Hello All,
Looking for guidance and help. One question I have is, is it better to buy the parts separate or buy the bravo kit. Looks like the kit is more expensive and if you buy separate it seems to be cheaper. I am looking to use only Mercruiser parts
The drives are pretty current and look good but if I find something wrong I will replace it. Drives have about 40 hours on them from previous owner. Just trying to buy the things I know I will need ahead of time to minimize down time.
I am getting ready to do some maintenance on my outdrives. I have Bravo 1 and I am looking to do the following:

• Replace drive fluid
• While empty looking to separate the lower unit of 1 drive to replace the seal that the speed fitting connect to ( never separated the upper from lower before). Looking for any guidance here.
• Remove the plate with the 3 bolts on the back of the drive to see if the detent is causing hard shifting. I have Kiekhaefer shifters and not sure if it is the shifter, cables or detent
• If need to change cable, I will replace shifter cable and boot
• inspect bellows bellows,

Thanks in advance for any help

Why do you want to or think you have to separate the upper and lower units????

Bajaman
the hole that the yellow fitting goes in is extremely loose. When looking at the exploded view I see there is a seal.
since the drives will be empty of no fluid, I figured now is the time to install it.

I don’t use the Speedo but I like to have everything working. I just hope I’m not opening scan worm by separating the lower unit

If you aren’t sure how old your bellows are just replace them - U-joint and shift cable. don’t forget Bellows adhesive. Broken Bellows can sink a boat if you’re unlucky. ONlY use OEM - trust a guy who got screwed on this point.

make sure you buy fresh fiber washers for the fluid drain plugs. Make sure you get the old one OUT.

there is a 75% chance that if you have drive lube reservoirs they are “gunked up” in the bottom and need to be removed and cleaned.

Lower cables are often corroded in the bell housing and have to be drilled out. You’ll need the alignment tool to hook them back up. Buy on eBay for like 5bucks. I’ve always just cut a slit in a paint stirrer for the shift cable tool that goes on the face of the bell housing which has worked well.

im not any help on splitting the bravo for the Speedo seal you’re talking about because I have GPS speedo (which doesn’t work)

Lube splines when you reassemble on both the prop and drive shaft. Don’t use TOOmuch on the driveshaft spline because it can build up in the flywheel and it doesn’t compress real well.
Check your gimbal bearing when you have the drive off.

The seal your looking at is the O-ring on the Yellow fitting, and should be loose. The O-ring is what seals the fitting and if tight it might break trying to get it out. The hole is all in the lower section and does not go up to the upper half. Leave the halves together unless you need to work inside one of the halves

Seafordguy
Thanks for all the advice you provided. You answered questions I did not even ask but was now thinking, thanks again.

I was planning on buy the alignment tool. I already have the tool to install the gimbal ring, and the shaft to install it. I had to purchase the alignment tool.

Are there any other special tools I am missing?

Bajaman

The oring I am suspecting is missing or broken is in the picture below #5.

This is a twin motor setup and the other drive has a yellow fitting and fits snug. The drive I’m speaking about is loose. When installing the fitting it is not snug like the port drive. Instead when installing the fitting in the starboard drive it kind of just falls in the hole.

I’m not sure I 100% understand your post.

I think you are saying the o ring is on the yellow fitting itself. The oring I’m speaking about is in the picture #5

Also, I’ve never separated B1 and not sure if you are indicating that I don’t have to separate the unit. Also was going to order 3 for a good proper seal.

im sorry can you clarify your post


thank you and thanks to all that are replying.

It is called a seal but really a bushing
The yellow plastic adapter (Item 16) has a O-ring which is not shown which seals the Speed-o tube

https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-6568...r-815303t.aspx

AllDodge,

I think I understand, but I swopped the yellow fitting from the port drive to the starboard drive and it is still loose.
I placed the starboard yellow fitting into the port drive and it is tight. This is why I am thinking its the #5 seal/ bushing that must be missing.

I hope this helps clear up as to why I think its something in the drive or am I missing something?

Assuming the drives were gone thru and with only one of them being used for the Speed-o the bushing was most likely not replaced/installed because it's not needed

The good thing is a Bravo is easy to split and reinstall. Not like the Alpha which needs the upper shift foot and lower shift shaft synced before joining together. The Bravo just slides back together and only a couple O-rings. So if you want to put it back in, all good