I have buckets of parts and a few casings for my bravo 2s. Other than merc school, can anyone suggest an avenue for learning to rebuild these drives. I've been running these for years and have gotten really good at the maintenance, but have never gotten inside much. Any ideas? While I'm at it, just how many hours do you think a perma lube x ujoint is good for behind a Yanmar 315? (assuming no water/rust)?
Thanks.

a couple buddies bought all the tools and the manual 2-3 years ago and started going through our B1's. We now service all our own stuff but you'll spend a couple grand getting all the specialty tools since merc is about the only source for alot of them.

Try the Marine Mechanics institute.

Or show up at your local marine mechanics shop with a case of bud. He might give in and at least get ya started.
Jr.

That's the way to learn how to do it right...spend the afternoon with a DRUNK mechanic!!!!

CP Performance can help you out with all the manuals and tools. We have been doing our own here for the last few years also they are not that bad to work on.

There are some tools that you can only get thru a merc dealer, also you really need to use the Merc books to set up the shimming the right way.. The aftermarket books just dont have the same amount of info in them to give you as much detailed info in rebuilding them..

As far as difficulty it depends on what Bravo you are redoing, for example a bravo 3 is going to be more complex than a bravo 1.. Also there is more to them than just unbolting & bolting them together like some places do.. Shimming, preloads & the proper tools are expensive.. To get a full set of tools you will easily spend several k... If you are doing just a basic reseal you can maybe get away with a few hundred bucks worth of aftermarket tools depending on what you are doing..

Jamie / Lakeside.

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Thanks for the help. I've seen some aftermarket tools for sale. Are they good enough? I run bravo 2s for a living and have always farmed out the major work. It's getting tougher to find a mechanic with the time. I also have a couple of drives that sucked a little water or broke a gear tooth somewhere. During the busy season my guy says it's cheaper to buy a new one than pay for him to rebuild. I have to believe I can make something out of all of these parts. If anyone's interested in talking, I'd be willing to trade some fishing for tech assistance.
Thanks.
www.fishwhittier.com

You have to watch, however in this case some of them are probably made by the same company that make the ones for merc..

That said, Most of my specialty tools are factory, I have very very few non merc & volvo non factory drive tools. I dont want to get let down by a the possibility of a tool not holding up for me as well as possible.. Also It has always been easier for me to have my special tool, tool box stay up to date by keeping with merc & volvo as a rule.. That way when they make changes or add models I can see what I need & what I have.. Also some of the stuff is automatically sent to me or is required to be bought from them when you are a dealer..

In your case where you are only doing your stuff on occasion using aftermarket drive tools where you can probably would be ok when you are not going to be doing countless drives every year, year after year..

However I would try to have at least an OEM factory service/repair manual from merc for your drive in its serial # range so that you arent working blindly..

I hope this helps you .. Also by the way if you ever need Merc parts feel free to give me a shout.. Jamie / lakeside

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Offshore fisher..

How far are you from Kodiac? I was there while in the service back in 71'.

shoot me a pm.. I see your's is not on. I can give you some tips.. Or give me a call, 616-403-1006


Dick