Before you take anything apart...check the coupler , it's a whole lot easier

4 blade may help you plane better, but i don't think they make them that small.

just find a 'heavily' intoxicated fat girl and have her pass out in your V-Berth....should help getting you on plane.

GOOD LUCK I JUST BROKE MY BRAVO AND WENT TO A XR WHY PUT A DRIVE ON THE BOAT IF YOU KNOW ITS NOT GOING TO STAND UP TO THE BOAT AND THE MOTOR IN IT STOCK MOTORS AND A DRIVE THAT WONT HOLD UP, BUT I GUESS WE PAY TO HAVE OUR TOYS

Call Mr. Gadgets. AKA Dick Trice 616-403-1006 cell. He helped me out when I was in a bind last summer. He's knows Bravo's inside and out.

If i had money to burn, i'd be running a duramax with a konrad behind it.

I will check the coupler, for sure. But if it's toast, the drive has to come off anyway, right?

So leading two theories are vertical shaft and coupler. Thinking shaft is more likely, but hey, if they didn't line the motor up right when they rebuilt it last year, the coupler could easily be the culprit.

On the plus side, i didn't hear any nasty grinding noises, or any bad explosion type noises, so hopefully it's just one or two hard parts and some labor.

Anyone know a good outdrive shop in SE MI? One that can get me in soon? I for damn sure need this boat ready by the 23rd of next month.

I guess this just makes me glad i bought a couple of jet skis this spring.

I put lead diving weights in the bow of a 19' welcraft I had ....worked great ....

So i checked it out a bit more after work.

Took a look at the coupler, didn't see anything wrong. Marked the grease on the shaft with my finger, next to the zirc fitting, and bumped the engine over a couple times with the ignition killed. Stayed lined up.

Then i pulled the top cap off the drive to inspect. No chunks of metal or anything. I turned the propshaft by hand and could see the top of the vertical shaft turning. There was no resistance or any wierd noises. I put it in gear and did the same thing. Top of the vertical shaft still spins when i turn the propshaft. The gears on the clutch pack and the input shaft are not turning either.

So, i'm thinking it's either something in the shift cable, shifter mechanism, or most likely, the clutch pack. The shift cable feels like it's hooked up, but i didn't think to try to verify that anything was moving in the oudrive when it shifted. That cable was replaced this spring, boat's been run about 10 hours since then.

I also took a look at the reservoir. It was near empty. I didn't think to check it before pulling off the top cover, but nothing leaked out when i pulled it. The oil level in the drive looked like it was about halfway up on the clutch pack.

I second that. And hes not that far from you.

Give me a call Dave. I am starting to get busy, but can work it in for you..

Dick

Thanks, but I already dropped the boat off at the same shop i've been using.

They said they can look at it some time next week, and if it's "something stupid" i may have it back the following weekend.