Is there a general rule of thumb for when to do more than the basic maintenance (change gear oil, align, grease, etc.) on a bravo 1 outdrive?

I have a 89’ Formula 242 LS with 502 mag mpi. I think I am relatively easy on it getting on/off plane and don’t leave the water too much in waves...but I’m sure everyone says that! The drive was replaced in 2000, but that’s according to the previous owner (I have owned for 3 years now) and i have know way of knowing how many hours are on it.

I just didn’t know when it makes sense to have it dug into deeper to prevent a possible problem. Or is it fine to keep the gear oil changed and run it?

Thanks in advance!

Good question and following. I'm planning on trying to run this season and then have the drive pulled off and gone through pretty heavily next winter. Needs to be re finished anyway as it's the original 88 bravo drive on it and has some light corrosion too.

The only real reason to tear into it is if you find a significant amount of metal shavings on the magnet or if there is some kind of other problem with it.

Sound good, It should be set to run then. Thanks Griff

If your worried about it, then its not that bad on labor to tear it down to have a look. If nothings wrong then its pretty much a seal kit to put it back together. Also it gives you the peace of mind about what you have.

Good info, thanks!

My old 29 Outlaw w 454 Mag MPIs, bought New in 2001, is pushing 1300 hours or more now - B1s have never been touched. Always changed oil every other motor oil change.

biggest indicators that would warrant a re-build would be…

delays going into and out of gear
abnormal metal on magnets
discolored (black) oil
any abnormal sounds when running it

Or mysterious loss of oil . I have been losing 4oz or so ,every longer trip out ,had to pull the drive anyway to do a gimbal ,original B1 from 97 .I found some oil in the bellows so pulled the top cap and found the torrington bearing inside the top gear had siezed and spun the race in the cap. May have lost preload on pinion prior ,not sure slapped a spare drive on for now .was probably less than 15 min of run time from wiping out that upper unit

same here... been running mine for 8 years, previous owner did not have to do them before i bought it,so... i am just hoping for the best! But I do have a spare bravo just in case...