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    Is pulling engine mandatory or just convenient or overkill

    If one has to replace the gimbal housing, does it make sense to first pull the engine to be able to detach and then install new gimbal housing? In this case its a 1997 7.4L with a Bravo 3. The engine is pretty tight to the transom; maybe 4" gap in some spots.
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    busted bellows mounting flange

    Anybody have experience rebuilding the round U joint bellows mounting flange? busted u-joint hand-grenaded my flange. Welding, brazing, JB welding? Obviously the surest way to do it is buy new or used gimbal housing but that is a TON of work and expense.
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    Clever way to dry dock test new bellows for leaks

    1000s of us have replaced our bellows ( ujoint and shift) and then prayed it wont leak. What is the technique/rigging used to test out either/both new bellows in the driveway for us shadetree guys? I did search this forum without luck for answer. I imagine there might be a custom type pop-up...
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    If Brand New OEM Sealed Gimbal Bearing got wet for 2 days is it toast?

    30-879194A02 installed new. Allegedly, there was leak in U joints bellows at launch, and was not removed from freshwater lake for 2 days. I was not there. Do I need to replace again this sealed greaseless gimbal bearing if it spins nice and easy? The 4th of July countdown clock is ticking...
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    Bravo 3 Sterndrive Reinstall- shift linkage wont come out to open

    The BRAVO 3 outdrive came off quite easily and the shift cable came out of shift linkage without issue. I dont understand or remember why its not still sticking out and open from uninstall. I guess I must have pushed or bumped it back in? The drive is in Neutral. When I spin the prop shaft...
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    Bravo 3 Bell Housing to Drive Shaft Housing- No gasket?

    The drive shaft housing attaches to the bell housing with 6 bolts. There is a tremendously large seam created where these two join together, what stops the water from leaking in, filling that 6"diameter tunnel and ruining the U joints on the drive? Is there a large diameter ring gasket kit I...
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    Old Bravo3 Reassembly connecting Ujoint Bellows to Helmet

    Does the adhesive go in the first "ditch" most towards the helmet or the second "ditch" closer to the the transom of the rubber bellows? Does this 1997 Gen VI back end of the u joint bellows even get adhesive at helmet connection? Also have seen many videos, mostly Alpha drives, were DIYer...
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    Old Bravo3 Outdrive Reassembly problem connecting gear oil line

    I am ready to reassemble my 1997 B3 outdrive. I have the helmet off. I have everything attached to the transom; the water tube, shift cable and U joints bellows, trim senders and gear oil line. I can foresee being able to connect all of these to the helmet fairly easily EXCEPT that little...
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    Do Bravo 3 lower shift cables have the ring gasket?

    I am removed my 1997 B3 outdrive to do all the bellows. While removing the helmet, chose to completely extract lower shift cable and mine came out with no gasket ring where it mounts against the inner helmet surface. Is "no ring gasket" normal for a 1997 Bravo 3 lower shift cable, OK180251...
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    Bravo U joint Bellows Do Over?

    Installed new U joint bellows on Friday, having removed the helmet, and now have found its not completely seated around 100% of the circumference. Looks to be completely seated on 85-90% of the circumference. Whats my next move? Adding the bonding cement to ID and OD of offset area and...
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    Bravo Installation Kit ( ring gaskets)

    Two questions. 1) Where does the little black ring gasket go? 2) Is the orange coating on the larger ring gaskets supposed to be temporary/sacrificial? I ask because the orange coating fell off as I installed them onto to shaft.
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    What is the all time record for lower shift cable life?

    Asking for a friend (with Bravo 3 in freshwater only). My friend has at least 10 yrs on his. The shift cable looks fine on both ends. What are primary modes of lower shift cable failure? My guess is metal fatigue right near the "buttonhead" that connects to outdrive and therefore is a...
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    Should new gimble bearging gimbal? allow shaft to roll, pitch and yaw?

    I am installing new OEM greaseless gimbal 30-879194A02 on my 97 Bravo 3 and along the way found this youtube video explaining why the gimble bearing is a gimbal. In the video it is not a flat static 2D type inner race. The inner race is moving in X,Y and Z axis. As others had commented on...
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    1997 7.4L MPI IAC valve location and removal

    Can anyone confirm location and procedure for getting to IAC valve. The manual I have says remove flame arrestor, disconnect throttle linkage, use a stud driver to remove throttle body, then rotate throttle body 90 deg to get to IAC on back of throttle body. Is it not possible to unclip the...
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    Can I grease gimball zerc while boat is in the lake

    I know this isnt the right way, but can I attach the grease gun nozzle (pumped full of grease) to the zerc on my Bravo 3 outdrive, and add additional grease to the gimball. I thought i gave it a couple pumps in the fall winterization, but want to see if more grease will quiet down a chuffing...
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    Dry Chuffing Noise 1st Day of Season 1997 7.4LX MPI

    Hi All, thanks in advance for your guidance. So put the boat in today at the lake marina in NY and heard this chuffing noise immediately, which was surprising because I ran the boat twice on muffs in the driveway ( 20 seconds each time) and did not hear it. The only thing i touched this...
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    454 7.4L mystery fasteners on back of engine block

    What is this? and is it supposed to be sticking up like that? I cannot tighten it down,
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    Bravo 3 Gear Lube Capacity- 2.5 or 3.5 quarts

    I have installed a new bearing carrier because my 1997 Bravo3 outdrive was leaking drive oil thru the heavily corroded original bearing carrier. I thought I found the capacity for my Bravo 3 OK180251 was 3.5 qts. I was only able to put 1.75qts in lower drive before it came out vent hole, which...
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    Air Don't Freeze Winterization

    I only recently discovered this philosophy of winterization. Are any of you draining out all water and putting nothing (anti freeze) back in? if so, do you leave drain pugs out or not?
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    changing exhaust flappers on land or sea

    This may be a silly question, but, can I replace my exhaust flappers (aka shutters) with the boat in the water? Or must it be done out of the water? I presume the answer is it depends if they are above or below the water line? I didnt have a tape measure, but I estimated, mine are 1" above...
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