Bravo 3 Drive Service

E35123

New Member
Jul 25, 2007
13
Catawba Islands
Boat Info
2007 320 Sundaner
Engines
Mercrusier 350 MPI Horizon
I have a 2007 240 Sundeck with about 200 hours on it. The dealer is suggesting that I service the drive which includes pulling the drive off and checking the alignment with the engine. This service is $220.
Is this necessary and how often should this type of service be done?

Thanks
 
I have my drive pulled yearly regardless of hours.

When the drive gets pulled the service technician will be aware of any water leaks and the general condition of things like the u-joints, bellows, and the gimball bearing. Plus if the engine alignment is out of spec this can cause more expensive repairs such as your drive coupler failing which is pretty costly to repair. Mercury also calls for periodic greasing of the drive splines. On some boats this can be done from the engine compartment but on others (like your 240 Sundeck) it easier to do this with the drive removed. Your outdrive gear oil should also be changed every year or at 100 hours as well and the gimball bearing should be greased too.

In my opinion it's money well spent.
 
Most B-III owners in our area who run 75-100 hours a year have their drives service twice a year. We are in a salt water area and it is cheaper to pay for service than to repair a B-III that has a seal leak or misalignment.

You don't say where you are, but at a minimum, have the drive serviced annually, and probably 2X a year, considering that you have 200 hours on a 2007.

You might not like the annual cost of service, but you will really not like the cost of parts and labor to fix one.
 
Your 07 has 200 hrs and you have not yet had the drive serviced? If you had the 100 hour service I would have thought that you would have already had that done? That is a lot of hours for you not to have pulled the drive. :huh: Better get it serviced.
 
It's time, do the service.

I had mine pulled and inspected this sping, had 140 hours on the boat. Bellows were leaking, gimble bearing rough, U-joints needed cleaning, seal needed replacing. At the end of the day ended up costing about $1500, had I let it go any longer that would have looked good compared to a replacement B3.

FYI I bought the boat the year before from the original owner, wish I had pulled the drive before purchase.

Going forward I plan on an annual removal and inspection.

Boat is operated in salt water but kept on a trailer when not in use.

Cheers,
Tom
 
I would buy the service manual and learn to pull it and inspect it yourself. You should do this at least annually. Grease the the u-joints (unless they are sealed), clean and grease the splines, check the alignment, change the gear lube, check and grease the gimbal bearing, torque the gimbal assembly, inspect and change the drive fluid. Inspect bellows and shift mechanism while you are at it

None of this is difficult or complicated. You will know and understand your equipment a lot better, save money, and be able to take just the drive to a competent mechanic if it needs work.
 
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I have the service manual for both the engine and sterndrive. I have a particular question about pulling the outdrive. Do I have to drain the gear lube first before pulling the outdrive?

According to the manual, it seems like an easy job to pull the outdrive.
 
Also... when the boat is stored out of the water.
You should leave the drive all the way down.
That will keep the Bellows straight in a neutral position.
 
I have the service manual for both the engine and sterndrive. I have a particular question about pulling the outdrive. Do I have to drain the gear lube first before pulling the outdrive?

According to the manual, it seems like an easy job to pull the outdrive.


No need to empty the oil from the drive.. However, you will need a new O ring kit which runs +/-$12 when installing the drive back.. Be careful with the shift cable when pulling the drive!! The process is very easy.......

Alex
 
I have the service manual for both the engine and sterndrive. I have a particular question about pulling the outdrive. Do I have to drain the gear lube first before pulling the outdrive?

According to the manual, it seems like an easy job to pull the outdrive.

It is not necessary to drain the gear lube.

The B3 is a very heavy unit so consider that as well before pulling it. If you have any kind of lifting to do to put it back in, have someone lined up to help you do it.
 
All who posted above are correct, however, I want to put emphasis on the alignment. If your drive is not properly aligned, you will eventually destroy the engine coupler. (this is the part on the back of the engine that mates to the outdrive. They designed this part to be weaker than the splines on the drive)

The engine coupler is not that expensive ($150 or so) but you have to pull the engine to replace it, which can cost up to 10 hours of labor ($110/hr at my dealer). So do yourself a favor and have the alignment checked every 100 hours.

Oh, don't forget, that when the coupler fails, (and it will eventually if the drive is misaligned) you will not be able to engage the drive, so if it happens on the water, figure in a tow bill in addition to the repair.

If I remember correctly. I have seen a pic of the alignment tool in the past.
Its a big dowel pin. Like a clutch alignment tool in auto applications.
Good to have in your tool box.
If you pull your own drive for routine maintenance.
 
I just called a mechanic that my cousin uses for his boat and he said he will show me the way to pull the outdrive and inspect the u joints and bellows. All for 140. This is hell of a lot better price than what Marine Max would give me.
 
I have a 2007 240 Sundeck with about 200 hours on it. The dealer is suggesting that I service the drive which includes pulling the drive off and checking the alignment with the engine. This service is $220.
Is this necessary and how often should this type of service be done?

Thanks

$220 to pull the outdrive and check the alignment sounds like a deal. My local MM charges around five bills for that. It really pays to be a marine mechanic.
 
That is down right cheap.

I would change the outdrive oil at 50 hours and service the drive at each 100 hours.

I also change the water separator at the same time.
 
It really pays to be a marine mechanic.

^^you would think so...:smt043

$395 for a bravo 2 or 3 is what I charge.
-Drain oil
-pressure test drive
-check all bellows/intake hose/monitor bottle hose
-check engine alignment, adjust as necessary
-check torque on swivel shaft u-bolt retainer
-grease u-joint if possible and input shaft splines
-new bellhousing gaskets/input shaft o-rings
-new gear lube

Please have some one help you with removal/installation. I never pull a Bravo without someone there to either catch me or the drive. 150lbs with oil:wow:
 
^^you would think so...:smt043

$395 for a bravo 2 or 3 is what I charge.
-Drain oil
-pressure test drive
-check all bellows/intake hose/monitor bottle hose
-check engine alignment, adjust as necessary
-check torque on swivel shaft u-bolt retainer
-grease u-joint if possible and input shaft splines
-new bellhousing gaskets/input shaft o-rings
-new gear lube

Please have some one help you with removal/installation. I never pull a Bravo without someone there to either catch me or the drive. 150lbs with oil:wow:


That's about what I pay for my service. Good advice, screw this up and you have problems of biblical proportions.
 
^^you would think so...:smt043

$395 for a bravo 2 or 3 is what I charge.
-Drain oil
-pressure test drive
-check all bellows/intake hose/monitor bottle hose
-check engine alignment, adjust as necessary
-check torque on swivel shaft u-bolt retainer
-grease u-joint if possible and input shaft splines
-new bellhousing gaskets/input shaft o-rings
-new gear lube

Please have some one help you with removal/installation. I never pull a Bravo without someone there to either catch me or the drive. 150lbs with oil:wow:

Based on what MM quoted me it would be cheaper to pay you to come down and do it for me even if I had to pay for your flight and food and pay you for the service. So when's a good time for you :lol:
 
Well... we just got about a foot and a half of snow...so now's looking good:grin:
 

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