Outdrive whining!! bravo one

parnell

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So a week ago my boat slid off my trailer and the lower unit took the hit. Small dent on the front side of the lower unit., I had the boat out saturday and in neutral everything sounds fine. When I put it in gear and under load I hear a faint whining sound almost like the sound you would hear when a power steering pump on a car has no fluid. Any idea on what It could be. I checked the gimbal bearing and replaced all bellows last week. Any help would be great. 1997 sea ray 260 7.4 bravo 1
 

90stingray

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Could be that something shifted and some gears are not meshing as they should. I would hate to run it as is. Don't know what the fix is though. Maybe keep watching the magnetic plug for debris? Sorry for your bad luck. Hope someone has the correct answer for you...
 

tpenfield

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Yes, if you dented the nose cone on the lower unit, then it probably distorted the gearcase ever so slightly that now the gears are not meshing as they once did.

Since it is a Bravo outdrive, it will not be cheap to fix. :facepalm:
 

parnell

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Not exactly true. SEI sells a replacement Bravo 1 lower unit for $900.

I have seen those prices around. I took it to my mechanic and he said he doesnt think it looks that bad and those outdrives can usually have the **** beat out of them. He said he is gonna pull it apart but to be determined on the problem
 

TilliamWe

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Of course the lower unit on a Bravo is just the gears, no shifting mechanism. That's all in the top So the bottom is "simple". Hope he gets you fixed up.
 

ni7irs

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

I had a whine in my Bravo 3 as well after hitting something in the river. Turned out to be a cracked tooth and was quoted over $5,000 to replace the lower unit ($2,000 labor and $3,300 for rebuilt lower unit). I called mercruiser and the rep said anytime there is a hit on the lower unit, it should be inspected. Then she asked why I was spending that much on a rebuilt unit with no warranty when she was willing to sell me a mercruiser rebuilt unit with a mercruiser warranty for $2,100. The mechanic refused to install it so he gave me my boat back with a box of parts.

I put it back together, it was pretty easy, and saved a lot of money. So if its bad when taken apart, call mercruiser.
 

90stingray

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

those outdrives can usually have the **** beat out of them

I would say you have accomplished this...



Sorry couldn't help myself :) Sorry again about your boat... sucks having sterndrive issues since they usually result in a large outflux of cash.
 

parnell

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

I had a whine in my Bravo 3 as well after hitting something in the river. Turned out to be a cracked tooth and was quoted over $5,000 to replace the lower unit ($2,000 labor and $3,300 for rebuilt lower unit). I called mercruiser and the rep said anytime there is a hit on the lower unit, it should be inspected. Then she asked why I was spending that much on a rebuilt unit with no warranty when she was willing to sell me a mercruiser rebuilt unit with a mercruiser warranty for $2,100. The mechanic refused to install it so he gave me my boat back with a box of parts.

I put it back together, it was pretty easy, and saved a lot of money. So if its bad when taken apart, call mercruiser.

I appreciate your advice. I seem to be hitting alot of dead ends. My mechanic is a little hesitant to do anything almost like he doesnt want the business. When you say she sold you one for 2,100. Do you me conplete outdrive and you bolted it on or do you mean a lower unit and you assembled the rest? I have never taken apart my outdrive and not too sure how good I would be at doing that or should I say putting it back together. Did you assemble your outdrive or bolt it to the housing? Thanks
 

Pete104

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

My mechanic is a little hesitant to do anything almost like he doesnt want the business.

You have already pi$$ed him off! What do you expect? I wouldn't touch it either!:rolleyes:
 

parnell

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

My mechanic is a little hesitant to do anything almost like he doesnt want the business.

You have already pi$$ed him off! What do you expect? I wouldn't touch it either!:rolleyes:

well its an insurance claim so I took it somewhere else where They like to work and get things done so no worries
 

parnell

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

NOW it's insurance, OK!

Umm yes, I'm a bit confused by the peculiar response. Basically, I dropped it off at themechanic on Monday and called yest to chk on it and said he was too busy but why not say that on Monday. Never used him before so not sure I'd your implying I don't pay and that pissed him off. Cause that's not the case. Also, it was a ramp accident and have photos and witnesses to vouch. If there is no damage or minimum 500-1000 than I will pay but if it goes beyond that I will turn it into insurance.... That is why we pay insurance isn't it. So keep your smart remarks to yourself please. Only helpful advice is useful
 

TilliamWe

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Parnell, yes, that's what insurance is for. But just remember, the "most" that can be wrong with it is that the lower unit needs to be replaced. Well, you can get a brand new one from SEI for under $1000, and it's a simple bolt on procedure. So don't pay a deductible and wait weeks for ANY shop to "get around to it". Or risk causing your premiums to go up.
 

Pete104

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Umm yes, I'm a bit confused by the peculiar response. Basically, I dropped it off at themechanic on Monday and called yest to chk on it and said he was too busy but why not say that on Monday. Never used him before so not sure I'd your implying I don't pay and that pissed him off. Cause that's not the case. Also, it was a ramp accident and have photos and witnesses to vouch. If there is no damage or minimum 500-1000 than I will pay but if it goes beyond that I will turn it into insurance.... That is why we pay insurance isn't it. So keep your smart remarks to yourself please. Only helpful advice is useful

In your original post, you were in hurry to get back on the water. The 1st place was 2 weeks out, so you did it yourself! Did you ever fiqure out the trim sender?
So the new guy is all wrapped with new parts YOU installed & he only has make your whining go away? May as well bring your own meat to the steakhouse & have them prep it for you!!!
 

parnell

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

In your original post, you were in hurry to get back on the water. The 1st place was 2 weeks out, so you did it yourself! Did you ever fiqure out the trim sender?
So the new guy is all wrapped with new parts YOU installed & he only has make your whining go away? May as well bring your own meat to the steakhouse & have them prep it for you!!!

Pete, everything I did worked great and gave me no problems. I just don't understand you reasoning. I tried to have a shop fix it but they were booked so I did the repairs myself. However, the lower unit is whining now and I want to put it through insurance so I will need a mech to take care of those things. If you call landscaper to cut your lawn and he says can't do it for atleast 2wks plus... Do you just say ok...no you either do it yourself or call someone else. The steak example was not relevant and stupid. Besides found a mechanic who is beyond friendly and already has the process started. So the busy bee gets the honey
 

TilliamWe

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Whoa Parnell, are you saying that you've done a repair already, and now you have a noise, so you are involving your insurance company at this point? Why didn't you get them involved right away? You will have made your claim more complex. And possibly violated the terms of your contract (policy) regarding reporting a loss, and your "duties after a loss". Good luck.
 

Pete104

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

Whoa Parnell, are you saying that you've done a repair already, and now you have a noise, so you are involving your insurance company at this point? Why didn't you get them involved right away? You will have made your claim more complex. And possibly violated the terms of your contract (policy) regarding reporting a loss, and your "duties after a loss". Good luck.

EXACTLY what my point is!!!:rolleyes:
Thanks for noticing Tillam!
 

TilliamWe

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Re: Outdrive whining!! bravo one

EXACTLY what my point is!!!:rolleyes:
Thanks for noticing Tillam!

Pete, I spent 8+ years as a Material Damage Specialist (cars, trucks, boat, farm equipment) in the insurance industry. Claims in which the repairs have already begun, or already have been completed are the most difficult to evaluate properly and fairly. The company(s) I worked for would not enforce their duties clauses and just deny the claims, so it always fell to me to interpret the mess. I NEVER recommend that anyone turn in a claim after repairs have begun. It's not fair to the insurer, and it's just not right.
 
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