Please help diagnose a repair issue with a MERCRUISER BRAVO 3 outdrive SLOW TO SHIFT intermttently ?

Question

All of the linkages from the helm to the engine have been replaced, so a linkage problem can be ruled out.

There is a positive DETENT feel to the shift actuator arm at the outdive unit.

On an intermittent basis the unit may take up to ten seconds to engage in either forward or reverse.

I have experience working on boats and outdrives, and am requesting any suggestions you may have regarding what service procedures to apply to diagnose this problem.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

Have you checked your stern leg oil to make sure you no water ingress ?. Water ingress will create gear shift problems.

Sounds more like the shift sleeve is glazed.You can relap the sleeve into the fwd and rev gears, but I would suggest a new shift sleeve assembly

Answer 2

Make sure you are using mercury high performance gear lube.  The first year the bravo was produced they found that standard 90W gear lube would break down in its viscosity and cause slipping of the cone clutch so they came out with high performance gear lube.

The previous post stated about water intrusion in the oil .This will also cause a breakdown of oil even the hifgh performance and cause the clutch to slip.