Engine cutting out on low revs.

[Tom french]

penta AQ231a engine starts and runs fine but when putting in neutral revs drop and engine cuts out before putting in gear. Any thoughts.

 

[Scott Danforth]

What is youe base timing set to?
What is your idle speed set to?

There is no shift interupt with an AQ drive

 

[Tom french]

penta AQ231a engine starts and runs fine but when putting in neutral revs drop and engine cuts out before putting in gear. Any thoughts.

What is youe base timing set to?
What is your idle speed set to?

There is no shift interupt with an AQ drive

Apologies but being very new to boating and knowledge of anything very limited, i dont know the timing setting or how to find it, for the idle speed everything was working fine then after taking it out yesterday and bringing it in to the marina on idle it did not like it and kept cutting out, after that the engine kept cutting out on a low idle, not sure if its a case of just adjusting the idle speed when in neutral, as if i quickly push in gear at a higher rev it hold on.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Apologies but being very new to boating and knowledge of anything very limited, i dont know the timing setting or how to find it, for the idle speed everything was working fine then after taking it out yesterday and bringing it in to the marina on idle it did not like it and kept cutting out, after that the engine kept cutting out on a low idle, not sure if its a case of just adjusting the idle speed when in neutral, as if i quickly push in gear at a higher rev it hold on.

you bought a 37 year old boat. you will need to learn these basic things fast. especially on an old boat. old boats are for people with deep pockets to pay mechanics or for those that know how to wrench on things.

do you own a timing light? if not, buy a good one or rent a good one
do you own a compression tester? if not, buy a good one or rent a good one.

without knowing the baseline cant even assume to know the health of your motor, much less be able to give you advise.

when was the carb last gone thru?
is the choke fully functional?
when was the last tune up?

 

[Tom french]

you bought a 37 year old boat. you will need to learn these basic things fast. especially on an old boat. old boats are for people with deep pockets to pay mechanics or for those that know how to wrench on things.

do you own a timing light? if not, buy a good one or rent a good one
do you own a compression tester? if not, buy a good one or rent a good one.

without knowing the baseline cant even assume to know the health of your motor, much less be able to give you advise.

when was the carb last gone thru?
is the choke fully functional?
when was the last tune up?

Lol dont tell my wife that as she said the same about deep pockets. For the carb I would think its a good couple of years since anything was done on it, ive attached a photo from today, it also smell of a lot of fuel. For the tune up again not sure but would say a few years back.
Choke is fully functional and the boat start up first time, its just when you put it in the middle of the gear shift (Very low revs and cuts out).

 

[kenny nunez]

As Scott posted you need to acquire some basic equipment. Also a tool to adjust the idle mixture made for Quadrajet carburetors. These can be found a most auto stores, the Thexon is my favorite.
Lisle#55250
Thexton#54354
KD#2776
Remove the distributor cap and see if you have breaker points and condenser or an electronic conversion.
If you are not familiar with carburetors you should send it to
Cliff’s Quadrajet performance for a professional rebuild.
Remove the fuel filter on the front of the engine and pour the gas into a clean container to check if there is any water in the fuel system.
Get a genuine Volvo service manual for your engine and not one of the ones found in a book store.

 

[Tom french]

As Scott posted you need to acquire some basic equipment. Also a tool to adjust the idle mixture made for Quadrajet carburetors. These can be found a most auto stores, the Thexon is my favorite.
Lisle#55250
Thexton#54354
KD#2776
Remove the distributor cap and see if you have breaker points and condenser or an electronic conversion.
If you are not familiar with carburetors you should send it to
Cliff’s Quadrajet performance for a professional rebuild.
Remove the fuel filter on the front of the engine and pour the gas into a clean container to check if there is any water in the fuel system.
Get a genuine Volvo service manual for your engine and not one of the ones found in a book store.

Many thanks, Ive ordered some basic tools and will also order new cap and condenser when shops open back up. Love to send in for rebuild but I’m in the UK so maybe a bit too far.
Trying to find a Volvo service book over here is very difficult but will keep trying. All help much appreciate.