Bravo 3 shifting problem

[Locke]

I have a 2000 Sea Ray with a 7.4l Mercruiser/Bravo 3 combination and recently I?ve developed a problem when I shift from neutral to forward, I have never experienced a problem when shifting into reverse. Sometimes the boat shifts perfectly, the next time there might be a couple seconds of lag and then yesterday, a few times, it wouldn?t shift at all. When this happened I put it into forward gear and got it to engage at around 1500 rpm, I never took it out until I maneuvered into my slip and then it went in and out of forward no problem. Very strange. The engine and outdrive were removed last December to replace the transom seal, boots, etc., possible something has worked it?s way out of adjustment since? Any suggestions as to where I should start troubleshooting?

Locke

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

You probably have a lower shift cable going bad on you. May be burned from an overheat, installed incorrectly, adjusted wrong. hard to say. May also be a drive problem. Have you checked or changed the gear lube lately?

 

[Locke]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

It was serviced in December and probably has 30 hours on it since. I was hoping to hear that it might be an adjustment issue. Any recommendations on where to start?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

Any recommendations on where to start?

Ayuh,....

Take it back to whomever did the work.....

 

[JustJason]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

there's really no adjustments on cables.... i don't understand why people continue to think this..... the cables are set to a specific length and thats it....

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

there's really no adjustments on cables.... i don't understand why people continue to think this..... the cables are set to a specific length and thats it....

There is an adjustment on the cables, what do you think that black barrel nut on the threads on the engine end if the cables is for....... Adjustment.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

I think the black barrel is for setting the cable.........

and what i mean by that is.....

say a lower shift cable goes out... you can't adjust it back.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

Howdy,

It's very easy to adjust a Bravo lower shift cable. When I made the initial adjust on mine after I installed it, it was a 5 min job.

It appears that once adjusted, they shouldn't become out of adjustment unless something in the cable(s) becomes defective or breaks.

I had to go out to the boat just now, to verify this, but when you go from FWD to neutral, you put the lower shift cable in tension and the control shift cable in compression.....that is you're "pushing" on the cable.

If you have a problem in the cable itself like a loose (or becoming loose) cable end connection, It is usually more of a problem when trying to push on the cable than when "pulling" on it

You (or someone) should of course check ALL your controls, cables and connections. Shifting problems are usually cable/adjustment related instead of drive related.


Regards,

Rick

I just LOVE that Bravo III!

 

[Locke]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

I spoke with the company that worked on my boat last winter and they have a guy on the docks today so they said he would take a look at it. If it's a simple adjustment he will take care of it right there but if it's a cable issue I assume it needs to come out of the water to be replaced, right?

Locke

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

If it's the lower shift cable the drive will have to be removed to replace it .

 

[Locke]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

The boat shifts perfrct now. I took the mechanic less then an hour to make the adjust.

Lockements

 

[CruiserShopper]

Re: Bravo 3 shifting problem

I have a 1995 Bravo III that has a slight delay before the drive engages. I read this posting and it sounds like you had the same problem and it was easily fixed. Did it prove to be a cable issue? I have been told by a few people that it is probably not the cable, but in fact a lubrication issue.

Thanks