got around to fitting a Bravo 1 at the weekend after a gimbal change out. Can get it in to last 3/4 inch but no more. Checked splines and also tried tapping shaft in the engine bay with a soft mallet plus turned prop shaft but to no avail.

Anyone got any techniques - is it brut force? or??

Also on the water pipe should it be over flush in engine bay so the plastic piece pinches pipe or flush?

Did you use an alignment tool prior to trying to install the drive???? Chances are the new gimbal bearing is not lined up just right.
The drive should slide on relatively smoothly.

Sounds like something is a miss. If you replace the whole gimbal ring. The water fitting shouldnt be pinching anything. Can you give us some pics?? That would help.

The gimbal is clear of pipe it runs fine on outside of the transom - the question is where the pipe pushes through the transom into the engine bay should it protrude a little or be flush before I fit the plastic expander and then the water pipe connection - sorry for confusion.

No I thought I could 'waggle' the drive - is it necessary to use the tool?

You need to use the tool. Even if the drive slides in, it may still be out of alignment enoungh to vibrate. BTDT

YES.