Outdrive won't go down

[mlpaskett]

I have the Volvo Penta 5.0GXi with the SX-A drive. The drive will not go down. It is in the full up position and the trim pump is "working" (makes the normal sound) but the drive will not go down. I recall when I was little my dad's boat did the same thing and he ended up just adding fluid to the reservoir. His was an old merc...not sure if that info is relevant to my problem. I have read the owners manual and it indicates that "If system performance is poor, check fluid level in pump." The directions say to check fluid with the drive in the full down position. Mine won't go down...

My questions are...could I really just be low on the fluid? ...or is my problem likely to be much bigger? Either way...how do I get my drive to go down?

Thanks in advance

--Mark

 

[Bondo]

Re: Outdrive won't go down

I have the Volvo Penta 5.0GXi with the SX-A drive. The drive will not go down. It is in the full up position and the trim pump is "working" (makes the normal sound) but the drive will not go down. I recall when I was little my dad's boat did the same thing and he ended up just adding fluid to the reservoir. His was an old merc...not sure if that info is relevant to my problem. I have read the owners manual and it indicates that "If system performance is poor, check fluid level in pump." The directions say to check fluid with the drive in the full down position. Mine won't go down...

My questions are...could I really just be low on the fluid? ...or is my problem likely to be much bigger? Either way...how do I get my drive to go down?

Thanks in advance

--Mark

Ayuh,.... Splash some oil into it, 'n Try it....

More than likely, it was tilted Full up, 'n left in the overload position...
That sometimes causes the valving to get stuck...

Usually havin' a Large friend Jump on the drive is enough to break 'em free....

The Cure, is to never leave the pump in the overload position, but to tap the down switch a couple of short taps, to unload it...

Or,....
The end caps on the rams sometimes corrode, 'n bind on the shafts....

 

[Soreal53]

Re: Outdrive won't go down

Mine also was stuck in the up position last month. Every thing sounded normal but would just not go down. I checked all wiring and even took motor apart and every thing looked normal. Then I finally noticed it was very low on fluid and called my Volvo dealer and was to told to add regular power steering fluid. And now works even better then before with no problem at all.

 

[jaxflg8r]

Re: Outdrive won't go down

As Bond-O said, a large friend can help. When mine would not go down, before the ram rebuild, I would stand on the horizontal fins while my son pressed the tilt switch. Worked like a charm.......

 

[mlpaskett]

Re: Outdrive won't go down

Thanks all! I am not in need of a large friend...I tried weighing down the drive while my son worked the switch...no luck. I did put about a teaspoon of PS fluid in and all works great now.

 

[jaxflg8r]

Re: Outdrive won't go down

I am jealous....I wish my problems would be cures with a teaspoon of ps fluid......happy boating.