Need 1996-1998 Bravo Lower...Help?

[Dave1972]

Ok....an update to my dilemma. I have a twisted propshaft and was going to replace just the propshaft. I separated the upper and lower today and just found that the vertical shaft is twisted as well.

Merlin540 on the board sent me a propshaft already. What's my best course of action? I noticed that another member has a complete used lower for sale for $800. My local Mercruiser repair shop charges 3 hours labor to replace the vertical and put it back together which will cost $210 not including any parts. I can buy the propshaft from Merlin 540 for a total of about $100 but I still need the vertical shaft and rumor has it that the bearing for the vertical shaft is pressed on and is difficult to remove and install and could possibly be damaged during that process. So to total things up.....

Propshaft $100
Vertical Shaft $100 (if I can find one used)
OR
New Vertical $420
Labor $210
Parts $100

Total is either $510 or $830 depending on if I can get a good used vertical including the bearing that is pressed on.

OR

Do I just try to find a take-off lower for a 1996-1998 Bravo?

Is the 1996-1998 lower different than a newer lower? Will a newer lower bolt to my upper?

Thanks for the feedback guys. And just when I was getting spring fever too

[Downtown42]

At least you caught it now and not in summer. What's with that nut-case hiding in the marsh over there?

[marinetrans]

If your going to put shafts in it, use Imco's vertical and propshaft. Around 350.00 ea. Well worth it. Not something to short cut.

[Dave1972]

Downtown,

Who knows about that nutcase. What a joke! My girfriend called it the second we saw the first video that was released. Investigation already cost the city $70K. And to think she was an honor student too.

Anyone have facts about a 1996-1998 upper and a 2000 or newer lower fitting together???

[WETTE VETTE]

You could send your lower to Merlin and have him repair it. He does great work and his prices are very fair! He is known for making bravos live under extreme torture!! Merc mechanics will do it by the book, Merlin will make it better!! Have you had a chance to see Kerry's new boat?
Craig

[US1 Fountain]

Dave, with the drive shaft also twisted, I wouldn't reuse the old bearings on it, so I wouldn't be conscerned with them being ruined trying to remove them. There are 2 bearings back to back on it. The bearings are cheap. They are Timken brand. They can be bought from Merc for $20-$30 each, OR just get the number off of them and go to AutoZone. I bought several of mine from there for $5-$8. These are the exact same bearings right down to the packing oil you will buy from Mercury. The ones they didn't carry I bought from a local bearing supplier, again 1/3 of Mercs price for the same bearings. Stay with the Timken brand. Just buy a driveshaft from Merlin and have him install the 2 bearings unless you have access to an arbor press.
But now you are talking about, new bearings, 2 new shafts, more than likely a few different thickness shims to reshim the pinion height and the tools and gauges for setting the drive up. It's not just a case of replacing the bad parts even if you bought a shaft with the bearings installed.
At this point, you might be better off sending your parts to someone who has this stuff and the experience. I never dealt with Merlin540, but with his reputation here on the board, you might check into that route. Course, you tried that before. The complete used lower your considering is an option too, just bolt on and go. But if you recall, one of my lowers was out of specs from the factory. Might be best to have yours done right and know it. That gets my vote. And it's cheaper.

1 final thought, what kind of shape is your housing in...chipped skeg, cavaitation plate, any corrosion?