Bravo/ cable problem
 

I have zero effort control with a 500 hp and bravo x drive 2000 yr. When starting out yesterday and just about to get on plane something popped and the engine over rev-ed. The control is now stiff and it will not go into gear forward or reverse. What happened ? I would like to know before I find out from the mechanic, if I can get him to look at it before summer is over !

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

My guess would be you lost a coupler by the overreving, take a look at the back of the motor with it idling and see if you can see the shaft from the front yoke of the drive that goes into the back of the motor is turning if not the coupler is gone and the motor needs to come out to replace it, Jeff

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

Thanks for the reply Jeff . Can you guess at how much it will cost. I have greased the coupler every year. Gary

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

probably $700-$900

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

You said "the The control is now stiff and it will not go into gear forward or reverse" This would not be a coupler problem, if you can not shift forward or backwards even with the engine off you have a problem in the outdrive.

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

Big Jim, I can move the shift knob but it is tighter than before and it moves the cable where I can see it in the engine compartment but nothing engages with the engine running or not. Thanks Gary

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

When I lost my coupler, the shifter moved freely into forward or reverse position with no resistence.

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

It could possibly be a coupler because the bravo will be much easier to shift with the shafts turning. Just start it up in nuetral, and look behind your motor at the coupler. If the outdrive shaft is not turning that is your problem. If it's turning, then you have a drive problem.

It takes pulling the motor to replace the coupler. I've also replaced them by just moving the motor forward about 8 inches and reaching back there. All depends on how much room you have to work.

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

I shut off my bravo in gear once and could`nt get it back into neutral to start it. Had to jump the safety switch. Most bravos are very difficult if not impossible to shift when they are not running. Don`t force it, You could break a cable.

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

roger 1 is correct don't ever attempt to shift your bravo not runing

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

pull the rear cover on lower unit (on back right below top cover),youll see the shift fork and you can see what its doing (after checking drive coupler). Sounds like you may have broke a upper gear or might just be a linkage problem. You will be able to haqve someone shift it back and forth while you watch fork rotate,Good luck,Smitty

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

Thanks for your help and advise guys, I will check things out ! The summer is too short in Pa. waste time waiting for the mechanic to have a look in a week or so. Gary

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

Indian Summer, A bravo drive will not shift well when the shaft is not turning, Do not try to force in gear or you can snap the ball that is on the end of the cable going to the drive and you will have to replace it, More then likely its the coupler by your explanation of what happened, A buddy of mine has lost both of his in the last year and oddly enuff was the same area both times coming out of the no wake zone and powering up thats when they let go, Jeff

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

Pull the prop and check the hub, it may have spun inside the prop.
You can pull the end cover and check to see if its in neautral. If it is, the prop shaft should turn freely.
A simple fix if your drive is stuck in gear and you cant start the motor is just disconnect the shifter handle cable at the motor and move the levers to neutral. Takes about 5 secs. Then try putting it in or out of gear by hand.

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

Indian Summer, the same thing happened to me 3 weeks ago and it was the drive coupler. The drive doesn't shift because the input shaft isn't turning. Like everyone else is saying, start it and look at the input shaft behind the motor and you will be able to tell if that is the problem right away. It took a couple of nights with a friends fork lift and $400, Go for it if you can find something to lift it or pull it forward. It is a fairly easy replacement.

Re: Bravo/ cable problem
 

Check your coupler first but my best guess is that you broke the gear in the upper unit and now the shifting fork is tweeked from the gear that broke. You said it popped when it let go. Most couplers just let the motor rev up with no popping noise. Drain the oil out in your drive and check the magnets on the plug then pull the rear cover and look inside with a flashlight. Good luck!!