Can't spin the prop in neutral while on the trailer
 

Trying out different props still and my brother came out to help. We were standing behind the boat talking and he tried to spin the starboard prop and it had a sticky spot during rotation. The other is free spinning. We took it out anyway and all seemed fine but I didn't like the props so we put it on the trailer to swap them and of course we tried to spin the prop and now it won't spin by hand at all in the clockwise direction. It will spin counterclockwise with no problem. Any thoughts?

Shift linkage adjustment?
Sounds like it’s still in gear.

Hey Liberator, Its in neutral for sure. Last thing i did at the dock before shutting it off and putting it on the trailer. Plus it spins counterclockwise with no problem

I was thinking they would freewheel one direction and hold the other when in gear. That may just be on an Alpha.

A Bravo drive in neutral will spin the prop both ways

253, Do you know what is failing inside the drive or what has already failed? Out on the water you wouldn't even know that there was a "problem". I only have about 4 more weekends and really hope it stays together to the end of the season. Thanks for your comment.

Possibly just a small shift cable adjustment, did you try to gently jiggle the shift lever forward and back while spinning the prop

So the answer is no because I was by myself and cant do both at the same time. I did move the cable around and go check the prop several times but it still wont turn. I did break out my bravo 1 manual and adjusted the cables accordingly and now it tries to pop out of gear.

You should not shift a bravo if engine is not running, run it on a garden hose and try to shift it and see what happens

Not trying to shift it into gear just moving the cable within the slack to see if that would disengage the clutch. I didn't run it on the hose but it works normally in the water. I was expecting it to be stuck in gear while the shift lever was in neutral.

Nope. That's Bravos as well.

And it will spin in the direction the shifter is in, but not the other way.

Thanks. Brad.

So what is causing the prop not to spin? Is the drive getting ready to explode? Is it an easy fix? Thanks for your comments.

PQ290,

It doesn't sound like there's any gear or shaft related issues, as that would manifest itself in both directions, I'd think.

I am, by far, not an expert on drives (or much of anything else, outside of machining), but I'd say it's shifter cable positioning. Your "neutral" position on the shifter is placing the shifting mechanism in a condition where it is engaging the clutch enough to hold the prop, and the "rachet" function is allowing it to spin the other way. Does it spin "forward" or "reverse"? This will tell you which way to adjust your shifter cable, if you are inclined to give that a try.

It might be time to take it to a drive shop and have them have a look at it.

Thanks. Brad.

Thanks Brad for your comment. I messed with the shift cable a little. It only has about 1/4" or less of "free travel". If that's the problem, they have become "very finicky" in their old age. I am leaning towards the clutch as the problem and think it will be stuck in gear soon. This happens to be the starboard drive which I spin out so in neutral it will not spin clockwise by hand but will free wheel counterclockwise with a faint clicking sound. The other side has the same clicking sound in both directions. I looked at the "all knowing" youtube and saw a guy messing with the clutch on B-3 and it looked like something I could tackle over the winter. I have an older GEN 1, year 1 Bravo that I could practice on. Thanks again.

PQ, Never been inside a Bravo but I know from reading on here there is a shift fork mechanisim and linkage inside that does the actual shifting of the collar on the ccone clutch. Have heard other people with problems there such as corrosion or worn parts causing issues. If your lower shift cable is ok and adjustment is correct then it has to be an internal problem. Again just my thoughts as I have had one apart............yet.

The lower shift cables are pretty new and move freely. I had the main bellows replaced this year and also the shift boot bellows. I've had the back off of both drives to replace the seal for the shifting shaft. There was some drive oil in that cavity and I understand that that area should be dry. Lol!!! That didn't go well because I didn't have the correct tool for installation. I did get it done but it may leak worse than before. Both reservoirs are loosing drive oil somewhere. Also noticed that the mechanism was pretty well pitted where it rests on the ball and spring. I should have replaced them but I just cleaned them up and reinstalled. Anyway, this problem could easily be self inflicted. I am hoping it lasts the rest of the season.