Sorry for the driveby folks, but I need some information and as hard
as it is to believe, there actually are experts here. :)

I came across a very nice 23' Proline - garage kept, trailered, kept
in a similar fashion to my Ranger - hull, cabin and interior are in
mint condition. The 5.7 Mercruiser was replaced about two years ago
and has less than 60 hours on it. I was asked to take it for a ride
and check it out for an estate sale.

The outdrive, which I think is a Bravo II, sounds like it want to come
apart at the seams. It grinds into and out of gear, there is a
vibration coming from it at speed that is VERY annoying (it's not
coming from the engine) and the gear oil (which I checked after
running it for 15 minutes) is milky - the oil plugs have metal pieces
on them.

Obviously something is wrong with the seals (or drive shaft or gears
for that matter). I pulled the prop and checked for misalignment on
the drive shaft, but everything looks pristine and clean - there
doesn't appear to be any slop in the shaft itself, but when I put it
in gear and move the prop back and forth, there appears to be an awful
lot of gear lash - which is not a positive sign I'm thinking.

So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not (leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.

Anybody?

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:

So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not (leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.

Anybody?

It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:
Sorry for the driveby folks, but I need some information and as hard
as it is to believe, there actually are experts here. :)

I came across a very nice 23' Proline - garage kept, trailered, kept
in a similar fashion to my Ranger - hull, cabin and interior are in
mint condition. The 5.7 Mercruiser was replaced about two years ago
and has less than 60 hours on it. I was asked to take it for a ride
and check it out for an estate sale.

The outdrive, which I think is a Bravo II, sounds like it want to come
apart at the seams. It grinds into and out of gear, there is a
vibration coming from it at speed that is VERY annoying (it's not
coming from the engine) and the gear oil (which I checked after
running it for 15 minutes) is milky - the oil plugs have metal pieces
on them.

Obviously something is wrong with the seals (or drive shaft or gears
for that matter). I pulled the prop and checked for misalignment on
the drive shaft, but everything looks pristine and clean - there
doesn't appear to be any slop in the shaft itself, but when I put it
in gear and move the prop back and forth, there appears to be an awful
lot of gear lash - which is not a positive sign I'm thinking.

So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not (leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.

Anybody?
You probably have a bravo 1. Bravo 2 is geared for houseboats,
workboats, and such.
If you were a potential buyer would you rather have a rebuilt with
limited warranty, a new clone with cumbersome warranty, or a new
Mercruiser with factory warranty?
The cost to repair the existing drive could start at $1000 and go on up
to over the price of a new drive. You just won't know until the drive is
disassembled and inspected.

On Sep 17, 11:13*am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not *(leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. *The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.

Anybody?

It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. *I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. *You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? That's different.

Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not (leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? That's different.
Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.

On Sep 17, 1:23*pm, Jim wrote:
Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not *(leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. *The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. *I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. *You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . *A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? *That's different.

Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It was the torque. They were typically on bigger boats too. 300hp
small block in a runabout with an alpha is fine. But you're right,
merc quit recommending alphas for any big block application.

Sounds like the outdrive is in trouble. Hard to say what the rebuild
cost will be until it's torn down. You might find someone that will
tear it down for a few hundred and then tell you if it's worth
rebuilding or not. To bad, probably started as as simple seal problem
or some fishing line on the prop shaft.

On Sep 17, 12:23*pm, Jim wrote:
Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not *(leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. *The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. *I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. *You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . *A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? *That's different.

Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

True, but most stock 454's arn't rated at 300 hp. Unless somebody just
has to be a wild 'n crazy guy...

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:

Sorry for the driveby folks, but I need some information and as hard
as it is to believe, there actually are experts here. :)

I came across a very nice 23' Proline - garage kept, trailered, kept
in a similar fashion to my Ranger - hull, cabin and interior are in
mint condition. The 5.7 Mercruiser was replaced about two years ago
and has less than 60 hours on it. I was asked to take it for a ride
and check it out for an estate sale.

The outdrive, which I think is a Bravo II, sounds like it want to come
apart at the seams. It grinds into and out of gear, there is a
vibration coming from it at speed that is VERY annoying (it's not
coming from the engine) and the gear oil (which I checked after
running it for 15 minutes) is milky - the oil plugs have metal pieces
on them.

Obviously something is wrong with the seals (or drive shaft or gears
for that matter). I pulled the prop and checked for misalignment on
the drive shaft, but everything looks pristine and clean - there
doesn't appear to be any slop in the shaft itself, but when I put it
in gear and move the prop back and forth, there appears to be an awful
lot of gear lash - which is not a positive sign I'm thinking.

So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not (leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.

Anybody?

My 21' Proline with the 5.7L had an Alpha outdrive. When I read
'grinds into and out of gear', I thought you might just need a cable
adjustment. But, further reading dispelled that notion.

If the administrator wants to fix it, I'd let him take it to a
Mercruiser guy.
--

John H

On Sep 17, 12:58*pm, jamesgangnc wrote:
On Sep 17, 1:23*pm, Jim wrote:





Tim wrote:
On Sep 17, 11:13 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:41:01 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports

wrote:
So, here's the question. Assuming that there are broken gears and what
not *(leaking seals, etc.), would it be better for the estate to have
the drive rebuilt or purchase a complete drive and have it installed.
I admit it, I know nothing about outdrives, so I'm at a loss as to
what to do. *The estate administrator does not want to sell it as is.
Anybody?
It sounds like a total rebuild to me - seals, bearings and gears,
probably somewhere north of $3 or 4K. *I'd ask a Mercruiser service
center to quote it both ways, rebuild or replacement. *You may be able
to get a Chinese knockoff for considerably less.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?...F&WT.mc_id=gb1

Yes, the aftermarket Outdrives are working out very well . *A complete
lower leg new is in many cases half the price of a re-cap.

It sounds to me like the lower end is about to shuck. But I'm really
sort of surprised that it has a Bravo instead of an Alpha. I'm not
saying it doesn't, but Mercruiser put Alpha's on 454's as well as the
350's.

A complete aftermarket Alpha is less than $1500.00 new.

Bravo's? *That's different.

Alphas on 7.4 L engines fell apart. They can't take 300 HP and survive.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It was the torque. *They were typically on bigger boats too. *300hp
small block in a runabout with an alpha is fine. *But you're right,
merc quit recommending alphas for any big block application.

Sounds like the outdrive is in trouble. *Hard to say what the rebuild
cost will be until it's torn down. *You might find someone that will
tear it down for a few hundred and then tell you if it's worth
rebuilding or not. *To bad, probably started as as simple seal problem
or some fishing line on the prop shaft.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The way that Tom described it, I'd say it's probably lunched, or close
to dinner time.

I'd also recommend a reputable salvage. After all, I really don't know
how much a huge rebuild on a lower end would really increase the boats
value.

If a boat is actually worth 5000.00 and you are offered 3000.00 for it
with a bad lower, is it better to sink anouther couple K into a lower-
end rebuild just to get it back up to 5?

the way I look at it, you still lost.

I'd look into a used swap especially if they're going to sell it and
not keep it.

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:02:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

True, but most stock 454's arn't rated at 300 hp. Unless somebody just
has to be a wild 'n crazy guy...

The 454s I'm used to are 350 horse with a single 4bbl carb, more with
fuel injection.