Drive Installation Question

[tginz]

I'm grossly embarrassed to even be asking this question, but it has been 16 months since I installed a Bravo III and I'm feeling like I'm having an old age (40) brain fart.

This afternoon I went to re-install my B III and was surprised at the distance between the drive and gimbal housing. The splines seemed to align just fine with a slight turn of the prop, the shift cable fell right into place, and I pushed the drive on with new seals and grease. Once the drive was on the bolts and what I assume was aligned, I had a 3/8" to 1/2" gap between the drive and gimbal housing. I don't remember that much space last time I did it. I did NOT tighten the bolts for fear of screwing up the splines and somehow something being incorrectly aligned.

I am loosing my mind or is this gap of 1/2" normal? Should I tighten up or not?:huh:

 

[Air O'Nautical]

I ran a bravo three for nine years. Great drive never a problem. Check the alignment with the special tool and read the grease. It should slide in with finger force only. Your engine and coupler may be slightly out of line. A tech can do this quick with the drive off. (This would cause the splines to bind up). It should go on as easily as it came off. I was always able to push the drive all the way on without a wrench. Also, check the shift cable is indeed closed in correctly.
Best of luck,
Mark.

 

[tginz]

I'm still fighting with this thing. I've checked the shift cable, rotated the props a dozen times, and still can't get the drive tight to the gimbel housing. I am still that 1/2" away. I do appreciate the reply because I now know threading on the nuts and a couple of turns with a socket could be disaster. I'm really going to be embarrassed if I have to call the dealer to install it.

 

[gmurtic]

Did you lube the shaft correctly?
Did you change the o-rings on the shaft with grease?
I would try to assemble without o-rings and see what happens, if it slides easily you have problem with them, in that case you can try to tighten with bolts.
If you still cannot install (without o-rings) it is most likely misaligned and you will have to use the tool...
Best regards, Goran

 

[capz]

I went through the same thing last season. I had that same gap, 1/2''. I asked a seasoned marine mechanic about it and he said some guys get the drive all the way in by whacking it with a 2X4! I took a less aggressive approach and closed the gap by tightening the bolts in an X pattern. I had no problems. When I took the drive off in the fall there was no wear on the splines and no water in the bellows. I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably just a slight sag in the u-joints that will straighten out as you tighten the bolts.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Question?
Did you have anything changed...like the gimbal bearing?
If not and the cable isn't it,with lots of grease and cross tighting it will go on.(if its in alignment, that should be checked yearly)
DO NOT HIT WITH A HAMMER!!. The case is not very thick and you can hole it.

Mr. Goran has a good point about the O rings. Make sure they are the correct ones.
I recall thinking they seemed thin and the kit had some extras in the box that would be for other drives installs.
Good luck,
Mark.

 

[tginz]

Sorry I have not replied sooner - I so appreciate all of the help at this site. I'm still fighting with this *()_()^&*$ outdrive. I'm going to pull the o-rings off tonight and try it without. I haven't changed anything, other than new gaskets, new o-rings, coupler lube where directed. In the 159 times, I had it on and off I can feel when the splines are not aligned. A small turn of the props and they drop right in. I'll try the no o-ring route and see if I can get that last 1/2"....I'm just afraid of the threading those nuts down....:smt009:smt009:smt009 Will report back.

 

[tginz]

THANK YOU to ALL but particularly GMURTIC:

I can't thank you enough for your suggestion regarding installing my B3 drive without o-rings. I have been completely frustrated with this for days not being able to get it on and my trip to Florida getting closer and closer. Today, I removed the o-rings and unit slipped in perfectly. Then I removed some of the goobs of grease, re-installed the o-rings, and it again went in perfectly - like a knife into hot butter. I can only assume that the overly liberal amount of grease I use, coupled with the o-rings, create a blockage.

Many thanks & Happy Boating !!!!!!!

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Glad it worked out and you didn't have to pay a MX.
Mark.

 

[capz]

Good to know tginz. I must have went a little heavy with the grease too. Where was there too much? In the coupler? the shaft?

 

[tginz]

I'd say way too much on the shaft. When removed there seemed to be goobs in front of the first o-ring. Once I cleaned it off, in it went like nothing. Once I had the drive installed, I simply greased the shaft via the two zerk fitting inside.