Volvo Penta EVC

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jdrakeford

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Hi, just recently bought a boat with a volvo D6 310 EVC. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to electronically immobilise/lock the engine control lever? Reason is it would be very easy to knock the control lever into gear by accident, or kids playing with it, and with this powerful engine it could be quite dangerous! When coming along side it's normal to leave the engine idling to allow it to cool whilst tieing up etc. It would also be easy to knock it when going through the helm door onto side deck. I have looked in the manual, but when I lock the EVC pad it doesn't seem to do anything...it may not be possible but would be surprised if Volvo designed it like that, any input appreciated!
 
Coming from previous petrol outdrive powered boats to a "new"2009 D4-300 EVC-C equipped boat, I was shocked by the shift lever fitted ( and by the omission of a kill cord). Dangerously easy to accidentally put it in drive. The marina engineer told me the shift lever was more akin to those used in low powered sailboats.

Specifying those shift levers can only have been an attempt by boat manufacturers to reduce cost; a far safer version was available, akin to those used on VP petrol outdrive installations, requiring a detent button to be pressed before it could move from neutral to forward or reverse. I found it shocking that VP even considered supplying the simple lever for powerful engine installations. Dangerous and not fit for purpose. I told the local VP dealer and boat dealer that in no uncertain terms, the result being that VP or the supplying dealer eventually paid to have the safe version fitted !

In the meantime, I had bought a previously fitted, but "unused" one from the US and was going to fit it myself; now languishing in my garage ! Slight damage ( cracks) at the screw mounting holes, but the electrical parts are fine. I can get you the part number from the box (but I don't know if it fits all versions of EVC).
 
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GrahamHR said:
Coming from previous petrol outdrive powered boats to a "new"2009 D4-300 EVC-C equipped boat, I was shocked by the shift lever fitted ( and by the omission of a kill cord). Dangerously easy to accidentally put it in drive. The marina engineer told me the shift lever was more akin to those used in low powered sailboats.

Specifying those shift levers can only have been an attempt by boat manufacturers to reduce cost; a far safer version was available, akin to those used on VP petrol outdrive installations, requiring a detent button to be pressed before it could move from neutral to forward or reverse. I found it shocking that VP even considered supplying the simple lever for powerful engine installations. Dangerous and not fit for purpose. I told the local VP dealer and boat dealer that in no uncertain terms, the result being that VP or the supplying dealer eventually paid to have the safe version fitted !

In the meantime, I had bought a previously fitted, but "unused" one from the US and was going to fit it myself; now languishing in my garage ! Slight damage ( cracks) at the screw mounting holes, but the electrical parts are fine. I can get you the part number from the box (but I don't know if it fits all versions of EVC).
Click to expand...
Hi
Thankyou for the info, this is really useful! I too am shocked the set up is like it is! If there's no way to disable it then i would be interested in new safer options. If you have the part numbers i can check it out. Mines a VP 310 A-B outdrive model year 2006.
 
You could achieve the desired effect by pressing the neutral button, this way when you press the button, if someone later knocks the throttle the engine will rev but won't go into gear.

I don't use the button. I always turn the engine off if I'm not at the helm, because the risk of someone knocking the throttle is too great.
 
julians said:
You could achieve the desired effect by pressing the neutral button, this way when you press the button, if someone later knocks the throttle the engine will rev but won't go into gear.
Click to expand...
Yes that is one option, but you need to hold the neutral button and move the shift lever ahead to engage it. Plus you would need to remember every time to be sure.
 
jdrakeford said:
Yes that is one option, but you need to hold the neutral button and move the shift lever ahead to engage it. Plus you would need to remember every time to be sure.
Click to expand...
Yep, thats why I just turn the engine off, because then there no doubt about it.
 
Last edited:
jdrakeford said:
Hi, just recently bought a boat with a volvo D6 310 EVC. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to electronically immobilise/lock the engine control lever? Reason is it would be very easy to knock the control lever into gear by accident, or kids playing with it, and with this powerful engine it could be quite dangerous! When coming along side it's normal to leave the engine idling to allow it to cool whilst tieing up etc. It would also be easy to knock it when going through the helm door onto side deck. I have looked in the manual, but when I lock the EVC pad it doesn't seem to do anything...it may not be possible but would be surprised if Volvo designed it like that, any input appreciated!
Click to expand...
Just leave the kids at home. Problem solved :).

Next!
 
jdrakeford said:
Hi
Thankyou for the info, this is really useful! I too am shocked the set up is like it is! If there's no way to disable it then i would be interested in new safer options. If you have the part numbers i can check it out. Mines a VP 310 A-B outdrive model year 2006.
Click to expand...
The part number on the box is 3847394; it includes a cable and two trim pieces, one with a moulded in hole for a kill cord switch. The ones on my boat did not have that hole. Those two trim pieces are dimensionally identical.
 
GrahamHR said:
The part number on the box is 3847394; it includes a cable and two trim pieces, one with a moulded in hole for a kill cord switch. The ones on my boat did not have that hole. Those two trim pieces are dimensionally identical.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that looks like a side mounted control, mine is a top mounted one. Not sure what a safer alternative would be....
 
83C278BB-FEA2-4DB7-91AC-E8EE4E4BE335.jpeg
cut out the bottom, pop over the throttles, couple of hinges so it flips....job done ?

you’ll hardly notice it after a while
 
Well I love the controls and the slick finger control it allows especially for docking and close up control. Wouldnt want to go back to cable and even my old morse controls required a wrestle at times. Cant agree about not being fit for purpose but maybe because mine are tucked next to the SB windscreen (targa 40) and well out of the way. Sounds like the installation position is what the concern is.
Hope u find a solution
 
bluetooth said:
Well I love the controls and the slick finger control it allows especially for docking and close up control. Wouldnt want to go back to cable and even my old morse controls required a wrestle at times. Cant agree about not being fit for purpose but maybe because mine are tucked next to the SB windscreen (targa 40) and well out of the way. Sounds like the installation position is what the concern is.
Hope u find a solution
Click to expand...
Gear selection is still via a Morse cable. The shift levers are electronic with no effort; they control an actuator which attaches to the outdrive via a shift cable ! If the cable gets stiff, rather than requiring more manual effort at the helm, it overloads the actuator, causing the engine to go into limp mode and the outdrive stays in whatever gear it was in. Not good for low speed docking actions at all, speaking from experience !

The VP OE shift cable is a basic one with a solid core. Teleflex TFXtreme ones, with a multi strand core are way, way better. Some 10% more expensive. Such a cable transformed the shifting on my previous petrol DPS boat. D4/ D6 outdrive cables have a tortuous path to the outdrive. A nightmare to fit compared to the VP USA SX/ DPS drive ones. It's like VP Sweden and VP USA cannot agree on anything, like Saab and GM ! I have fitted a TFXtreme one to my boat.

[/QUOTE]
 
GrahamHR said:
Gear selection is still via a Morse cable. The shift levers are electronic with no effort; they control an actuator which attaches to the outdrive via a shift cable ! If the cable gets stiff, rather than requiring more manual effort at the helm, it overloads the actuator, causing the engine to go into limp mode and the outdrive stays in whatever gear it was in. Not good for low speed docking actions at all, speaking from experience !

The VP OE shift cable is a basic one with a solid core. Teleflex TFXtreme ones, with a multi strand core are way, way better. Some 10% more expensive. Such a cable transformed the shifting on my previous petrol DPS boat. D4/ D6 outdrive cables have a tortuous path to the outdrive. A nightmare to fit compared to the VP USA SX/ DPS drive ones. It's like VP Sweden and VP USA cannot agree on anything, like Saab and GM ! I have fitted a TFXtreme one to my boat.
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]
GrahamHR,

The engine controls on my 2006 twin D3’s can be very stiff when close quarter manoeuvring, the boat has spent most of its life apart from the last 18 months in saltwater. Is it possible to lubricant the cables or are they non lube? I can’t find a reference on maintenance anywhere.

thanks
 
GrahamHR,

The engine controls on my 2006 twin D3’s can be very stiff when close quarter manoeuvring, the boat has spent most of its life apart from the last 18 months in saltwater. Is it possible to lubricant the cables or are they non lube? I can’t find a reference on maintenance anywhere.

thanks
[/QUOTE]
They are consumable items, they cannot be lubricated. They get stiff with age because the moving centre part wears away the plastic sheath in which it moves, in particular where the cable has curves. You've done well to get 14 years out of them! I recommend you change them, preferably to the Teleflex TFXtreme type.
 
GrahamHR said:
GrahamHR,

The engine controls on my 2006 twin D3’s can be very stiff when close quarter manoeuvring, the boat has spent most of its life apart from the last 18 months in saltwater. Is it possible to lubricant the cables or are they non lube? I can’t find a reference on maintenance anywhere.

thanks
Click to expand...
They are consumable items, they cannot be lubricated. They get stiff with age because the moving centre part wears away the plastic sheath in which it moves, in particular where the cable has curves. You've done well to get 14 years out of them! I recommend you change them, preferably to the Teleflex TFXtreme type.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks GrahamHR?
 
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