Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

[edgpr]

Hi, i have a volvo penta 280 installed with a chevy 350 engine. I've had the boat for about two months only and it's the first one so i don't have too much knowledge. Anyways, my outdrive used to go up and down automatically with the swtich and now it won't go up unless i manually release the outdrive first. im guessing is something simple to fix but i've looked at it enough and can't figure it out. Any help will be appreciated. Tx.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

A couple of things come to mind if this just happened suddenly.
Look at the picture below. Note, all the parts are access from the outside of the boat.
The mechnical lift foot on the bottom of the lift unit (#1) pushes an adjustable sleeve (#2) to unlock the drive. They make contact at point B.
Two things can happen.
The top of the sleeve (#2) wears through, then collapses and won't allow the lock to disengage.
Second the Foot (#1) on the end of the tilt mechanism has fallen off. Then it won't unlock at all.

You will find the 280 outdrive manual up in the adults only sticky at the top of the forum.

 

[edgpr]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

The foot is there, i see it come out and pushes on #2. That's why it still works when i manually disengage. It still pushes down and the outdrive comes up, but i can see how it releases the lock by pushing.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem



When your outdrive is down, it should look something like this. The stainless steel sleeve at the tip of the rod going up under the foot of the lift mech. You can see it in Don's pic. If that sleeve is damaged or that rod is not working to release the outdrive when you tilt up, it will catch.

Welcome to Iboats, btw.

 

[edgpr]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

Mine looks like that, but it's missing that little silver tip that's sticking out on part #2. is that what im missing?

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

That is the top of the "Sleeve" I was referring to in my first reply.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

Mine looks like that, but it's missing that little silver tip that's sticking out on part #2. is that what im missing?

Apparently.

Better inspect it better and determine why you can't see it. Is it broken off? What does it look like from below. Can you see the adjustment nut on the rod below where the stainless tip should be. Pull the rod down out of the hole a bit and see if you see any part of the stainless sleeve. It about an inch and a half long and screws down on top of the rod.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

One other thing. When the lockdown mechanism is locked, it should stick up as shown in captmellos picture. When the foot of the tilt mechanism comes down and contacts it, it pushes down on the sleeve and the linkage to disengage the lockdown.
If parts are damaged or missing on the lockdown mechanism and the linkage is down all the time, then that is another possibility. But's it's hard for me to see what yours looks like from here.

 

[mcleaves]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

I do NOT miss working on this mechanism. Satan himself designed it. I am convinced of that.

What happens (and don't ask me how I know), is that if you have a "kickup", the drive yoke slams back down mashing that sleeve in the process and it "sticks" in the hole.

If you can move the rod by hand the sleeve it is either missing or needs some serious adjustment. If you can't move the rod something is holding it stuck in the unlocked positions. My guess is a mashed sleeve although it could be stuck elsewhere and holding the sleeve recessed.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

I do NOT miss working on this mechanism. Satan himself designed it. I am convinced of that.

.

Ive come to the conclusion that setup is the devil. It doesnt hold our outdrives down at all anymore. Before we figured that out we almost ran our boat through a dock b/c we couldnt slow down. Didnt know what was going on till someone was standing on the back and heard the props chopping water.. There locked down for good now.

 

[edgpr]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

If you can move the rod by hand the sleeve it is either missing or needs some serious adjustment.  If you can't move the rod something is holding it stuck in the unlocked positions.  My guess is a mashed sleeve although it could be stuck elsewhere and holding the sleeve recessed.[/QUOTE]

The rod moves, i can pull it out and i see the nut on the rod too. I can't see the top that sticks out as i stated above. idk if i need that part and thats the problem, but i know the rod is not stuck. I did feel like something hit the outdrive whiles i was out last time in shallow water.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

You need to determine if the Stainless sleeve is there or not. could you see anything above the nut? Here is another pic with my outdrive off.

[/IMG]

As I said before, that sleeve is 1.5 inches long. If you can't see it from the top or see the bottom of the sleeve when you pull the rod down manually, it must be gone.

 

[Paul Ryan]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

I am having the same prob's. Sometimes the sleve will stick in the hole. The rod is not in a bind because I can wiggle it, but it does not stick up as it should as shown. Well sometime it will, sometimes it won't. I will be taking the drive off to look this over more.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

I am having the same prob's. Sometimes the sleve will stick in the hole. The rod is not in a bind because I can wiggle it, but it does not stick up as it should as shown. Well sometime it will, sometimes it won't. I will be taking the drive off to look this over more.

The arm from the outdrive may be mushroomed and catching the thrust sleeve or the thrust sleeve may be bent.

BTW, the sleeve does not have to stick up out of the hole as much as mine does, it should be shorter in fact. It's a simple system but can be frustating when it doesn't work correctly.


You should start your own thread. Perhaps this poster will learn from reading yours. Take pics. Maybe we'll all learn something.

 

[Paul Ryan]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

You should start your own thread. Perhaps this poster will learn from reading yours. Take pics. Maybe we'll all learn something.

Had already planned on that same thought. Thread coming soon.

 

[edgpr]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

This is what mine looks like. definitely missing something. i just don't know if part of the sleeve is still in there cause i see something after the nut when i pull the rod out.

 

[mcleaves]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

The sleeve is jammed stuck inside the yoke. A picture from the top would be better to see if it is mashed or painted in, but your third picture down shows that it is indeed stuck inside the yoke in the release position. When in the locked position that nut on the rod should be up inside the yoke, forced there by the springs of the reverse locking mechanism. It serves as a stop.

So that bar is stuck. You need to remove it and clean out the yoke. Hopefully you can remove the old sleeve and install a new one

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

The sleeve is jammed stuck inside the yoke. A picture from the top would be better to see if it is mashed or painted in, but your third picture down shows that it is indeed stuck inside the yoke in the release position. When in the locked position that nut on the rod should be up inside the yoke, forced there by the springs of the reverse locking mechanism. It serves as a stop.

So that bar is stuck. You need to remove it and clean out the yoke. Hopefully you can remove the old sleeve and install a new one

I agree.

It looks to me as though there is still part of the sleeve screwed on the rod just above the nut. The challenge is to get the rest of the sleeve to unscrew up off of the rod. Unfortunatly, the hole in the top of the lifting arm that the tilt comes down on gets mashed down over the years and may not allow the sleeve to go up and out the top.

You need to tie the outdrive up and retract the lift mechanism and dig in.

Great photos by the way.

Let us know how it goes. And don't hesitate to ask any questions or post your frustrations, we understand.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

I just replaced the thrust sleeve on mine because it was bent. I tried to straighten it but didn't want to take a chance of messing up the threads on the rod. It'll run about $22 plus shipping.

Pictures really help when putting things back together. Make sure you clean up the parts really good and lube surfaces that will be rubbing together. It can be frustrating reassembling when the outdrive is on a stand, I imagine doubly so with the drive still on the boat.

If you're going to the trouble of taking it apart, you might want to go ahead and order new springs and locknuts Take a close look at the hole that the sleeve slides through. There is a slight lip toward the top of the inside of the hole. I've heard recomendations of running a drill bit up there to smooth out the bore. I haven't done it myself since mine was in good shape so can't saw if it's a good idea or not - just wanted to mention it in case yours is beat up.

When you do the reassembly, read carefully about backing off of the locknuts 1/8 of a turn. It'll allow the latch parts to slide together. I also used some white lithium greas on mine but it might wash off eventually anyway.

Good luck.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 280 Lifting problem

I was able to fix mine on the boat but it was a pain. I cant remember if I had the upper gear box off...I'm pretty sure I took off the exhaust bellows. I yanked the rod down out of the tilt arm, it was very tight. Then I ran a 3/8 drill bit up though the hole to clean it out. I unscrewed the remains of the old sleeve, jambed the rod back into the hole, and screwed the new sleeve on the rod from the top. Worked okay after that. I've had it apart since and had some welding done on it to repair some damage from the previously bent sleeve.

Once you get your brain around it, it's not so bad.