checkered

I have a brand new boat with bravo 1 outdrive that has 1” or more slop left to right when you grab the drive and move it. Is this normal?

Edward R. Cozzi

I would think a Bravo 1 that is "brand new", (no hours), on it should have less than 1" side to side play. Make sure all fittings are tight. You may need someone to move the steering wheel while you lean over the back seat and see if anything looks loose.

sleeper_dave

Where is the play? Does the boat have external hydraulic steering?

checkered

No hyd steering, just regular stock steering....Actually measured it last night...About 1/2" side to side, so 1/4" from center to left and center to right.....My boat dealer, who is an authorized merc sterndrive guy, says that's about normal? Just seemed to me that it should be SOLID with no movement at all when brand new, he says no, the slop is in the steering.

Canada Jeff

Once the engine fires up, and the steering system is energized, the slop is gone.

sleeper_dave

If it's just slop in the steering, it sounds like it's normal. If it's slop in any of the pins on the bellhousing or gimbal ring, then it's bad (but with a new boat that's pretty unlikely).

If the boat runs faster than 50 or so, look into some external hydraulic steering.

Edward R. Cozzi

1/2 inch side to side is about normal. I wouldn't be too concerned. From your first post I imagined much more.

John the Drive Man

Brand new? If you have external hydraylic steering, there should be ZERO play. we rig boats with external steering. Never have end play of any kind.

Canada Jeff

See post #4 ......