Volvo External Hydraulic Steering Complete

[Ralph Savarese]

This thing turned out Sweet! I think I am the first to finally complete one. There was a lot of talk out there but haven't seen any Volvos work yet. Learned a lot! Do not use the Lathem Marine wing plate on a barrel back 2+3 there will not be enough throw on the pistons and the L shape will cut up the rubber bumper
No more Steering Helm!
The drive is rock solid when running and provides steering when engine is off
3 turns lock to lock. I will take that with no play!
Through bolted the fork with 3/4 sholderd bolts.
I have the wing plate saved in C.A.D.
if anybody would like to buy one.
Can't wait to get it in the water maybe tomorrow.
7126871269712707127171272712737127471275

[osur866]

Nice job looks great!!

[penbroke]

Very nice!!


Frank

[MOP]

Killer!

[maddad]

Nice Ralph! This thread also needs pics of the helm to original teleflex bezel install.

[RedDog]

Looks great!

[olredalert]

-----Agree with Maddad!!!!........Bill S

[HallJ]

Looks great!

http://www.donzi.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=51148&d=1254164235

Jeff

[Ghost]

Love it, nice work.

[Kirbyvv]

Nice job.

[Ed Donnelly]

looks great. Don't forget your plug.......................Ed

[Ralph Savarese]

Tried it today it worked great straight as an arrow great responce . Then I tried to jump on it and spun the hub out of my prop got up to about 50 it felt great .I guess I will try again when I get the new hub

[maddad]

Ralph, my 24" ultra is yours to use until you get yours back in ship shape.

[Ralph Savarese]

Thanks Mike I am calling B and S today I ended up taking the drive off anyway last night want to replace steering tube bushings saw it had some play in there. What a job getting the tube out ! Hopfully I will be able to work on it while the prop is being repaired. Thanks will see what happens.

[mattyboy]

very nice job , just a note that prop with the flare ring at the end will give you some quirking handling my spinelli was jusy like it the ultra or solas don't have it and will handle better.

[Kirbyvv]

It depends on the prop. I have a Michigan 21, with a flared end, that handles much like my Ultra 24....

[Ralph Savarese]

That is the exact prop I have I had it re pitched to a 22.5 and cupped. I am having it re cond. and re hubbed.
5000 rpm no problem great hole shot and top end I did a lot of experementing to finally get it dialed in and love the performance I was concidering taking off the flair end

[Ralph Savarese]

Absolutely Incredible! 45 years of driving that boat and dealing with a pull. You can let go of the wheel at 65 MPH and wherever you point it thats were it goes. I cannot believe it! It's almost scary because you don't know how to trust what it is going to do over a wake. It just stays there!

[Bassmaster2012]

cool boat dude:shocking:

[boldts]

Looks great! Having owned an 69' 18'Classic with the Volvo 250 drive, I was always experimenting with a way to adapt hydraulic trim to the drive. Had alot of engineers look at the set-up and was told the lever inside that the electrical tilt & lift for trailering was not strong enough to take a hydraulic ram pushing down on it. I was also told it would be very expensive to retro fit. So, my dad and I went back to adding trim with spacers on the trim bar. It worked, but you loose your reverse lock. Sooooooooo. I quite messing with it and enjoyed what I had. I have seen hydraulic trim used on Volvo equipped Offshore race boats. However, just one or two. Fantastic job on the steering Ralph. I know there are many old Volvo drive Donzi owners thanking you for taking the time to mastermind a system.

[smidgen too]

[ QUOTE=$originalposter]{$pagetext}[/QUOTE]
[
Looks great! Having owned an 69' 18'Classic with the Volvo 250 drive, I was always experimenting with a way to adapt hydraulic trim to the drive. Had alot of engineers look at the set-up and was told the lever inside that the electrical tilt & lift for trailering was not strong enough to take a hydraulic ram pushing down on it. I was also told it would be very expensive to retro fit. So, my dad and I went back to adding trim with spacers on the trim bar. It worked, but you loose your reverse lock. Sooooooooo. I quite messing with it and enjoyed what I had. I have seen hydraulic trim used on Volvo equipped Offshore race boats. However, just one or two. Fantastic job on the steering Ralph. ]

I made a few of these power trim set ups back in the 70's for Volvo race boats. This pic is of a 28' Bertram Baron that raced modified class back in the day. I used Merc OB trim cyl, & Merc trim pumps with home made brakets, no problems. These trim set ups were on boats that ran real 100 mile offshore races back in the day. :yes:

[Ralph Savarese]

Every time Irun the boat now I am just completely amazed at the performance and handling I can’tbelieve I have been riding in that boat for 46 years and that unsafe. All I cansay is wow! If any one would like to get parts and try this please contact me Don’tbather with that Latham wing plate it will tear up your tilt bumper and also tolong for K5b pistons

[Ralph Savarese]

71670716797168071671716727167371674716757167671677 71678

Original helm in place no problem. I still can not get over how well it handles. Maddad had a chance to drive it. He can't believe it either!
I think he is convinced to go this route.

[jl1962]

Bringing this excellent thread/modification to the top.

Anyone who has an old Volvo boat and wants to go fast and doesn't have arms like Popeye, should consider this.

I was looking hard at doing a single external arm on my old 16, but transom geometry for the arm (over the tabs, under the mufflers, onto the drive) and still be able to steer all the way left, right and tilt the drive, was extremely tight.

-JL

[Ed Donnelly]

Thank you for bringing this back up. I searched for it and could not find it.
I even made a comment on that post.
What did you end up doing as I have a 290 with trim and tilt..Ed

[johnnywhale]

Thank you for bringing this back up. I searched for it and could not find it.
I even made a comment on that post.
What did you end up doing as I have a 290 with trim and tilt..Ed

Ed, from your video posted, that upper cap looks awfully close to the 280 one, maybe a similar wing plate would work. Your tips look like they will be the issue. Ralph's pistons just touch at fully raised / trailering position. You do lose the helmet etc.
John