I use Quicksilver Extreme grease but really, it's just a bearing, so any quality grease is going to be just fine. Any grease is better than no grease at all!

@TheZambie1 perfect. I have a grease fitting for the gimbal bearing. Pumped a few pumps.

Hello and thanks for your question! I have used the method shown in this video many times, all with successful and lasting results. If you would like to do this yourself, I would recommend you get the MerCruiser Service Manual - it will be money well spent. You will need the wrench to get the u-joint assembly retainer nut off and back on again, a 1/2" torque wrench, and the stand that holds the gear/clutch assembly on a benchtop. It helps to have the tool to remove and install the shift rod, but you can use a machine screw that fits the threads. Start with a service manual and become familiar with the job and necessary special tools. The valve lapping compound is the only way to go, I would not attempt to use sandpaper. Good luck!

The Mercruiser manual says to glass bead the cone clutch. Also if the outdrive has any time on it in most cases the correct shift cable adjustments were not followed correctly. I've been building Bravos since 1984 (yes 2 years before they were in retail production) The poor gear face surfaces are generally caused when the needle bearings in the gears have in excess of .025 space between them. New they measure .016. Mercruiser doesn't sell this bearing but just replace it with a Koyo B-3214 needle bearing and it will get your backlashes close to factory original specs

Those are B3s. But all Bravos use the same upper (driveshaft housing) and principal. Just the lowers change from B1, B2, and B3.

Sweet! Thanks!

i was also hoping to find that answer. i have a leak on the inner shaft seal and can't find any info on replacing that

Everyone will have their own opinion on the subject of replacing other seals that aren't currently leaking, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. To say that the seals are the same age and will therefore be soon to fail is wrong. Also, where do you then draw the line? Reseal the entire drive? Every case is different, and so is the customer. In this case, the one seal that failed was replaced in short order, costing the customer X amount of dollars and the drive is still tight and probably will be for several seasons to come. So, to spend large amounts of additional money when it is not necessary is up to the individual, but in my opinion is foolish. If the inner shaft seal is leaking, well that's another video. And, as mentioned, more labor intensive, and I recommend obtaining the service manual.

Will a bad carrier seal make noises ? When turning?

@@franciswiz3781 Seal - no. Bearing - yes.

@@franciswiz3781 If it's making noise when you turn, it's most likely your universal joint on your U-joint assembly.

What you're experiencing is the classic symptom of what this video is about, so yes. Also, in my experience, it is always the forward engagement that has the delay, and that is because typically, you shift from neutral to forward more often causing it to glaze over before the reverse gear does. Some folks will try to adjust the shift and that does nothing to help the actual problem and will make things worse. There is a specific shift adjustment procedure and once it is set it is not to be messed with.

@@TheZambie1 Thank you very much for the reply! Alright, so it seems to be like I feared.. Yes I had my hopes on some simple problem and was about to look into the shift "wiring" but you're probably right. Right now I have the drive detached and in the garage, and if I manually push and pull on the shift lever I can hear the clutch engage both ways so the next step will be to get the special tool to remove the drive-shaft etc.. I would've tried to hire you for the job, but since I'm in Sweden that might be difficult :)

@@7rille7 Var det kopplingen som var glaserad?

@@martinwangerud8489 Glömde uppdatera efter renoveringen, men ja, detta löste problemet för mig än så länge.

Just an update after I applied this fix on my Bravo 1 drive. I does work so far, I've only been using the boat for maybe 2 hours runtime since but it shifts perfectly again. Thanks again for this vid.