Transmission Levers Hard to Shift
 

Just purchased my first twin engine boat. It has twin 377 scorpion engines with Bravo 1 legs.

The shift levers are Graffrig shifters and throttles. I have to put considerable force on the shift levers to shift either forward or reverse. The trasnmissions engage smoothly but the pressure needed to shift is very high. I had a Baja and the transmission shifting was very easy and was only about 1/4 effort of my new boat?

Is this normal for this type of setup? Is there a maintenance item I should be looking at?

Thanks for any feedback.

Sounds like it's time for new cables.

Or the detent ball is seized.

If the throttles are free after the shift it could very well be a poppet/detent ball issue.


John jr

+1

I had the same issue with my starboard Bravo 1 a couple years ago. It was hard to shift. Removed the outdrive and the shifters moved very easy and smooth. Determined water was able to get into the cavity (bad o-ring) that houses the shift linkage and detent. It broke down the grease and started rusting causing it to bind up. Replace those parts (items 14, 15 and 38) greased them up and has been silky smooth ever since.

Thanks 4mula - will start at the legs and work back. I noticed both shifters are equally difficult to move?

Will pull apart one of the legs and inspect. I need to overhaul the drives this winter.

Thanks all for the advice.

you are correct but the water actually enters from the crimp on the lower shift cable,not the gasket on the cable,change out the cable ,and bellow,detent ball,and most foremost the shift link-along with the rear cover o-ring and lube with only 101 with teflon

You're welcome Chase. That would be unusual for both of your drives to have this problem, but at least pulling one off will help you figure out just what is going on. Btw, mine are 2006 Bravo 1's. Good luck!

It has been a couple years and thinking about it a bit more I did replace a couple other seals.

wes, I do remember that the leak was from a bad o-ring. It is the one that seals where the linkage passes through to connect to the cable shown in the first pic. The o-ring is #4 in the second pic. I also replaced the shaft seals and bushings (#7, #8, and #9) and the rear cover gasket (#37 in early pic).