?
You don't. You have to push the boat to deep water then put the drive down.<br /><br />#2 I don't think Volvo makes a cupped prop, what are you trying to do? The one thing you MUST do is get your WOT rpm in the proper range.<br /><br />4, they have buttons that you push or pull also, same as Merc, there is a Neutral only position.<br /><br />It's just new to you and the old 280's 285's etc. without trim were a PITA, the the drive is so much better than the Alpha drives.<br />No shift interrupt switches, no lower shift cables, no more "Click--Thunk" when going into gear. No stalling because the shift cable is stiff.<br />You only need 30W oil in the outdrive, not expensive gear lube, you don't have to take the drive apart to replace the impeller in the raw water pump.<br />They aren't maintenance free, but they sure work nice.
 

mcleaves

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

Don's right.. Those drives are BULLETPROOF.. <br /><br />Admiral huh Don? Nah, too easy.. I'll let that one pass by the plate ;)
 

Don S

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

That's VICE ADMIRAL to you Cadet :p <br /><br />Welcome aboard Mike :D
 

cm5408

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

Welcome aboard Mike
not sure if you are talking to me (i dont see another mike here) but my name is Chris.<br /><br />
#2 I don't think Volvo makes a cupped prop, what are you trying to do? The one thing you MUST do is get your WOT rpm in the proper range
i am currently running a 21 pitch prop and i would like to go down to a 19 cupped (from past experience cupped props work well). WOT for the motor is 4600 - 4800 from my research. the 21 pitch has me at 4500. i would like to move the rpms up a little and come out of the hole stronger. i will gladly give up a couple mph's top end to come out of the hole stronger<br /><br />
4, they have buttons that you push or pull also, same as Merc, there is a Neutral only position
this answer confusses me. are you saying that there is or isnt throttle only controls? <br /><br />
You only need 30W oil in the outdrive, not expensive gear lube,
regular motor oil at straight 30? why wouldnt you use regular gear oil?
 

jrcraft

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

Depends on the throttle control type. Mine has a rubber button on the casing below the throttle lever that you push in; then move lever forward.
 

cm5408

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

Depends on the throttle control type. Mine has a rubber button on the casing below the throttle lever that you push in; then move lever forward.
can you take a picture of that? <br /><br />on my mercuriser there was a button at the end of the handle built into the grip, when squeezed you could put into gear. there was also a rubber button on the pivot point that alowed you to just throttle it. is that what you are reffering to?
 

jrcraft

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

Don's the guy with all the cool pictures I couldn't find one on-line too link to. <br /><br />Mine is located dead center about 2 inches below the base of the throttle on the housing. Black rubber that you can push in. Push it in and move throttle forward and it will give you a rev.
 

cm5408

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

is this button on the throttle handle itself or on the base. <br /><br />can you email me a picutre?
 

jrcraft

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

For mine it's on the base "not on the handle". Only problem is there are probaly hundreds of different types of Throttle levers. Unfortunetly I'm at the office with no access to the boat to snap a pic.
 

cm5408

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

i understand completely (at the office) would much rather be golfing or boating.<br /><br />what motor outdrive are you using? <br /><br />do you have an issue with the trim capibilities? I hate to constantly mess with my trim tabs so I am a considering a hydrofoil (have used a stingray on a johnson outboard and on a 120 mercruiser). Since my exhaust comes out of what would be the cavitation plate, i am not sure what to use. i am thinking a doel fin because it is actually two peices. this is not a picture of my outdrive, just one I found on the internet showing a two peice hydrofoil on a volvo (similar but not a a doelfin).<br /><br /><br />
Volvohydrofoil.jpg
 

mcleaves

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

I'm the secret Mike ;) ... Don and I go back in another plane of existence.. I was poking around the net last night bored and stumbeled across his post here and thought I'd chide him a bit, so I registered..<br /><br />Looks like a fun place so I'll hang out here a bit if you folks don't mind my stupid Q's..<br /><br />M (Mike)
 

mcleaves

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

"regular motor oil at straight 30? why wouldnt you use regular gear oil?"<br /><br />Trust Don.. 30W is what these drives take.. I suspect the issue is the gear oil is too thick to move around the components properly. <br /><br />I just went to an SX drive and it takes Synthetic GL-5 (90W). Trust me, I WISH I could put 30W in it. Gets expensive when you make a mistake and have to do a couple changes..<br /><br />Also, I wouldn't put a doel-fin on that drive. The cavitation plate isn't that thick and the stress from lift can crack it. My old 280 had one on it and I took it off (I think that was the first piece of advice Don ever gave me years ago!). I never had a hard time getting on plane once the eninge was tuned and I was running a 4 banger in a 21ft Cruiser. Tabs and the adjustment hole on the drives locking mechanism is suffcient to get up up and trimmed out. <br /><br />The again, if you have your heart set on one for a VP drive I have it in my shed.. Make me an offer..<br /><br />M
 

Reel Poor

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

If you don't like messing with the trim tabs all the time check these out.<br /><br />www.Nauticusinc.com<br /><br />You can also do a search in the Boat Topics and Questions (Not Engine) forum on iboats. Just type in Smart Tabs in the iboats SEARCH tab.
 

cm5408

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

not too sure that i like the "smart tabs" thanks for the suggestion though<br /><br />i am going to try a prop with less pitch first. i am currently using a 21 degree and i have a spare 19 degree. That should let the rpms climb faster from idle
 

treeman

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Jun 28, 2006
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Re: Volvo penta Questions

ok here goes iam having trouble posting i have a 1986 bayliner with a 280 out drive i need to know what oil to use and if it should be filled like the out boards from the bottom up thanks treeman it also has a 350 the guy i got it from said he has put 10w 40 valoine dura blend synthetic should this be used or do you recomemend other thanks treeman
 

Don S

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

Treeman
Start a new thread with your question, don't just tack on to the end of a 2006 thread. In short order, your question will be lost as people start answering the original question.
 

JAL51974

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

CM5408 you don't mention what boat you have, this may make identification of your type of throttle handle easier. Mine is a one button type too, the button is only used to put it into drive from N. To start the engine, I pull the handle out(towards me/towards the center of the boat) which keeps it in N but disengages the drive. I can increase the rpms by moving the handle forward in that released position...necessary for warming up my 4cyl volvo engine. Once warmed up I put the handle back into N and depressing the button while moving it forward engages the drive.
 

slia67

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Jul 11, 2007
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Re: Volvo penta Questions

On my Bayliner my throttle lever pulls out for the neutral position, just like JAL's.

I'm sure you didn't mean to come off as questioning Don's advice on the use of oil in the drive. Don's advice and experience is highly sought after not only here, but also (as Mike put it) "in other planes of exsitence." I too wish my Alpha used regular oil, it's much cheaper.

Once I got mine running well and propped properly, I loved that drive set-up. It's darn near bullet proof, and you don't have to tear into it just to replace the sticking impeller.

Props for those drives are a PITA to find, eBay has been a pretty good source for me. Your local prop shop should be able to cup it too.


Doug
 

Don S

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Re: Volvo penta Questions

Old thread 2006

See what I mean treeman?
 
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