Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

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JL57

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1998 Twin Bravo 3's ,Cable- controlled hydraluic steering. Right unit has 1.5 in. play left to right. Left unit has 3 in. No noticable loose linkage inside.<br />No noticable problem in handling while under way, except for "fish-tailing" at slow speeds. Would this be cause by the extra play?<br /><br />I'm told it could be air in the system and to bleed.<br />I saw a tie-rod system that would connect the two units on the outside of the boat. Anybody have knowledge of this and what it can do for me?<br />where to get one?<br />OR is this acceptable play?<br />Thanks.
 
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JL57

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

Thanks for the info.<br />The U-bolt you speak of, can you get to it with-out taking anything apart?, or do you have to drop the lower unit?<br />Jeff
 
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TilliamWe

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

The u bolt that I spoke of is very easy to get to, and nothing has to be removed. You can see it from the back of the boat. Just look right below your "Mercruiser" emblem (the one with the serial number on it) on the transom plate. That's the u bolt ends sticking out. It has those locking nuts on it.
 
tommays

tommays

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

I was thinking more of the arm inside i have seen rodbolt write about being lose ? <br /><br />tommays
 
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TilliamWe

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

oh, tom, that's what happens eventually, yes. But if you catch it soon enough, you can clean and re-tighten the u-bolt that sticks out the back of the gimbal ring, and it will "clamp" that square arm better, and then there's no more play in the drive. If you wait too long, it's big time expensive & complicated.
 
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JL57

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

Good news,I found the Ubolt . Re-tighted to 50#, <br />Bad news; It didn't tighten up on the square shaft.<br />I was able to just barely see between the gimble ring and the top transom plate to see the play around the square shaft as I moved the lower unit on the left side.<br />The right side was tight, so my play is elsewhere on that side.. Now what?
 
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rodbolt

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

JL57<br /> now its fun and games time.<br /> if the ring is moving on the shaft its wallowed the ring.<br /> its a pain. replacement is the only option.<br /> if you tie the two drives together now it will place additional stress on the other ring and wear it faster.<br />thats why the ring retorque is an hourly as well as calander maint procedure.<br />never gets done but its in the manual.<br /> left-right motion is controled by the upper shaft and the lower swivel pin. after that it can be slack in the cablke/hydraulic cylinder.<br /> but from the tiller to the ring its all in the swivel pins.
 
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JL57

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

AAAAHHHHH! I was afraid of that. This looks to be a poor design that Merc hasn't /won't deal with because it't money in the pockets.<br /><br />Can this repair be done without pulling the <br />engine?<br />Any special tools requried?
 
Bondo

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

This looks to be a poor design that Merc hasn't /won't deal with because it't money in the pockets.
Click to expand...
No,....... Not Really..........<br /><br />It's more an Issue of,.......<br /><br />Lack of Proper Maintanance................. :rolleyes:
 
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TilliamWe

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

Bondo, you could be a little nicer in your wording, but you are right, it's a maintenance issue. I said that once on that other site you sometimes visit, and got lambasted as a "screw everyone insurance adjuster"!<br />I will also say, I think it's a bad design. It doesn't have to be that way, they could "idiot proof" (not even implying that to you JL) it, and then maintenance wouldn't be an issue at all. But it's easier their current way, and it's a nice money maker for their service centers.
 
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JL57

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

Thanks everyone for their 2 cents.<br /><br />I'll start by saying I just recently acquired this boat with 400 hrs. on her. and there has been a lack of maintenance throughout the boat.<br /><br />But I have worked on steering systems on everything from Construction equipment, Ag-tractors,Trucks,to airplanes, <br />that have more side-torque than this boat,<br />and don't require re-tightening , <br />and don't come loose untill you take them loose, because if they did , they would kill alot of idiots, and design engineers, and CEO's and unfortunetely some of the rest of us who have opinions about poor design. <br />So, I'll say again but add a line.., This looks to be a poor design because of it's inherent design and required "proper" maintenance that Merc hasn't /won't deal with because it't money in their pockets.> or just cheaper to produce.<br />Tommays; thanks for the Bravo diagrams.
 
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rodbolt

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

JL57<br /> ill agree with everything but the service center profits. that cheezebone arrangement has created headaches you cant imagine with my commercial folks.<br /> most went to volvo cause they can get 5 or 6 seasons before the shield assy falls apart, some of the bravo units wont make a season even with tightening the ring on a weekly basis.<br /> the volvo and even earlier cobra units had issues with trim line wear and lower swivel pin problems, the trim line we are still working on the pin problem we fixed in the early 90's.
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: Twin B'3's side play lower units, tie-rod fix?

Originally posted by TilliamWe:<br /> Bondo, you could be a little nicer in your wording, but you are right, it's a maintenance issue. I said that once on that other site you sometimes visit, and got lambasted as a "screw everyone insurance adjuster"!<br />
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Ayuh,.......... The Only Claim I've ever made here is that I'll do My Best to be Honest,+ Direct in My responses............<br /><br />Brutally Honest,......... But Honest none the less............. ;)
 
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