Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

If I were you , I would find someone who knows how to set the timing. Otherwise you could be at this for a while. Do you know anyone who could help you out?

 

[GLPmike]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

Yes. We have a friend who is a Volvo mechanic.

Looks like we should give him a call.

Thanks

 

[Todd157k]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

Not sure how to check timing? But willing to learn.

Thanks

Read through this and see if you feel you can do it BEFORE you start tinkering.

1. turn the engine over (either with a socket on the balancer bolt or click the starter) until you line up the harmonic balancer TDC mark with the "<" pointer tab. (Top Dead Center)
2. check that the rotor is pointing to the #1 wire (yes, you have to lift the cap off but you shouldn't have to remove the wires).

If that looks good, then you're in the ballpark to set the timing. You will need a meter or a pen-light tester and you'll need to know the proper advance for your motor. (small edit: it's posted above at 6 deg. btdc)

1. with the cap back on, hook up your meter/light across the + and - of the coil.
2. "click" the engine over with the starter until the ?<? is pointing to the correct mark on the balancer. (lets say your engine should be at 15 deg. BTDC. There should be marks on the balancer before and after the long ?TDC? line. Align the marks like this:
----
----
------- TDC
----
---- 15 <
----

It doesn?t have to be perfect. Just close. This side of TDC is ?Before? (BTDC).

3. Now, loosen the distributor clamp and rotate the distributor VERY slowly clockwise until the light pen lights up. If the pen is already lit, rotate it counter clockwise until it goes out, then back clockwise til it JUST lights. (someone jump in here if his distributor rotates ccw)

Your timing is now ?close? enough that it should start/run. Once it does, get the thing to idle and get a timing light and dwell meter. Set the dwell first, then you can rotate the distributor to set the timing.

 

[GLPmike]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

Just did a bench test of the ignition coil and it appears to be bad. Will order a new Volvo unit for $62 and will give it another try in a few days.

 

[ocitsalocs]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

new coil, plugs, and wires and still no good spark. There is some spark when we ground the plugs to the block but they are white and weak. When we test it with the tester there is no spark. Is there anything that we still could check? We're kind of running out of options. Are there any grounds that we could be missing? Anything would help, thank you.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

ocitsalocs, best to start a new thread with your question, don't just hijack GLPmikes thead with your question.

 

[ocitsalocs]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

hes my dad, it's the same boat.

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

I thought you guys were going to have a mechanic look at it. If you don't know how to set the timing, you need some help. Just having a mechanic check over the ignition system shouldn't cost much.

Stop throwing parts at it.

 

[ocitsalocs]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

I guess we did figure it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogwHLtT_Qm4

 

[ocitsalocs]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

freaks

 

[captmello]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

What did you do to get it running?

 

[gimli]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

just thought I would jump in here. I had many of the same problems. My 230b is terrible to start. Always needs 5 mins at 2000+ rpm to warm up. If I try to reduce the rpm it just stalls. Once the engine is hot it can idle perfect at 900 rpm even when shifting from forward to reverse. It has no hesitation on powering up. Most important the battery has to be fully charged. If its even a bit less than full charge I need to crank the engine for a long time and it slowly sputters to life.

 

[gimli]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

My 230b runs perfect after a 5 minute warm up. But it is very difficult to start. Often requiring 2000 rpm just to kept it running. Does anyone know how I can get this engine to start easier? Perhaps a new carb with a choke. If the engine is hot it starts instantly without any throttle. I'm concerned the excessive cranking the engine with the starter is going to cause other expensive problems.

I have a idea that someone has solved this problem in the past. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Volvo Penta 230b Will Not Start

.

Hi there Gimli, Thanks for starting your own thread this time around. As you may have noticed, typically when someone tags onto another members thread like you had done here back in November and again today, more often than not a few things may happen to questions like yours. For one, it may go unnoticed and not be answered delaying your request for assistance as most of our iboats helpful forum members may just typically read and respond to either only the first post of the thread along with any other post made by just the original poster for additional information before responding. All the while confusion may start to set in if someone else tries to help with you're question and before long know body really knows who's helping whom as the thread gets longer and longer. Another would be most members may look at the date of the original post and decide not to respond to another question at the end due to most members are aware of iboats policies and guidelines that prefers older threads like this one sit idle down in the archives only to be brought up by the original poster within a reasonable amount of time frame.

Good luck to you with getting your boat all situated.