Need Help - Bravo 3

[Wroxbury]

Hi,

I have an issue with shifting into forward gear. I checked everything from the shifter on back to the transom. All is well.

After pulling the drive and taking off the back plate (part # 34 in the link below)
and top plate I found that:

1: the top and bottom bushings (part # 6) are not there

2: the Shift Linkage Assy is worn so that the joint between part #14 and #15 is slightly oval in shape.

3: It looks like there should be a pin or something to hold part #39 in place - but there is not one there. but there is not a part listed either.

all three of the above will be replaced - with exception to 3 if it does not exist.

4: and here is my issue: when the shift linkage assy is in forward gear it will only engage if i am pressing down on the yoke cam assy or part #8 and 9.

Obviously there is some slop that is allowing the shaft to move up about 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch and by pushing down im allowing the cam to fully engage into forward gear. Is this normal? Will replacing the bushing solve the slop issue or am I looking at a $1600 clutch?

Thanks - any help greatly appreciated!


http://www.boats.net/images/diagrams/Merc2/COMMON//26416.png

 

[Wroxbury]

Re: Bravo 3 - shift linkage

Re: Bravo 3 - shift linkage

bump

 

[Wroxbury]

Re: Need Help! Bravo 3 - shift linkage

Re: Need Help! Bravo 3 - shift linkage

Last ditch try before I get a clutch.

I replaced the shift assay inside of the drive. The bushings were fine, just not obvious to me.

Everything seemed to be fine when I reassembled. i shifted it manually into both gears and it engaged.

reinstalled the drive on the boat. started it and no forward gear just as before! The last thing I can think of before I replace the clutch is that the back plate (part #34) the place where part #36 goes is very sloppy - would this make the shifting fail?

Thanks!

 

[muc]

Re: Need Help - Bravo 3

Hi Wroxbury,
Welcome to iboats.
Posting the serial number to your drive unit might help you get more replies.
Bravo shifting is usually pretty trouble free, but not knowing what you have makes it tough to diagnose.
Might want to check your shift cables for excessive play.
I would try lapping the clutch and cones before putting a new clutch in a pair of glazed cones.
Good Luck Muc

 

[Wroxbury]

Re: Need Help - Bravo 3

Thanks Muc,

The drive serial number is ok223391 -but that is on the transom bracket - who knows if that is the drive ...

How do you lap the clutch and cones? I tested the cables and they seem solid and move freely when shifted.

Im hoping for some sort of adjustment since the drive does go into gear when Im pressing down on the yoke and it is shifted into forward gear.

 

[Wroxbury]

Re: Need Help - Bravo 3

On further thought...

Shifting into drive recently has been slow like a 3 second delay would this mean that the clutch cone was slipping and is now worn??

 

[Wroxbury]

Re: Need Help - Bravo 3

bump

 

[muc]

Re: Need Help - Bravo 3

Hi,
Your serial number is for the transom assy. and was never registered so there is no drive serial number associated with it.
It does come up as a 1997 model year, if the drive is a 1997 also there are a few service bulletins that deal with changes to the shift system.
Mercruiser parts bulletin 97-9 covers midyear changes to the shift fork
Mercruiser service bulletin 01-17 covers the changes that were made if a new gear set was installed.
Sorry, but to help you more but I really need to see what you have in your drive.
Volvo Penta has a very good service bulletin 44-1-13 that gives directions on lapping the cone and clutch.
Good Luck Muc

 

[Wroxbury]

Re: Need Help - Bravo 3

so one final update:

After getting a clutch pulling all of the crap out and putting in the new clutch. it did not fit. took it to a mechanic to ask a few questions and he said ...

"i have never seen a bravo clutch fail..... never. Check the cable again"

so frustrated I went home and checked the cable and sure enough it is the cable. I swear I checked it before multiple times in fact, but never with assistance. my fatherinlaw pressed on the cable while I pushed it into forward. it pushed to about 3 lbs and then failed. it feels like it just pops out of its sheath.

so im sending the gear set and clutch back since it didnt fit anyway and buying a 80 buck cable tomorrow.

thanks for the help ya'all.....

oh, drive number ok258409 - had to scrape the decal off to find it

 

[muc]

Re: Need Help - Bravo 3

glad you found the problem.
Good Luck Muc