1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

[ED-LINDA]

Hello i am having a difficult time with my volvo 225e....when we got the boat last season it was in sad st ate for maintenance. It has a 275 volvo outdrive. We had a fuel issue as tank had alot of water and sediment in it..i drained the whole tank and got everything out of the tank....i did a full tune up and filter changes. Mototr is now running well now...i put a fresh rebuilt shorthub prop on the drive...is a 14x19..it came with a long hub 15x19 but it was in rough shape. The motor rev,s up too 4500 but i can get only 15 miles an hour out of it...it always ran steady at 25 mph before....this fuel problem has had me redo the whole motor from top to bottom for getting it tuned and timed..i have a bad feeling that the cone clutch is slipping or the new prop. Havent tried another prop yet...could it be a coupler issue...i have not owned a volvo so this set up is a learning curve....i would appreciate any input...i have a spare drive but want to rule out everything before i swap it out...thanks ed

 

[Eddie Ray]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Hello Ed. What size boat is that? I have a 1985 trophy.
Going to the smaller prop could be part of the problem? It would cause the RPMs to be higher . But if your boat is like mine ,it is heavy.
The one on my boat when I got it was 15/17. And looked to be the original. I went to a little smaller prop,and have lost some speed.
I've been told here on this site to check the linkage. That the cables get worn,and don't engage fully.
Good luck with the old girl.
Eddie

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Thanks EDDIE its a 26 ceirra...like i said the volvo outdrive is all new to me..cant get alot of answers at the local marina,s .if it was merc no probs.is that shift cable two or one peice. i am going to swap the prop out only problem is we put an extended swim platform on it so has to be hauled out again...do you know if a short hub will change performanceas well..everyone says that volvo is bullet proof but also top secret when you have a simple question around where i live..there is one major dealer but not going to mortgage the house over something i can repair. THANKS AGAIN AND YOU HAVE A GREAT NAME take care ED

 

[Eddie Ray]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

That is a pretty big boat. I do think the prop is probably too small? I know my trophy is a heavy girl.
Looks like you might need to do some scuba diving to change that prop. There are some good sites to go to ,and see if you need to go bigger? I'm no prop doc. I know the degree of the prop can make a ton of difference too. The smaller the degree the better the hole shot but less top speed .And the larger the degree or angle, makes for higher speed. But will take you longer to get there.
Sounds like your boat was like mine a bit of a project? Just like old cars,seems about the time I fix one thing. Something else gives me a problem? About got all the bugs out,I think?
As for your cable? Mine is a single piece. Don't know about yours? Check your linkage next time you have it out of the water to be sure it goes all the way into gear. Mine is worn,I'll have to change it here soon! See one thing then another.
Anyway ,best of luck. If I can help at all let me know.
Guess you better hurry,it will be freezing up there before you know it.LOL
Eddie

 

[rav221]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

I have the exact same engine/drive setup, 1986 Bayliner 1950, AQ225E with 275 Drive. It also sat for a while unused. After tune up and and getting things in shape I took the boat out and could only get a few miles per hour. The engine ran fine and rpm ran up OK, boat just didn't gain much speed. When I took the boat out of the water, I put it gear and found that I could fairly easily spin the prop by hand, I also could see the spline staying stationary........SPUN HUB. You could be looking at the same issue. The AQ225E/275 calls for a 14.3 x 21 prop. A few days ago I ordered a 4 blade Solas, I chose the 4 blade for lower end performance and handling. I'm not a speed demon, so the 2 mph or so loss on top end makes little difference. I'll have the 3 blade re-hubbed for a spare. Others here are right, could also be linkage not fully engaging, also check your drive oil level (275 uses engine oil only, not gear oil, gear oil will not work properly).

Bob

 

[Eddie Ray]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Wow, that seems like a small prop for a large boat? Maybe that is why it has the 21 pitch? I considered the four blade prop,but everything I read did not advise it. There is a really good prop guide on this site . He is definitely right about the lube. My book says 10w30. But every one here says use straight 30w.
Hope you get it figured out.
Eddie

 

[jerome radtke]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

VP does not have a clutch. There is no such thing as "partial engage." Either, you are in gear, or you are not. No in between. Gear ratio becomes the most important.
2.15 - 1 for 4 cyl
1.86 - 1 for 6
1.68 - 1 for v8
These ratios get out of kilter after different size engine swaps or stern drive swaps.

Once your engine is tuned properly the following guidelines apply.
If your engine achieves full rpm at WOT but no speed the prop is to small.
If it does not achieve full rpm at WOT your prop is to large.

I ran into all of these problems recently while changing from a 4 cyl to a 351w v8, with a 270aq sterndrive.
I am now running a michigan 15 x 19.

I have no numbers to post asyet

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Thanks everyone i got it the water at the launch ramp and swapped out the prop,,back to original one...got my wot and most of my speed back...we filled the boat up with fuel so the extra weight is the problem there,,,,,i have since taken my props to the local rebuilder and he is redoing one to 15 x19 and the other to 15x17 so i can pick the best for me..it was sluggish out of the hole so i think for my style of boating the 17 pitch will be the one.it is nice to have some opinions on a problem instead of throwing cash at a marina thanks again ....ed one problemi wanted to mention is i put a after market set of points in the distributor...ran great till about 3000 rpm,,,they seem to fail at high rpm...swapped them back to an original set and it ran fine..spoke to another boating friend and he had the same problem from that same supplier..just a thought for you if u think itcant be a new part failing.

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Well back at the marina.ran out to the lake was cruising along and felt like someone threw out the anchor...lost rpm and came of plane....nursed it back in at low speed...motor ran ok but it feels sick and lost power....owner of marina went for a ride....was ok as boat had cooled down ,,he thinks its altenator ...it works when it wants to and drains power from battery and runs only on 7 cyl...i dont know but going to have it checked....i feel its the drive heats up after a while and something is binding up ...weird feeling...like when u have a bad clutch...only thing rpm doent go up....not prop its a fresh rebuild andnot a scratch on it....im very confused,,,you guys have any ideas..im out of ideas and have asked few well seasoned mechanics here...no ideas...im going to swap drive out,but dont want to if its not that. Thanks ed

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Well had the altenator checked was ok but resistor wire had broken off,,,,put it back in motor runs fine and is charging,checked with meter and gauge....ran it got wot...still a slug...getting a bad vibraton thats getting worse..prop change to 15x17 from 15x19.....got 4400 out of it now even slower..have to use full tabs and only 18mph....brutual..marina owner says its not drive i think he i wrong and going to swap drive out...any ideas what this drive might be doing or anyone have a similiar problem........im frusterated and our long weekend is coming this weekend ..wanted to head out to a huge festival in barrie ontario....looks as if im a dock spider...and thats not boating....

 

[trophy boat]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

This has been my standard answer lately. Check you distributor advance. Are the springs broken or bad? It sounds like it is intermittantly not in time. Or bad/old fuel.

 

[Eddie Ray]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Hey Ed.
Have tried to reply several times.this site seems to be having trouble or my iPad is?
Will try to post this if it works will post again later.
Good luck. Till then if you hear from Don or Maclin,listen .they know more about this system than anyone else.
Eddie

 

[Eddie Ray]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Hi Ed.
The 15/17 should get you on plane faster,but will be a tad slower. The 15/19 will give you a little higher top speed,but will take longer to plane. Sounds lime the prop is not the problem.
I've read and been told the older Volvos are very time sensitive. Until that is right ,you are kinda shooting in the dark.
It can effect your top end,cause over heating and the list goes on.
You will get a lot of different opinions here. I have been told to check the Clutha cones,then told it dose not have them? I've been told to check that drive is fully engaging ,then told it's either in gear or it's not? Listen to Don or Maclin if they chime in.they really know this system well!.
If you haven't yet,drain the out drive. Check for water and or metal shavings. Either of these could be a sign that some thing is wrong.
I also have learned not to trust anything unless I see it myself. Had some one else go thru whole cooling system. Said he did some stuff and that everything was good to go. After chasing a heating problem for months. I took it apart my self to find the exhaust manifold was in terrible shape! So get in there and do it your self when you can. And be around to have a look for your self when some else has it apart when possible.
Hope you get it worked out soon.
Eddie

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Thanks eddie this has been ongoing all summer ,i bought a spare drive and going to swap it out today...its the only variable left.....it sure is a different animal than i was used to,,,,off course its going to hot as hell....41 celcius that s over 100 for you with humidex...thanks for your help love the state your in have been there alot..in destin florida..will let u know how i make out....ed

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Hello looking for don s to give his opinion....read alot of volvo posts from you and its right on the money with manual schematics...ed

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

The distrutor is sticky or the points aren't set right???
Had the 260 in a 86/28ft.If the points weren't set right it wouldn't get out of it's own way.
Timing's a biggie too.
The drives and couplers are almost bullet proof.10-30 or straight 30 is what you need.
Some run 85-90 not good.
Do a compression test.Those motors were famous for a sucked valve on the stbd side.
I think I have a SS 17 long hub to replace the 19alum. If interested???
I had them to replace my props on my 32 had 260's with 280's

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Well i spent the day swapping out the drive.....went together ok.....was hot as hell,,,,got to water test , i almost passed out its worse than before..only 3000 rpm cant even get on plane.....i have a weird suspicision that this drive is not the same grar ratio...when i pulled the old one had a close look at it...the cases are rough but its fine ..wasted the day again....i was told drive came off a 350 chev.....how do you determine the ratio...my old one has a tag on it..says 2.15.1 ...that isnt rightas well,,,,dont think upper is original....have spent way to much time on this ..its a simple small block not a rocket ship....pls help if u can....ed

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Wanted to say thanks to everyone who replied...after checking fuel pressure and putting a fresh rebuilt carb on with no luck...i was so flustered i went to see a buddy that i haul his boats out for..he just bought a run down marina and is bringing it back to life.....he is a hell of a car mechanic.....he just started pulling wires off the distributor to see if there was spark..he found two wires on the starboard bank of cyl switched....went for a ride and its a sweet thing...got 32 mph and right out of the hole ..what a relief......the new carb is a big improvement ,,,,thanks for all the help........again ed

 

[Eddie Ray]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Happy to hear you got it figured out. After all that? It ends up being crossed wires?
Safe boating to you.
Eddie

 

[ED-LINDA]

Re: 1986 bayliner not reaching cruising speed

Thanks eddie it was a great feeling to turn the key and have a beautiful day on the water with no issues...knock on wood it was running smoothly...have a safe season, oh i forgot thats all year for you...ed