Running Bravo3s tilted up

[Harry Harris]

Advice please: Is it okay to idle over a shallow spot with B3 legs tilted half up? My mechanic advised me never to do that but the manual says it’s okay at low revs. Thanks.

 

[BillK2632]

Generally you should not run any outdrive trimmed above the "trim limit", ie no further than the trim button goes. However, using the trailer button to trim the drive up farther to get through a shallow spot is probably ok occasionally - I have done it with no ill effects. Keep the engine at idle speed only. Never apply more than idle speed with the drive trimmed above the limit or with it turned hard over. What happens is as the drive is trimmed up or turned hard over Port/SBD the u-joints (just like in a car or truck) get put in a bind and causes excessive stress and wear on the u-joints.

 

[b_arrington]

If you mean half-way up on the standard range (not trailer tilt), no problem. Its designed for that.

 

[OllieC]

I must confess I do this all the time too. We pull the boat up to the beach. I only idle while going out, but I always pucker up while doing it too. Time will tell.

 

[Espos4]

I guess you’ve never boated on the south shore of Long Island?

That’s how I get into the best clamming spots!!

 

[BillK2632]

Yeah, next time you are out, turn the wheel hard over - you will hear a definite change in the sound, like a low rumble, knocking sound - if you apply throttle it will get louder faster. As the u-joints wear and loosen this will get louder - would say my 20yr old u-joints would make a louder noise than a brand new one, but still nothing wrong. That's the u-joint making a different sound as it is turned - a normal thing, just how it is, but doing that under power over and over is not good. A lot of people mistake this for the gimbal bearing - which makes more of a growling noise that is present regardless of the wheel position.

 

[b_arrington]

Just to clarify, there are 2 sections of drive positioning with different operational limits. You may know this but some folks newer to outdrives may be unfamiliar.

1st is the "normal" range that can be used to propel the boat. It has a wide range from full down (or "in") to up (or "out"). it can be used at any speed up to roughly 2/3 up. This range of operation is intended to trim the level of the boat for best speed and operating conditions. From 2/3 to full up is for maneuvering in shallow areas. Use the boat in this range at low / idle speed, mainly due to the additional stress on the U-joint. As noted, as the drive is raised to the higher levels it will make more noise from u-joint operating at an increased angle.

2nd is trailer mode. This is activated via a detent switch and moves the drive higher than the limit of the regular mode. This mode intended is to fully raise the drive when trailering the boat (so you don't plow a furrow using the drive fin) or performing a maintenance operation such as disentangling a line. The engine should never be even running when the drive is in this position, let alone in gear. There are parts in the drive that still turn when the engine is on, and it puts a lot of stress on the drive components.

So to the original question, yes you can operate the drive in the full-up (non-trailer) position at idle speeds. In fact, this is one of the selling points of an outdrive!