Lost shift ability on starboard motor???? - Coupler Gone, why??
 

With engine running, I can get starboard motor into forward, however prop doesn't turn. And I can't get shift lever into reverse.

454 mag carb 1994, Bravo 1 drive.

What might be the problem? Where should I begin to look??

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

Take the cable that goes to the drive off the shift bracket in the bilge and see if you can shift it direct. If so you have to replace the internal shifting piece in the top end of the drive that has the claw holding the shift cable. For some reason the pivot holes seem to round out and you loose the tolerance to allow it to shift all the way into gear.

I have been trying to find the piece on the Bam site so I could show you the drawing and part number but am not having luck getting into that part of the site. If you need this info maybe someone else can help I won't be around have to work on my own boat :D

BTW "IF" this is your problem it's an easy fix!

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

I just happened to re read your post and I did not see the part about the prop not turning! Good luck I'm sure it is much more involved than the simple repair I described.

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

Could be a broken floor in the fwd gear.. time to have it torn down and inspected..

Hope this helps
Dick

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

What exactly is a broken floor in the fwd gear??? I have a manual with the parts breakdown, would like to reference it.

Thanks for your insight!!!!

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

If that is the issue, what kind of price would I expect to have it fixed??? Just ballpark, is this a minor or major issue?? It's a 94 drive with 350hrs on it.

I've made an appointment to take the boat in, any reason I have to take the boat in, would it be good enough to just drop them the drive??? I hate leaving my boat with anyone....

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

you can swap the drive to the other side to rule out any control problems. if it still happens then pull the drive back off and take it in for service.

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

I'm about to pull the drive off shortly. My thought is that once the drive is off, I should be able to perform an operational check from the shifter all the way to the outside transom. I should see the small cable which locks to the outdrive jaws moving in and out as if I was putting it in and out of gear using the shifter. If it works fine, than all cables in boat should be good and that should tell me the problem is in the drive???

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

Somewhat yes but you won't know if the travel distance is correct. Take a few minutes and drain it before you pull it off the boat. It makes it much less sloppy to work on :cool:

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

I'll check my manual for travel distance and also compare it to the port motor... Thanks!

Now, once I have the drive off and lets say the shifter through to the cable which connects to the outdrive are OK, is it OK to pull the lock jaws on the drive in and out to test the outdrive or should I not be messing wtih it since it's not in a running mode???

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

Pulled the drive and DAMM!!!!!! Coupler is gone!!!! Not what I wanted to see!!!!

What causes the coupler to fail???

Everything was running fine all day and it wasn't until my girlfriend dropped me at the dock to get the trailer and when she was approaching the trailer, she heard some noise and that was the end. Just strikes me funny that we ran for miles with no issue and then when going to put it on the trailer it failed.

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

Misalignment :(

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

I had one fail when I put a 327 Chevy in front of the
old style outdrive. The coupler looked good, but
after an hour of running it failed. On the old style
outdrives you had to pull the engine to change the
coupler. I hope that is not the case on the Bravo
drives.

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

Sure is the case with the Bravo, engine has to come out!!!! No other way about it unfortunately.

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

or lack of grease :(
which is what happened to mine
Paid for service and they realy drilled me dry :( Never had grease for 2 years :(
Well new ones now and they are greased by myself :)

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

I'm going to buy a second grease gun specifically for the spline type merc grease and be sure to do it myself as well.

Still don't know why this one failed, shop says port one looks fine and alignment is fine on both motors. **** happens I guess.

Thanks everyone for your comments!!!

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

I broke a coupler last year as well. You have to pull the engine, but it's still less $$$ than replacing an outdrive!!! Since then, I've been putting a couple of squirts of spline grease into the couplers every 20 hours. That should help! :D :D

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

"Just strikes me funny that we ran for miles with no issue and then when going to put it on the trailer it failed. " quote

Now you should feel good about that. Sounds like your little baby made sure you got home before she broke. :rolleyes:

Re: Lost shift ability on starboard motor????
 

Might have been the in and out of gear.. loading and unloading the shaft.. maybe it was hanging on by a thread.. just to get you home.. Who did you say was driving the boat?? Wasnt your fault you were gettin the trailer..

sorry.. just had to say something.. :)