Bravo 2 hard shifting

[dablahs]

Hello everyone, I have a 2001 Bayliner 3055 twin 5.7 Bravo 2s. The drives are hard to get into gear, my wife is very small and can barely get them in and out of gear. A mechanic friend of mine suggested removing one of the 2 springs in the shift detent ball. Would that cause the outdrive to slip out of gear on its own? Also can the rear plate over the shift detent ball be removed without draining the outdrive oil? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

Ayuh,..... Fixing the Problem would probably be Safer than trying to hide the symptoms....

Tight/ Stiff shifting can be caused by the Controller, the Cable to the switchplate, or the Lower Cable, or even the Drive itself...
Seperate each component,+ See which is the Problem...

Good Luck,+ Welcome Aboard,...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

Also can the rear plate over the shift detent ball be removed without draining the outdrive oil?...

Yes.

But follow bond-o's advice. The way your "mechanic friend" is telling you to fix it, is NOT fixing it all.

 

[twostroke87]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

Take off the lower cable where it attaches to work with the upper cable, see how the shifter feels without the lower cable attached, if its still tight then you have a prob in your shifter, then try to shift the lower cable by hand, it shouldn't be THAT difficult, it will offer some resistance but shouldn't be ridiculous. Whens the last time the lower cable was replaced? If it was more than 3-5 years ago that is probably the culprit.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

I think the fella's will agree that hard shifting is almost always related to the lower shift cable.
Listen to the advice these gentleman have given you. NOT your "Mechanic" friend. He is dead wrong.

 

[dablahs]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

Thanks for the replys, last year when we serviced the drives for the winter we disconnected the lower cable and the shifter worked smooth. We then pulled the shift detent balls out, reconnected the cables and again it worked smooth. We took out the inner spring on the detent ball and it seemed much better. We refilled the drive with oil but now I am worried that it might slip out of gear or something so I think I will put the springs back in. Do I need to drain the outdrive to remove the back plates on the drives ? Thanks for your help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

Quote:
Originally Posted by dablahs
Also can the rear plate over the shift detent ball be removed without draining the outdrive oil?...

Yes.

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[TilliamWe]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

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bond-o, it can be done. My dad did it beached on a river bank in Florida. I ain't saying that some oil didn't come out, but with the drive tilted all the way up, it can be done.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

bond-o, it can be done. My dad did it beached on a river bank in Florida. I ain't saying that some oil didn't come out, but with the drive tilted all the way up, it can be done.

Ayuh,... I agree it can be done with minimal oil loss,..
Depending on the angle, there's gonna be some loss...

I was trying to hi-light that his question has already been answered....
I just get the feeling that None of our responses were read.....

 

[mkast]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

I just get the feeling that None of our responses were read.....

Maybe, or the responses weren't the ones he wanted to hear.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Bravo 2 hard shifting

Maybe, or the responses weren't the one's he wanted to hear.

I understand now, bond-o. I suspect that your last response and mkast's are the truth.

He's not gonna be happy when someday he's out on the water and he goes from forward to reverse, quickly, and his drives stick in reverse. Cause that's probably what will happen to the detent ball with a spring missing!