DIY Annual Drive Service

pet575 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2015 2:03 pm

I'm sure this topic has been covered 1000 times now but I haven't found a nice summary of a "How To" anywhere for my question. Over the years I've had my drive inspected/service but now I'm tired of paying for it and I'm interested in doing it myself this Spring before boating season begins.

Does anyone know of a good video, slideshow, etc. that has some pics or visual aid that I can use to DIY this? I'm suspicious of my gimbal bearing as I approach this and so I want to know how to do everything from pulling the drive to inspecting/changing gimbal and ujoints while I'm in there.

If the answer is SELOC or comparable I'm OK with that. Was just wondering if anyone knew of some free resources I could study a bit before i dig into my wallet.

Thanks!

ric · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2015 2:33 pm

Youtube has helped me out several times

Vintage Beauty · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:48 pm

Here are some great links:
http://www.sterndrives.com/mercruiserhelp.html
http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html#
http://www.mercstuff.com/howdoi.htm

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:08 pm

If you want to start doing your own drive service, it's not really hard as instructions are freely available on the internet. However, the thing to keep in mind is that the Bravo drives are very heavy. You will need to either build a stand (my first one I built from 2x6s and put casters on the bottom) or buy one like the one I've posted pix of (got it from Stumpy's Fab Works in the midwest someplace)...
It was well worth the price because a fact of pulling drive is this:
Usually they come off easy, however when re-installing it, you have to get it lined up just so and having a stand so you don't have to strain your back and can adjust the height precisely, really helps. There have been times when I got it on in 10 minutes, and times when it fought me and I had to back off and line things up better.
It is really good to learn how to do this because not only will you save money but you can avoid expensive unnecessary repairs. You will spot a bellows when it starts to leak. You will see a raw water hose in the transom mount starting to clog up. You will feel wear in the u joints before they fail and take out the transom mount. You will feel play in the transom mount hinge pins and take care of it before it gets really bad.
If you're going to own stern drive boats for your boating hobby then this is a good thing to learn for sure. I've been at it about 8 years and its saved a lot of money.

I'm showing my age here but I learned how to maintain all my own vehicles starting in the early 70s by reading factory shop manuals. I have one for my OMC Cobra and its great. I'd get a Merc shop manual for your drive and learn the right way the first time. The 'net is great but there is no substitute for the Factory Shop Manual....

pet575 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:08 pm

Thanks guys I've seen a lot of the written materials. I can follow that stuff when necessary but I'm much more of a visual guy.

I'll hit up YouTube and go from there I guess. Worst thing is I use the written materials and pics. I'm definitely wanting to learn this on my own so it is time to figure some stuff out!

I'll try to post some pics/video in the future when I finally tackle this.

JeffLW · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2015 2:25 pm

This guy has some pretty good videos on YTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OZr21WjP40

LouC · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2015 5:57 pm

LOL that was the vid I was trying to find, that guy is local to us I think he's on the South Shore of LI.

http://stumpysfabworks.weebly.com/boat- ... -jack.html

Get this it will save your back and reduce the # of cuss words you use at least by half....

jontmiller · **Joined:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:16 am **Posts:** 296

Same questions for me so thanks for posting,

thoughts on replacing the raw water hose while doing the bellows? Honestly everything **looks** new and clean already but already have the drive off and painted up so doing the bellows at the same time but never considered the water hose....

Hoping to make this an ever other year event now that I will know the history on the parts.

alex8q4 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:52 am

JeffLW wrote:

This guy has some pretty good videos on YTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OZr21WjP40

Lol

I was also going to look for this Video to post as a reaponse... He does a good job talking through what he is doing.

LouC · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:15 am

jontmiller wrote:

Same questions for me so thanks for posting,

thoughts on replacing the raw water hose while doing the bellows? Honestly everything **looks** new and clean already but already have the drive off and painted up so doing the bellows at the same time but never considered the water hose....

Hoping to make this an ever other year event now that I will know the history on the parts.

Take a good look at that hose, if you see any cracks at all replace it. They do last a very long time because they're not under pressure and in that area they do not get hot.

www.iFourWinns.com

DIY Annual Drive Service

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