Leaking Bravo
 

I've got oil leaking out around the prop on my Bravo One. The thing is, I don't know jack squat about outdrives. I'm assuming there is some sort of seal gone bad around the propshaft. Is this hard to replace and can it be done w/o pulling the drive off the boat? Are there different styles of Bravo One? I really can't read the serial number as it has faded.

Jeff

The fluid drain is right behind the prop at the bottom. Check to make sure it is not loose and that the seal is ok. If the problem is in the lower unit it can be removed from the upper by unbolting the 7 nuts that hold it on. The 7th bolt is at the rear under the plastic plug. This way you can service the lower without removing the whole drive. The leak ma posibly be in the upper and leaking down into the exhaust area by the prop but not likely. Here is a picture of a drive yours should be similar.

Here is a link to BAM Marine parts break down:

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...+%28BRAVO+I%29

Hey small world. I'm in Lake Orion too ;). I live in Bunny Run if you know where that is. Ok so I'll check the drain plug first (above the propshat inside the lower?). Does having to service the propshaft oil seal mean pulling the lower. It looks like that shaft on the lower pulls straight out of the upper right? I saw oil coming up to the surface in bubbles behind the boat after running over to Gull Island. After I got it back to the marina, the only oil I could see anywere on the drive was on the prop where it is necked down to fit inside the lower.

Yes the lower just drops down after the 7 bolts are loose, Make sure you have it drained and in the trailer position in order to get it off. Carefull not to let it rest on an angle when pulling it off as you may damage the splined coupler that connects the vertical shafts together. Your best bet is to take it to a drive shop and have them look at it, It requires special tools to get the propshaft and bearing carrier out.

Yes I am familiar with Bunny Run, I used to live there for a year when I was a kid - Long Lake. I grew up in Lake Orion and have lived here almost my whole life.

If the oil leak is from around the prop shaft you can repair it without removing the drive. With the boat out of the water remove the prop and the spanner nut ( carefully drill a hole through it and break it out ) Then put the prop back on without the thrust washer and put some wood blocks between the prop and the gearcase and tighten the prop nut. It will pop the the carrier loose. ( drain oil first ) Carefully pry out the old oil seals making sure you notice how they come out. There are two of them aqnd they are installed front to front. The farthest one in holds the oil in and the outside one holds water out. Buy a new spanner nut and put it back togeather. Be carefull - behind the carrier their will be some very thin metal shims - dont mess with these and carefully put them back in if they come out. Clean everything and reassemble. GOOD LUCK

Well, I allready have someone looking at it. I'm gonna call him tommorow and see what he says. I did go drain the oil and was going to try to pull the lower but I didn't want to jack anything up. I did find metal shavings on the plugs. Is this bad? The mechanic says some shavings are normal.

The metal should be just fine powder with maybe a few small chunks about the size of sand.

The mechanic is telling me that the propshaft is scored and the gears are rusty in the lower. When I drained the oil the was no water in it. How is that possible. I haven't seen the parts yet Is this guy just pulling my chain and if the gears do have some rust on them would that necessitate their replacement or could they be cleaned up and reused? Help, what should I do?