Bravo II won't engage

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stonjohnro

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We have a 1999 Bravo II with a 7.4 Merc, while cruising about 6mph, the drive simply stopped propelling the boat. The engine stayed running but the outdrive won't engage forward or reverse. Any ideas? Many Thanks
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

Have you checked anything? like gear lube, are the cables at the engine moving. Look behind the engine and see if the shaft to the drive is turning when the engine is running.
 
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stonjohnro

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

Lube looks good, cables appear to be working. Boat is on trailer now and when in fwd gear, they can turn the prop by hand. S/N M4-542067M1 or OL324233 with Quicksilver commander control. Will have to check the shaft tomorrow when we can get mufflers on it. They were just towed off the lake.
 
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stonjohnro

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

The design of our boat will not allow us to see the shaft, however he thinks he can hear it moving. With the mufflers on, there appeared to be no water circulating back out of the outdrive. Also, the gear shift lever seems very bound up although you can see the cables moving there when you can get it to move. Prop still does not engage. Many many thanks.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

Time to pull the drive, and see what is going on.
Look thru the gimbal bearing and check the coupler splines
DRAIN the gear lube and check for metal and water in gear lube
Check cable operation to drive and look at the linkage IN the drive.
 
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stonjohnro

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

Thank you Don. We'll let you know how we do. Sounds like it will take a while. Best regards.
 
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stonjohnro

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

Hi Don, Thank you for the link to the manual, it will be helpful in the future!!! This was clearly over our heads, we took it in and it ended up to be the engine coupler. Not sure if it has anything to do with the fact we ran aground a few days before, but they have to pull the engine and gas tank etc. A $2k bill unless insurance will cover it.

This site it awesome, thanks so much for helping us!!!
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

Couplers usually loose their splines for 2 reasons. The alignment went away for some reason and no one noticed (No yearly alignment check) or lack of lubrication. (Lack of maintenance).
 
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TilliamWe

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Re: Bravo II won't engage

Don S said:
Couplers usually loose their splines for 2 reasons. The alignment went away for some reason and no one noticed (No yearly alignment check) or lack of lubrication. (Lack of maintenance).
Click to expand...


And neither of those is connected to the grounding and your insurance should not cover it. If they do, consider yourself very lucky, as improper maintenance/wear/tear/mechanical failure is excluded on almost every policy.
 
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