unfavorable throttle position during start

[Dr Noob]

of the bat, the engine starts just fine. what i do not like is the throttle position when i start it. back in 2002 when i just got the boat, i would set the throttle at about 10:30 and then turn the key. nowdays, i have to set the throttle all the way down to 9:00 in order for the engine to start. the trouble, of course, is that the engine immediately revves up like crazy, forcing me to quickly pull back on the throttle. sometimes, i pull it back too early, stalling the engine. i am quite sick of this cat-and-mouse game, and i know that it is bad for the engine. so what i would like to know is how to make this go away and get me back to comfortably starting the engine without making it look like i am passing a stone. thank you!

 

[12vMan]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

you had me cracking up at the passing a stone part!
What do you have - i/b o/b i/o? is it injected? that will help us help you

 

[Dr Noob]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

thank you, thank you, i am here all week.

but seriously....
it is a volvo penta 5.0GL i/o carburated (is that even a word?)

 

[captmello]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

Welcome to carburated engines. Do you have this problem when the engine is warm, cold, all the time???? When was your last tune up? This may or may not be a problem at all. Just an annoyance too you.

 

[Don S]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

software developer + Clymer manual + 5.0 v8 i/o = :redface:

After reading your signature, I have to believe like captmellow, that you are fairly young and have never dealt with a carbed engine on a car or anything else before this boat.
They DO NOT start like your car with EFI.

Here is a copy and paste from a Volvo Owners Manual for starting a cold carbed engine.

Starting the engine, (cold start)
GL models:
A cold engine may require priming before you can start it:
1. Turn the ignition switch OFF.
2. Disengage the shift mechanism.
3. Move the remote control handle to FULL THROTTLE (this
operates the accelerator pump and primes the engine).
4. Return the remote control handle to FAST IDLE.
5. Turn the ignition switch to START and hold it there until
the engine starts, but for no longer than 10 seconds.
6. Repeat priming if necessary.

CAUTION!
Too much priming may flood the engine. If the engine
fails to start after a few attempts, there may be
a problem that needs to be addressed. See your authorized
Volvo Penta dealer for service.

Note in step 4 where they say FAST IDLE, that is a trial and error spot. That will run the engine about 1200 rpm to start. If to fast, you have to pull the throttle back quickly, it's just how carbs work.
Kind of a juggling act, one hand on the throttle, moving as necessary, the other hand on the key starting the engine.

Have you been keeping up with the maintenance on this engine? Tuneups, fuel filters, raw water pump impellers ???? If not, things like tuneups, and fuel filter neglect will make it harder to start each year.

 

[Dr Noob]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

this happens all the time. does not matter whether the engine is warm or cold. i started off by letting the my dealer go through winterizing procedure for the first several years after the purchase. but once the total price began to climb over $325, i decided to do the job myself. however, i do not do anything other than change the oil + filter, fogging, and change lower unit oil. i though about playing around with adjusting the throttle cable where it meets the engine, as there are some nuts on threads in that area. but i figured that i better talk to you guys first.

 

[Don S]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

i though about playing around with adjusting the throttle cable where it meets the engine, as there are some nuts on threads in that area.

Why would you even think of messing with that? It has nothing to do with your problem.

 

[Dr Noob]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

Don, thank you for the initial post. yes, i have never dealt with carburated engines with exception of my ride-on mower. i guess what got me complacent was the fact that during the first 2-3 years, the engine would start pretty much like my efi cars. when i bought the boat, the dealer's shop gave me a quick run-through about the starting procedure. they told me to prime the engine by quickly pushing the throttle 3-4 times back and forth between full throttle and about 10:30-ish, then leave it at 10:30 after the last push. like i said, this worked like a charm for the first 2-3 year, and i never had to play that "jiggling act" you speak of. but i am, however, somewhat happy to hear that such jiggling is, in fact, part of the starting procedure. so what would you say the list of possible culprits is?

as for the aforementioned adjustment of the throttle cable, it was nothing more than a thought. i typically read (and re-read) the maintenance manual several times before proceeding with anything. but i never even went that far (let alone actually undertake adjustment process) since the engine runs just fine once it starts. but i figured it would not hurt to mention it here. glad to hear that that could be eliminated as a culprit.

thank you!

 

[Don S]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

Do you have the full model number for your engine. There should be an A, B or C after the 5.0GL. I have links to the OEM manuals, so you can use the clymers manual as a knee pad. They have way to much missing information or copied wrong to make them useful.

Might want to visit the Adults Only sticky at the top of this forum. LOTS o information you probably want to know.

 

[Dr Noob]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

Do you have the full model number for your engine. There should be an A, B or C after the 5.0GL. I have links to the OEM manuals, so you can use the clymers manual as a knee pad. They have way to much missing information or copied wrong to make them useful ...

i believe the letter designation is M.

When was the last time it had a complete tune up?

it has been quite a while. i would say at least 5 years. i do not use the boat a lot. and when i do, i usually just cruise around at very low speed. neither of my kids are big enough for water skiing or tubing. and we are more into scenic drives on the river than high speed shenanigans. in the 8 years i had this boat, it has racked up just under 50 hours (i have a counter hooked up to the engine), and only a total of no more than 2-3 hours of high-speed use. i am all for tuning, but i am a bit apprehensive about handing it over to the shop. i had to return it a few times to get work redone, which is what drove me in the first place to make friends with the engine and do as much work as i can. but i also understand that some tasks are way beyond my jurisdiction. hopefully the manual from Don will shed more light on what's what, so i know what to expect when handing it over to the shop.

 

[Don S]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

i believe the letter designation is M.

nope, that's not one of the possibilities. Go look at it, and get all the engine numbers.
http://www.volvopentastore.com/mall/template/store/volvopenta/help.html

 

[Dr Noob]

Re: unfavorable throttle position during start

my apologoes, Don. i was looking at the transom unit section of the tag. the engine letter designation is B.