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Locking aq270 permanently, broken reverse

M

mennor

New member
Hi all, when in reverse my aq270 pops out of fje water and my boat brakes with 1 mile per hour...:) I would like to lock the sterndrive permanently. Anyone have a briliant idea how to do this preferably when boat/sterndrive is in the water? Thanks!
 
1...Locking the sterndrive down permanently is a BAD idea..
2... Is the "pop up" problem a new one, i.e. while you owned it did it ever work correctly?
 
Hi Sandkicker, Thanks for your reply! Can you explain why it is a bad idea? The pop up problem is new one it has worked for a month and now pops up......
 
The reason that the drive has the ability to kick up is to prevent/minimize damage to the leg in the event you hit something hard , or bottom.
There is an adjust procedure for the reverse interlock... See attached (shift adj)... Also as a quick sanity check... in the "prop rotation" file below
in the "Note" section, interpret the statement that the shift cable pushes to mean "fully extended" ( When shifted to FWD.)
If it is "extended " while FWD and adjustment is correctly done (shift adjustment) then you need to replace the "spring catches) #5 ( shift adjustment...jpg) ,,, note that there are a RH and a LH part... both need to be replaced. These can be replaced without pulling the drive off but not in the water... IF the drive (top) bellows is more than 3 seasons, you may as well pull the drive off to replace #5s and replace the bellows (OEM only!). Replacing #5s while on the hard with the drive still on the boat is an <expletive deleted> job but doeable job.
 

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Thanks again for the very clear and useful working instructions! I will take my boat out of the water and have it inspected. If repairable I will do it otherwise need to lock it permanently and take the risk. Chance of hitting a bottom where I cruise is next to 0 so just hope not to hit something else:) Next winter the aq270 needs refit or maintenance I also found something else strange on the back while inspecting, some sort of loose plate with 2 screws and one missing. guess 40 years old takes its toll. Enjoy your day!
 
Wow... BINGO.... That plate is supposed to lock the shift cable into place into the drive itself. It is supposed to be held in with two
short hex head bolts. Unless locked in place by ths plate, the reverse interlock ( and shift) won't work properly. These are a bit of a pain to tighten since you can only get an open end end wrench ( or a combo open/box) wrench in there and tighten/loosen it one or two "flats" at a time. That plate has a "U" on one end that is supposed to engage the annular groove in the shift cable juncture between to flex cable part and the rod. To fix this... Open back cover and disconnect the shift cable from the mechanism ( remove cotter pin) Then remove that "plate" completely. If you only have one bolt, use the other one to find another one. Best bet is ebay. Better yet a local Volvo Penta dealer. If you are lucky, you may find an exact dup at a good HW store, but HW store stainless is crap and will rust. Clean crap out of the recess in the back of the drive that this "plate" sits in... Insert the U on the plate over the annular groove on the cable and insert the cable fully, seating the plate fully as well. Insert bolts and tighten fully. THEN follow exactly the instructions for shift adjustment. While you are underthere, use a small S/S wire brush to remove the marine crap from the "spring catches" and the mating surfaces... Lube with a thin smear of waterproof marine grease. Good luck. AS best you can, inspect the drive bellows.... even a pin hole can be expensive.
 
BTW... if the age of the bellows is unkown or it appears degraded, have it replaced. This is NOT a good first time DIY Volvo maintenance project.
Find a mechanic who has done this before on a VOLVO.... different enough from s MERC drive to warrant someone with experience.
 
I am going to search for volvo sterndrive specialist. The reverse lock seems to be so sensitive that I might just lock it permanently and take the risk of hitting something. These fixes cost me couple hundred dollars and something tells me I will have more problems with the reverse lock in next years. Bellows will be replaced next winter. Thanks for all the help and info!
 
In over 20 years of running a Volvo 280 drive ( same rev system as 270)... I've adjusted it 6x and replaced the "spring catches" once...
This on a drive that I bought off of a sunken houseboat after i used it for 10 years .. that and a shift arm seal. Reverse lock not sensitive other than to wear on the spring catch ears. Once adjusted properly good for years. I only have to readjust it when I remove the leg to replace the bellows every 3 or 4 seasons. Permanently locking drive down risks thousands of dollars in damage.... BTW... If you trailer it you have to be able to lift drive all the way up... and either install the Volvo drive trailer support, or tie it up with a strap or heavy rope.
 
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