sticky lower shift on bravo 3's....

[oops!]

i just installed brand new b3's on a twin 5l mercrusier set up.

i tested the lower shift cables and lubricated them before drive instllation and the cables were fine....lots of easy movement.

the drives went on very hard due to a time hardned coupler......we actually had to kick the drives on. the cables went into there recepticals with no problems.

now....unfortunatly.....both lower shift cables are very hard to move.

is there any tricks i could have missed installing the b3's?

any ideas why the lower shift cables are so stiff?

thanks all
cheers
oops

 

[Pete104]

Re: sticky lower shift on bravo 3's....

Engine has to be turning for Bravo's to shift properly! Into or out of gear.

And there is no such thing as "lubricating shift cables"!

Are they hard to shift from the control or at the engine? Unless you know what they feel like shifting from the engine, don't assume they shift with difficulty. Did the remote controls move nicely? While drives were off.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: sticky lower shift on bravo 3's....

...
the drives went on very hard due to a time hardned coupler......we actually had to kick the drives on. the cables went into there recepticals with no problems.
...

What pray tell, is a "hardened coupler"? The coupler has metal splines inside of it. They don't get harder over time. If you had to force your drives on, I'd suggest that you check the alignment, or you could be pulling two motors to replace two trashed couplers.

 

[oops!]

Re: sticky lower shift on bravo 3's....

Engine has to be turning for Bravo's to shift properly! Into or out of gear.

And there is no such thing as "lubricating shift cables"!

Are they hard to shift from the control or at the engine? Unless you know what they feel like shifting from the engine, don't assume they shift with difficulty. Did the remote controls move nicely? While drives were off.

thank you for the tip about not shifting whitout turning.....that is exactally what i thought, but have never worked with bravos before.

the forward controls were dissasembles and the cables disconnected.....checked.....they are very free.....as for lubricating....i sprayed moovit onto the ends of the cables, and worked them.

the helm was checked and i have full, easy, movement.

because of all the cables free and easy shift movement ....that was the connundrum.

 

[oops!]

Re: sticky lower shift on bravo 3's....

What pray tell, is a "hardened coupler"? The coupler has metal splines inside of it. They don't get harder over time. If you had to force your drives on, I'd suggest that you check the alignment, or you could be pulling two motors to replace two trashed couplers.

The drives were torn from the boat when it hit a log boom.........straight to davy jones locker with the whole shabang !.
i noticed that the couplers were out of round when the motors were sitting on the floor.

against my recomendation the couplers were never replaced.

after my reccomendation, the owners contacted "a higher power" (bonnafied merc specialist) and he said they would be ok. the rubber that holds the spline shaft was just stressed from the impact, and relaxed and hardened in that position with the salt, after an hour or so it would "remember where it was supposed to be. (lol) I talked to him on the phone, and described the problem i was having with alignment.....he said to kick the drives on, so the owners went with his judgment.
(IMHO if alignment isnt a two finger pull on the bar operation, its not right)
(its really lousy when your hands are tied by someone elses decision, but they will more than likely pay twice now.)

all cables thru the transom were checked when i installed the inner and outer plates/bell.

that, and the helm cables easily moving was why i was confused.

thanks for your insight, i hope this helps someone in the future.

cheers
oops

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: sticky lower shift on bravo 3's....

OMG, the stuff people will say and/or believe! Yikes!!!!!