hobhancock wrote:
More info and more questions
The engine is the 5.8 FSI Volvo
The outdrive is the Penta DP duo prop
Trying to improve the throttle handle response. Not sure if the cable is even the correct one. I had gone to the dealer to get a replacement cable and they werent sure which one I needed. They only took my old cable and used it to measure the length. It has not been a smooth push on the handle since. Plus, I cannot maintain a steady speed when pulling my kids. I have to push and pull and adjust while on the move. I also wonder when I push the handle at what point should it begin to engine the outdrive. Mine I can push until maybe the 11 o clock position before any engagement and then I get as far as 9 o clock when the handle stops. Does this make sense on how I tried to explain?
You should be able to easily see if the throttle is fully open, with the air cleaner off and giving the handle full throttle, without the engine running.
The 11 o'clock engage and 9 o'clock limit sounds about right. The clunk could be the u-joints in the outdrive, which isn't too difficult to repair. Normally, you shouldn't hear any clunking from the gears since Volvo uses cone clutches vs. the Mercury Alfa drives using clutch dogs.
What altitude is the lake where you take it? Mine suffers at anything higher than 4500 ft. Using the proper pitch prop is the key to hole shot, and minimizing the weight in the boat and having heavier passengers sit toward the front, and having the drive trimmed properly.
The 5.8 sounds like it is the Ford Windsor 351? Mine has the Chevy 350 so not sure what distributor you have. Mine has a Pertronix distributor. When I first bought mine used, it had 220 hrs on the clock and was stored in a humid climate. When tuning it, the timing light jumped all over the place off idle. Upon closer inspection with the distributor cap off, I could see the ends of the springs for the flyweights for the centrifugal advance had corroded and snapped off, letting the flyweights swing out full stroke as soon as putting the throttle to it. I replaced them with the same size/spring rate stainless steel springs & timed it and it's been running great ever since.