Bravo ****ing delay
09-02-2012 | 10:14 AM
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Bravo ****ing delay
This is my first post on this forum and there seems to be a lot of Bravo drive knowledge on this site. I do not have a cool go fast twin engine monster but rather a very clean 1989 invader with a 5.7 Bravo 2 with 240 hours on it I bought it from the second owner of 18 years. I was hoping to get some advice on a issue iI am having. The engine runs great and the boat performs well but I have found that on first start up(cold) there is a 10 to 20 second delay before engaging forward gear. After running for a while seems to work ok. Shift cable was adjusted per Merc manual with Merc tools while doing the bellows back in June. Also gear lube replaced with Merc hp gear oil after pressure test passed. I have research this problem and found similar Bravo drive issues although not exactly the same, saying the clutch mechanism is worn. I think I also read that Merc revised the clutch design because of failures.
Last week a found a used Bravo 1 drive of similar vintage for a reasonable price (Bravo drive are expensive) with a 30 day warranty. After draining gear lube, pressure test and new Merc hp gear lube I installed the drive and ran on the hose. What I found was this drive behaved the same way only the delay shift was in reverse (came off a boat with twins left rotation drive maybe? and worn or in the opposite direction as my B2). Has anyone experienced this behavior on Bravo drives? I also noticed the top cover of the B1 drive got a little warm while running on the hose is this normal? Never felt the B2 drive top cover.
Need some advice as to what to do next, should I try and return the B1 and spend the $s on getting my B2 rebuilt? Use the B1 until it fails then rebuild the B2? The boat is in great condition and I plan to keep it for a while but even a new Bravo upper is more than I paid for the whole rig. Btw the B2 serial # is oc505291 and there is no serial # on the B1. Unfortunately my water test of the B1 was postponed. Should I even test it on the water or am I asking for trouble?
Rumor has it that SEI is working on a Bravo upper. Fingers crossed.
Thanks advance for the help.
Mike
Last week a found a used Bravo 1 drive of similar vintage for a reasonable price (Bravo drive are expensive) with a 30 day warranty. After draining gear lube, pressure test and new Merc hp gear lube I installed the drive and ran on the hose. What I found was this drive behaved the same way only the delay shift was in reverse (came off a boat with twins left rotation drive maybe? and worn or in the opposite direction as my B2). Has anyone experienced this behavior on Bravo drives? I also noticed the top cover of the B1 drive got a little warm while running on the hose is this normal? Never felt the B2 drive top cover.
Need some advice as to what to do next, should I try and return the B1 and spend the $s on getting my B2 rebuilt? Use the B1 until it fails then rebuild the B2? The boat is in great condition and I plan to keep it for a while but even a new Bravo upper is more than I paid for the whole rig. Btw the B2 serial # is oc505291 and there is no serial # on the B1. Unfortunately my water test of the B1 was postponed. Should I even test it on the water or am I asking for trouble?
Rumor has it that SEI is working on a Bravo upper. Fingers crossed.
Thanks advance for the help.
Mike
