SR Tech Advised Me On Outdrive Oil Leaks

[sdrevik]

Just yapping with the SR tech on the docks, he mentioned something they have been seeing with smaller cruisers pulled out of the water or on lifts. I think this is limited to Bravo3 drives.

Apparently, the weight of the prop hanging down pulls on the seals enough to loosen them so they start losing lube. I didn't ask about a solution, since I keep mine in the water, but wish I had.

If your boat is suspended and you are losing lube, this could be the culprit. He said it wasn't a problem in older boats.

 

[Dave S]

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuh....................that sounds like a bunch of BS to me. Otherwise I think everyone who dry stores or trailers with a Bravo3 would be having problems.

 

[fwebster]

Don't you think that Mercruiser understood that dual props weigh more and designed the drive system accordingly? Besides, why would a seal leak only out of the water? Since the prop shaft is suported by bearings, not the seal, how can a seal deflect enough to leak? Does a prop set weigh that much less if its 2' under water than when its on the surface?

If you Bravo III guys don't quit listening to this crap , I'm going to have to turn my BS detector off...........the noise is killing me!

 

[sdrevik]

Yeah, sounds fishy now that I think about it- it's not like the outdrive has any significant bouyancy in the water....

Now *maybe* the vibration of trailering or being dry-stored combined with the weight of the dual prop, while a boat in the water wouldn't be subject to those vibrations. Maybe.

Still, there appears to be a number of boats in with these prop seal problems- whether it is the cause he stated, that's another issue.

 

[comsnark]

Not like the BIII is a new drive. It's been around for a few years right? Installed on a LARGE number of boats these days -> not just searays. Probably the most popular drive after the Alpha.

 

[sdrevik]

Possibly a new prop seal design or material affecting more recent production models?

 

[Dave S]

The Bravo 3 drive was redesigned a few years ago..............at least the upper unit was. If you look at a newer B3 you can see a difference in the shape of the case compared with the older unit. The new B3 is almost effortless and extremely quiet in the way it shifts now. I have had both units on my boats.

Just to get some additional input on the problem mentioned by your technician, I will ask the techs at our dealership if they have seen more seal leaks on the new units compared to what they experienced with the old units.

 

[tphinney]

I'd be interested to know as my 04 Bravo III is leaking and it would be nice to know that it might be a warrenty item. i still have 3 yrs on the extended Warrenty.

 

[Dave S]

I'd be interested to know as my 04 Bravo III is leaking and it would be nice to know that it might be a warrenty item. i still have 3 yrs on the extended Warrenty.

It should be covered.