Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

[mpdcam]

I have a 1989 Century with a 454 and a Bravo One outdrive. I have two issues that have me stumped...

1.) There is a considerable amount of play 5"-6" in the outdrive. Ive checked the gimble bearing and all seems tight there. It appears that the play is in the steering where the steering tube attaches to the valve on the power steering assembly. There is alot of play here which doesn't seem right? Nay ideas on how to rectify this?

2.) My throttle lever isn't engaging forward consistantly. It has always been smooth as silk but lately it wont engage forward easily. Sometimes if I go slow it will engage. Other times it will rev up the engine like when the button is pushed in for idling. When it does this, sometimes it will just rev and toerh times it will engage forward hard! Any ideas with this?

Any help is much appreciated. I'm trying to diagnose before I bite the bullet and take it to the local mercruiser dealer.

 

[fishaman]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

Looks like you need a new shift cable, forward is engaged by the cable being pushed out, and reverse is by pulling the cable in. When cable gets soft, the forward one is the first to suffer. Not sure about the steering play.

 

[QC]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

You say you've checked the Gimbal bearing, but steering slop in a Bravo is where the Gimbal clamps around the swivel shaft and at the bottom pivot pin. One way to isolate it from steering linkage slop is to grab the skeg and bullet and lift the drive up and down by hand. If you can move it significantly, and the Gimbal ring bolts are torqued properly, then your Gimbal ring is F'ed . . .

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

I have a 1989 Century with a 454 and a Bravo One outdrive. I have two issues that have me stumped...

1.) There is a considerable amount of play 5"-6" in the outdrive. Ive checked the gimble bearing and all seems tight there. It appears that the play is in the steering where the steering tube attaches to the valve on the power steering assembly. There is alot of play here which doesn't seem right? Nay ideas on how to rectify this?
.

It's almost always the steering shaft that's getting worn. On the top of your gimbal ring, you will see two stainless steel bolt ends with nuts on them sticking out. That is actually a u-bolt. Loosen the nuts as far as you can (I take them off, but if you slide the u-bolt in too far, you can get it back out) , spray some parts cleaner back in where the bolt is, then spray WD-40 in there too. Re-torque the nuts to 55ft-lbs. If that doesn't take out most of the slop, it's too far worn out, and you have a much bigger project on tap. VERY common issue with Bravos and it's caused by lack of proper maintenance. (I checked and re-torqued mine EVERY year, and my boat was 10 years old with 800 hours on it, with NO slop.)

 

[mpdcam]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

It's almost always the steering shaft that's getting worn. On the top of your gimbal ring, you will see two stainless steel bolt ends with nuts on them sticking out. That is actually a u-bolt. Loosen the nuts as far as you can (I take them off, but if you slide the u-bolt in too far, you can get it back out) , spray some parts cleaner back in where the bolt is, then spray WD-40 in there too. Re-torque the nuts to 55ft-lbs. If that doesn't take out most of the slop, it's too far worn out, and you have a much bigger project on tap. VERY common issue with Bravos and it's caused by lack of proper maintenance. (I checked and re-torqued mine EVERY year, and my boat was 10 years old with 800 hours on it, with NO slop.)

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna try that this afternoon and see if it helps. I did come more checking and it appears that it may be coming from that location.


As far as the shifter cable, how hard is that to replace? I cant even see where it attaches on the backside of the engine. I can see where it starts on the top of the engine but it disappears.

 

[mpdcam]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

Ok. I backed both off, sprayed parts cleaner and lubricant, went to retorque and one torques beautifully. The other stripped before I put much torque on it. I can hear the clunking coming from that area when I move the outdrive so I'm pretty sure this is my issue. Now what? I take it I have to remove the outdrive and the gimbal ring to fix this. How much of a job am I looking at?

 

[45Auto]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

It's a major job.

You have to get to the bolt on the upper swivel shaft inside the transom housing assembly to remove/repair the gimbal ring.

Options to remove gimbal ring:

1) Remove engine.

2) Use JR Marine access kit:

https://post.craigslist.org/nor/S/mcy/none/x/BToJNgquEG44vO4f/krjF8

They will also repair worn gimbal rings, Ron Bender (owner) answers the phone when you call. I had to repair mine a few years ago, The JR setup works great. Will post a pic when I get home.

3) Use the Mercruiser "Frankenstein" hole kit and drill and plug your gimbal housing.

 

[QC]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

Funky link 45 ^^^^^ I don't want to post to N'awlin's Motorcycle Craigs list under your account . . .

 

[mpdcam]

Re: Couple of problems with my Mercruiser Bravo

It's a major job.

You have to get to the bolt on the upper swivel shaft inside the transom housing assembly to remove/repair the gimbal ring.

Options to remove gimbal ring:

1) Remove engine.

2) Use JR Marine access kit:

https://post.craigslist.org/nor/S/mcy/none/x/BToJNgquEG44vO4f/krjF8

They will also repair worn gimbal rings, Ron Bender (owner) answers the phone when you call. I had to repair mine a few years ago, The JR setup works great. Will post a pic when I get home.

3) Use the Mercruiser "Frankenstein" hole kit and drill and plug your gimbal housing.

I was just reading up on the JR kit. Looks like a pretty good kit. I'll look forward to seeing it on your boat. Did you cut it in or have them do it?
I was thinking about the stainless steel swivel shaft also if I have to take this all apart.