www.iFourWinns.com

1. Parts: If you go to Napa have your part in hand so they can match it! They don't have a parts cross over chart.
If from Volvo penta know your motor and cooling system (fresh water or raw water). Nothing's worse than waiting a week for the wrong part that you have to eat. Anybody have a recipe for thermostat soup?

2. Do a .pfd search with your model name (volvo penta marine engine owners manual.pdf) This one is just cool to look at. (Four-Winns-Sport-Boats-Catalog.pdf) ( model + workshop manual) About your belt the power steering pump has the most load so check the pulley for old rubber in the grooves. I cleaned mine with a utility knife. Your belt Vs should have a small flat on them, with your belt in hand bend it both ways to check for dry rot cracks. If you get a Napa belt check the tension pulley indicator to see if it's in the proper range, my Napa belt was perfect.

3. As for the dual battery kit, the Four Winns owners manual has electrical schematics for the dual battery, just wire it the way they suggest.

4. Fresh gas, Sea Foam and then a tuneup if needed.
Also I'm not to keen on have 60 gals. of old gas in the spring. I use Sea Foam in the crank case before the spring oil change (mobil1). My fall oil change for storage I use cheap fresh oil.

Buy a 70 piece or larger Stanley tool set any special to you need will pay for itself the first time you use it. Take pictures before you start and during a repair use gloves and think about the safety of what you are doing.
If you can do a cross word puzzle you can do your own maintenance. My dealer said to me that, my boat had all new impellers, oil, tuneup, thermostat and belt. It had none of these. My first run had an oil alarm then a heat alarm.
When you do your own work, you can go boating with confidence and the satisfaction that you did your own work (not to mention the buckets of cash you saved).

So yesterday I grabbed the model/serial numbers etc off the engine (looks like it's the SX-M 1.60) but im having trouble finding the manuals I need. I see one on the volvo site ($240) i think but no pdf download. Am i looking in the wrong places or should I just buy this:

http://www.amazon.com/Volvo-Penta-Stern ... x-m+manual

I guess im just looking for something I can use to get part numbers from and to do simple maintenance/repairs.

For instance, to flush the engine on this, I think i just hook a hose to the blue flush valve on the left and turn the hose on. Then run the engine for 10 mins(....from what I read). But then in the Horizion-Freedom-Manual.pdf it says to not turn the engine on at all.

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2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon
5.0L Volvo Penta GXi

For flushing, you can use the "blue port" (but get that cap back on TIGHT when you're done!), or you can get a set of "muffs." Every boater should have a set of muffs in any case. Spend a couple bucks extra and get a pair that feeds both sides of the drive, not just one, like these:



They're available from many places.

Be aware that the Volvo factory manuals 1) contain very few part numbers, and 2) are very much written for the mechanic with a "just replace it" (as opposed to repair when possible) view. That isn't to say they're worthless - I have a set and am glad - but a Seloc manual is a good addition to have. Also, Volvo does publish a "parts catalog" (which is really just a list of part numbers) that I think you can download from their site. I'll look for it when I get a minute.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

SX-M is the model number of your Drive, and 1.60 is the gear ratio.
Your Engine will have a different model number. For example, mine is 5.7GSPWTR

Here is some information about where to find the engine model number,and what the model numbers mean:
http://www.volvopenta.com/volvopenta/global/en-gb/marine_leisure_engines/parts_service/faq/pages/faq_model_name.aspx

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I have the exact same boat as you and bought it this year. I had to put some work into it. My biggest expense was to put in a new exhaust system since I had some external rust and leak and I was concerned the same was happening internally ( when I saw the old parts it seemed like it had started to leak). After I did that the engine ran 20 degrees cooler. I also had to replace my water pump due to a leak (not just the impeller) and my belt. Found a sticky pulley and replaced that too! Uhg.

I put Starbrite Startron fuel additive every time I put gas in the tank that way I don't have to worry about the age of the fuel and it is always winterized! I would try to burn off your fuel first before filling it up and then add the fuel additive with the fillup. Try that before an expensive tune up. I use Persimmon Marine right in the Oak Grove Marina in Edgewater, MD (under rt 2 bridge). Most honest people I have met and they do great work. Alex is the owner and he gives you great advise. He has never pushed me to do anything I did not need. They find great deals on after market parts and can get you original parts as well. If they do not do the work they still share with you the best place to look.

I think the price for your sink is really good....

Good luck with your boat, I love mine. I have a Volvo Penta 5.0L in it and I find it has a lot of power. Had 8 people on it in August and we were skiing and tubing off the boat with no problem.