On a Bravo setup, what purpose does this serve? It's kind of an intricate casting if it's only for reversing cable direction.

Just curious, cause I'm thinking about making one that's smaller and shiny.

The main function of it is to transfer the movement from the shift cable from the shifter to the drive shift cable

it does not have be to mounted on the engine ..most take it off and mount on transom out of site

It also changes the amount of throw. On top of that, it's a place for a neutral safety switch or an ignition interrupter in Alpha drives.
Eddie

Mine is setup 1:1, so this may turn into a machining project. Heim joint ends and polished Al look nice.

it is basically an alpha bracket with interrupter removed. why? cuz it is already on their shelves and designed-paid for. on the plus side, it works...hanging on transom not only makes motor prettier, it also is one less thing to disconnect-reconnect-readjust after pulling exhausts or engine. another possible mount location is on a bracket bolted to flywheel cover (bellhousing in a car) bolts. that is where merc used to put it in the MR log manifold days.

for one its a more problematic set up using a shift cable from the control box to the motor side and then having the intermediate shift cable from motor side to back of drive especially compared to Volvo Pentas. Volvo use just one shift cable from control box to drive. So much better of a shifting set up plus less failures and less expense for the end user.

With that said the Merc shift bracket is the exact same bracket that the Alpha and Bravo.. The exact same bracket - this helps with cost for Merc as one bracket can be made to serve Alpha and bravo apps - its about quantity buy ins as well .

Next is correct Bravo do NOT use a shift interruptor switch like the alphas. BUT for the past 12 years both alpha and bravo use a SHIFT IN GEAR SWITCH that mounts to the shift bracket as well for ALL MPI ENGINES.

The shift in gear switch tells the ECM / PCM what position the drive should be in when ever shifted or not -( in gear or in Neutral). The current ECM 555 and PCM 555 since 2003 / 2004 - use / need this info about whether the drive is in gear or in neutral. That switch is not a neutral safty switch. Its a shift in gear switch and without it your engine will not run correctly. Again the SHIFT IN GEAR SWITCH is mounted on all Merc OEM stock Bravo and alpha drive apps that are MPI since 2003 / 2004 ECM 555 - PCM 555 - PCM 03 and current PCM 09 Catalyst engines. FYI