Bravo 3 Bell Housing Choices

MightyEsquilax

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 15, 2012
Messages
32
I've got a hard choice to make and I'm having a tough time finding the right part. My 1996 Bravo 3 drive has no S/N on it. I've looked everywhere, under the decal, in the normal spaces, and either the number is worn away or an after market drive was put on the boat before I bought it. I have my engine S/N but there's no way to cross reference that to my drive, at least, no way that I'm aware of.

I need to replace the bell housing because the port hinge pin threads are stripped out. I've seen helicoil kits for $60 but I don't want to waste the time unless someone knows a fool proof way to install them.

Bottomline, I'm searching E-bay for the Bravo 3 bell housing and according to Mercruiser Parts catalog there are 3 potential options.

41646A7
41646A9
41646A11

The number stamped on the bottom of my bell housing is 41646-C1.

Based on web searches it sounds like my bell housing is likely a 41646A7 because I've seen A7 for sale with the 41646-C1 as the casting,

Now, I've also heard that 41646A9 and 41646A11 will fit my transom. But, a 41646A7 will NOT fit a transom that requires a A9 or A11 because the A7 is slightly longer and will bind at the top.


Can anyone verify my facts?

Thanks!
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
42,590
Need someone like Fun Times or achris to do some digging. If they don't come around send them a PM, because linking their name in a post doesn't always work

A point, you don't need a B3 bell housing, you need a bravo bell housing. All bravo's are the same, only the lower changes (for the most part). There are year differences as your looking into
 

scoflaw

Ensign
Joined
Jun 2, 2010
Messages
962
The SS helicoil is the way to go, much stronger than the original aluminum threads. Your not going to find that bell for $60 either. Foolproof way would be to let your local machine shop do the install if your not equipped to do it yourself
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
My listing for a '96 says 41646A9 for a bell housing with trim senders, A10, which supersedes to A11, without trim senders.
 

Fun Times

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
May 16, 2009
Messages
9,124
Being you may have a 1996 year model puts you right within a possible change of design that might give you a choice to choose from as you indicated above depended on what you have now. If I recall correctly the change happened in 1996.5 model year as possible indicated in the following now dead service bulletin titled Bravo Transom Assemblies forthe1996-1/2ModelYear

What you're looking for is to know if the bell housing/s has the notches cut out as shown in the image below or not....But if you ever believe to find the need to have to upgrade the bravo 3 driveshaft housing due to other future damage then you may be better off getting the notched design so you're more prepared for the new design of the trim limit pin of the drive shaft housing vs the trim in blocks that you may or may not have installed at the moment as mentioned in the following 2 links,

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...7#post10171467

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/11/11b5r5x.pdf

 

MightyEsquilax

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 15, 2012
Messages
32
Thanks all for the great information, comments, and advice. Fun Times , I just checked and I do NOT have the notches cut into my bell housing. Is it safe to assume the A9 should fit ok then? I think that's what you were recommending in case I have to change upper gear housing etc... in future.

scoflaw , I agree a used bell housing with run me anywhere from $250-400 but what concerns me about the helicoils is I've heard when you remove the hinge pin down the road the helicoil can come out with it and then you're back to where you started. The other concern is the torque spec for the bell housing is something high like 180 ft/lbs. Think the Helicoil can handle that??
 

scoflaw

Ensign
Joined
Jun 2, 2010
Messages
962
I did that repair last fall. Use the red Loctite when you insert it. No problem with the 150 ft/lbs
 

Fastrack

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 8, 2011
Messages
95
Hey,

did id you ever find the answer ? I’m in the same boat but I have a serial number. I already bought a new ring 8M0062440 but the A7 part number is on back order and I’ve had issues this year getting parts that are listed in stock!

im wondering what the A9 part number is! Do either come with the oil valve ?

ben
 
Top