Transom assembly is it savable or junk?
 

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So engine is at the machine shop and I completely disassembled the Bravo1 transom assembly and I'm i little worried. A new complete unit is $4K+ which totally smokes my budget but on the flip side I do not need a leak and will sink all my work to redo this boat. Luckily the transom is solid but I want your opinions on this.

I am going to have it soda blasted I think and see what it looks like afterward but I'm skeptical I think it is savable but I also don't want to waste money on something that is going nowhere.

The whole project started with a leaking steering pin which escalated to a bad head gasket and now this LOL B.reak O.ut A.nother T.housand LOL

There's always lightly used ones that pop up for $1500ish. If you can't swing a new one then a nice clean used one would be my recommendation. I wouldn't reinstall one that looked like that when you consider all the work to re-do it and what's at stake if it's not right.

Also, here's a vendor selling new for <$3300
https://leadersrpmshop.com/mercury-m...-hp-6511002nz/

And here's a used HP assembly for 2200

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17560288174...Bk9SR-TRsJfPYQ

Another option:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/19559139319...Bk9SR-bRsJfPYQ

Pretty much anything is salvageable if you throw enough time or money at it. Depends on how much value you put on your time. Repairing the seal area is going to be difficult. And a proper paint job is not something you are going to be able to do with spray cans.

Forgive the clearly self serving commercial plug but we do have some new, complete ready to install transoms for $3375. Cylinders, hoses, ready to go.

I was going to have it cleaned up and powder coated, I also have a good friend who owns a body shop so the painting part I'm not worried about. My concern is it not leaking, I was going to install a new JR marine stainless steering pin along with a complete rebuild but my fear is the aluminum is to far gone.

I would let it soak in a big bucket of CLR to remove any mineral deposits and see what you have left.

My concern would be leaking around the seal area.

My guess would be a bucket of CLR LOL

thats my fear. Anyone ever powder coat one of these before? bad idea for any reason and better off to paint it?

Buddy of mine bought one from you not too long ago for a repower project on his boat.

https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...te-o82803.html

I think the only issue we ran into is the water inlet neck not seating properly and needing a different one? Wouldn't seat flush against the o-ring.

All depends on the person. Me personally. I would junk it and buy a new one.

I think it depends more on the persons budget.

putting good money on top of bad is a personal choice.

between bellows kits, steering pin, shims, trim block, and other miscellaneous parts…you already exceed $1000. Add sand blast and powder coat…likely another $300-500.

the sealing surfaces on the exhaust port and main seal look shot. After all that time and effort who knows if it will even seal. Not to mention structural integrity of the parts once all the rotted pieces are removed.

as someone already mentioned you can likely find used assemblies good condition for 1500-2000.

to each there own.

I agree with what your saying, I am going to try to clean it up this weekend but I fear it is like you said "JUNK" I am going to look for a good used or possibly bite the bullet for a new one. I need to see where im at when the engine is done at the machine shop so I know what direction I can go.

Depending on your setup and plans for the boat...if you are replacing it anyway and don't have hydraulic steering...may want to save up and get an ITS setup and kill 2 birds with one stone...wish I would have done that instead of adding my steering and now wanting to switch to ITS and having holes in the transom for external steering.....just a thought...bite the bullet even if it causes more downtime and do it right the first time....ask me how I know hahahaha

But back to your original question...I personally would not use that...if the seal area was clean and no corrosion I would say sure but to me it's not worth the risk of putting it on after refurb then having a leak...again..ask me how I know hahahha Not to mention that no matter what you do with it...without countless hours of filling and sanding and whatnot you will still see the old corrosion marks under the new paint and it will not look good IMO. But I understand how budgets go and limitations when it comes to this kind of thing.

I agree throwing hours of labor and time into something that might fail immediately or surely to fail down the road is not worth it. I looked up the ITS and that's sick but for how I use my boat its a waste. My boat is on a "small" and I mean SMALL lake it s 7miles to drive around it with a car so the boat is a sexy looking floating dock for my wife, 11yr old son and myself LOL. I use about a 1/2 tank of fuel a season LOL.
I think I will just look for a good clean used one or bite the bullet for a new Mercury replacement. I see there are alot of different part numbers, I need to figure out which is the right replacement for mine.
This boat maybe see's WOT for 1-2 min clips at best!

That makes a lot more sense then hahaha...I would for sure go the used route...hit up sick stinger as he usually has a ton of stuff laying around...might be able to get one pretty reasonable. Just make sure you get good pics of everything before you buy so you're not in the same boat....pun intended hahahaa

Try Doug at Mastertech. 573.216.0139 He may have one on the shelf that is already rebuilt and ready to go. You can also try the Bravo shop in Kaiser MO.

LOL thats my fear LOL

Thank you!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/La...2Fg%2F1tdf28s3

Just for laughs this is the lake I have a 25' baja on LOLOL

Joey,

Sometimes I forget just how spoiled I've been to have grown up boating on Cumberland. :pacifier:

Thanks. Brad.
(937)545-8991

I grew up on a pond but its the only thing close besides the Hudson River and not the section in upstate NY where it is still fresh and clean. I'm in Westchester county near Indian point and west point, I'm NOT BOATING in that cesspool!

BBYSTWY:
So after heloing a friend rig an AC unit into his attic last night I said let me go hit the gimble assembly with a piece of red scratchpad quick and see what happens, I tried it on the gasket surface for the Y-pipe and it came nice and clean with no pitting. I think it looks way uglier than it really is. Ill spend an hour this weekend and see where it goes. If it looks savable after that Ill dig in but if the other surfaces show to much pitting ill bail. I mean at this point what's a few hours wasted if it saves me a few grand. If not I know what needs to happen. Stay tuned for this debockel!

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Put it in my blast cabinet to clean off the scaling and it reveled may more damage than I thought. Its not savable!

Looks like the transom assembly on the Titanic. :stooges: JK. Agree it is junk.

Agreed, don't put another minute or dollar into it.

HAHAHAHAHA i cant argue that lol! This FKR sold the boat for this reason and I'm the moron who didn't catch it! fool me once!

Agree labor verse part!

Only thing im putting effort into is lifting it into the garbage can

https://claussmarine.com/products/me...hoCsx8QAvD_BwE

I went this route, I bought a new Mercruiser HP transom assembly I'm picking it up Friday. Should make my life a bit easier!

max hp 600,,,hahahahahahahahahahahaha,,I've put way more than that on/thru it.

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my new setup will be in the area of 550hp so im sure its not a threat to this assembly. Big nut to swallow but will give me a good piece of mind and make life a lot easier on reassembly.

Question, the engine coupler do I need to worry about that now? Their not cheap either and mine looks fine but how do you really know? Looks like its either good or it fails, the rubber is not cracked or dry rotted.

Post some pics. Including the splines. If there's no rot/rust, the rubber looks good, and the splines are straight with flat (not pointed) peaks, then it's probably fine to reuse.

As soon as I get home from work tonight Ill take a good photo of it.

Congrats on the transom assembly

Thank you, my wallet fought the boat and the boat won LOLOLOL

ohhhhh PRETTY!!!! :drool1:

There is a lot to be said for new, new cyl, seals ext. Easy to pop on, I know the next time my motors are out that is the way I am going.

I agree, I was getting milky oil in the drive pump reservoir so the lift cylinders were leaking, the steering pin was leaking and turned out to be a total mess, and the backing plate was cracked. It was time! Im just thankful the transom isn't a total wreck.