Bravo 1 swap on 7.4

[dev6315]

Happy Sunday to everyone. Here is my situation. I recently bought a 250 DA with a 7.4. The outdirve is shot, atleast i know the lower unit is. The rest of it is badly pitted and just looks terrible. (Again my OCD kicks in). I found a very nice Bravo 1 in great shape for a great price.
I am good with my hands, I have done work on outboards and some minor stuff on Alpha's. Swapping the drive out from the transome out, is that something you guys would consider a 'stick with the marina' project or something I could tackle with good advice myself. I was qouted about 6-7 hours of shop time at $78.00 an hour to do the work provided it needs no new parts which we all know it will need some. I do like the idea of having piece of mind when im on the water. Let me know your thoughts and feelings as they are greatly considered and appreciated.

p.s. Anyone in the Harrisburg area that wants to make a few bucks and drink some beers and eat some good seafood (my treat) let me know. I would love to learn how to do a project like this myself, but with the watchful eye of a vet. Just thought I would ask. :wink:

 

[keokie]

Putting a new drive on is not difficult. Get the service manual and it will give you the procedure.

 

[shore]

As long as you are just doing the drive and not the transom assembly then two people 6-bolts on the face of the drive along with the two bolts for the trim arms.Then it slides right out if the splines are greased up good in the coupler.Putting a B1 back in place is the same thing.It's just a different lower unit.

Check that gimbal and bellows while you got her apart.

 

[dev6315]

When you say the drive itself. Do you mean the upper and lower unit? My orig. transom assembly could prob be reused. I know all the boots, bellows and gimbal need replaced. If I leave the transom assembly intact, must I use an alignment tool for the engine? Also, do I need any special tools for the gimbal replacement? Thanks again

 

[shore]

Pulling the gimbal bearing takes a slide hammer to knock it back towards you.

Upper and Lower unit comes off as one.With just the six bolts facing rearward removed.Sometimes they take a good tug as the gimbal bearing might be a bit rusty.Be gentle prying on the drive upper if it is stuck.It's better to just rock the end of the lower unit up and down to make it release the driveshaft if it is stuck in the gimbal.

The alingment tool is necessary when altering the engine height by removing the motor mounts.It might take a couple attempts to line the splines back-up between the driveshast and the coupler.When you look at the driveshaft after you remove it you will see that the splines are slightly beveled to help it slide together.

I've never done a bellows replacement.