On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:30:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

I did som reading on the atomic-4 and it was a success from about 1947
to about 1984 when production ceased. I know they didn't change very
much but what was it's demise? Couldn't meet EPA? or just an out dated
flathead? Or a combination of a bunch of things?

I think it was a combination of things. Up until the late 70s, early
80s there were not a lot of choices for small marine engines. Volvo
made some small diesels but they were pricey, and to a certain extent,
a bit quirky. Then about that time Yanmars began coming into the US
in great numbers from Japan and at reasonable prices. Buyers and
builders began to percieve diesels as a better value and safer choice.
The rest is history.

One nice thing about the Volvos is that they were relatively easy to
crank start by hand thanks to large fly wheels and a compression
release lever. The trick was to open the compression release, get
the fly wheel spinning at a good clip with the crank, and then close
the release lever. The fly wheel had enough momentum to kick it over
a few times and get the engine started.