ga1990

I took the boat out for the first time this season, it's a 95 Scarab 22. From time to time it was really hard to shift into drive, in fact, sometimes, I couldn't get it into drive at all...but then a little while later it would shift smooth and fine. This is how it went all day, sometimes shifting smooth, other times shifting really hard...any ideas what I should start looking at first? It always shifted into neutral and reverse just fine. Also...dont' know if this means anything or not, but twice today, I push the shifter forward in the fast idle position to start it, and the engine wouldn't crank...I'd pull the stick back into neutral and then forward again to fast idle and it would turn right over. It's never happened before, but it happened twice today. I guess it thought that I had it in gear even though I didn't.

ajl marine

shift cables can become claged from lack off use & maintenence first isolate the shift cable from the control cable ,if controls work fine then i would r&r drive and check shift cable. another thing that can destroy bravo shift cables is shifting without engine running .

ajl marine

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Kidnova

ga1990,

I had a similat problem last year with the bravo drive on my 1995 Wellcraft Nova 23. Real stinker at the dock.

I removed the back plate from the OD. Dissasembled and cleaned the ball/detent mechanizm, and cleaned the crap out of the compartment where it's located. Then used marine grease on the moving parts. Put it back together, and it shifts perfectly. You may have the same problem. Hope so, simple and cheap fix.

If you take the plate off, there's a rubber "0" ring type gasket behind the plate. Be careful not to screw that up.

I'm no mechanic, anyone can do this with a little patience. Took me about 30 minutes and well worth it.

ga1990

Thanks guys...it was the ball detent, I cleaned it all up, regreased it, shifts like new.