forced shifter control reverse while not running ?

[jerry123]

1988 Volvo Penta 5.7 w/duo prop. Can anything be damaged by shifting controller while motor is off? It felt very stiff and forced while doing so. boat on trailer / outdrive all the way up.

 

[HorizonblueDK]

Re: forced shifter control reverse while not running ?

Shifting into forward or reverse when the engine is off, doesn't damage anything on a Volvo. You may need to use a bit more force to put it in reverse, since you activate the locking mechanism, that prevents the outdrive from kicking up, when you approach the dock.

My old 290 drive needed at bit more force to get into reverse.

Volvo ditched this locking mechanism in the beginning of the 1990's and built the "kick up" function into the hydraulic trim rams instead.

But it shouldn't be necessary to use brute force to operate the handle, so maybe you need a new cable. Over time they become sticky.

 

[jerry123]

Re: forced shifter control reverse while not running ?

I should of noted that the boat was on its trailer w/ outdrive all the way up. does that make a difference ?

 

[HorizonblueDK]

Re: forced shifter control reverse while not running ?

I haven't really noticed if it makes any difference, whether the outdrive is up or down, I never operate the throttle/gear lever, when the outdrive is fully raised. The cable is bend a bit more, when the outdrive is raised, but it still has a large radius, so I don't think you will notice any difference.

 

[Don S]

Re: forced shifter control reverse while not running ?

While shifting with the engine doesn't normally hurt, it can.
In the future, if yo have the boat out of the water and on the trailer, don't shift with the drive all the way up. That just puts a lot of extra bend in the cable and makes it hard to shift.
Then, if it's sticking, just turn the props while shifting out of gear.
With the drive down and turning the props, it will shift like it was running.

 

[jerry123]

Re: forced shifter control reverse while not running ?

While shifting with the engine doesn't normally hurt, it can.
In the future, if yo have the boat out of the water and on the trailer, don't shift with the drive all the way up. That just puts a lot of extra bend in the cable and makes it hard to shift.
Then, if it's sticking, just turn the props while shifting out of gear.
With the drive down and turning the props, it will shift like it was running.

Thank you for your help. I will remember that.