Coupler failure

[achris]

Ask for the failed coupler to be handed over to you. All he's done is sell you a new coupler and installed it. The old one is still yours, and as such should be returned to you. If he says he threw it away, he's thrown away YOUR property, without your permission, with-hold payment on the coupler and the work required to install it. Without the old coupler, you have no proof that what he said is true. I've known a few cases where work as charged for, and not actually done.

Chris.........

 

[Bryant calandra]

I did some checking and the engine should still be under warranty as well.
I called the mechanic and told him he should submit a claim to mercrusier for this issue. I called the original dealer I purchased the boat from and asked if the motor had been removed before and he said it had not.
I also spoke with the current mechanic to asked if he would be removing the drive unit and using an alignment bar to make certain everything is aligned properly and the motor mounts securely tightened so this doesn’t happen again.
I did also ask how he knew the splines were gone, he said he removed the drive and looked inside with a flashlight to see the coupler bearing. He acknowledged that typically the rubber bushing wears out before the splines wear off. So a lot of what he is saying falls inline with our previous conversations.
I look forward to getting back in the water.

 

[Maclin]

Sounds better, more information is always good. I suppose a dry coupler could do that in that amount of time. That could be an installer failure, no grease somehow.

 

[Rick Stephens]

It only takes about 15 minutes to pull a drive, so the mechanic's answer is spot on. Hope you get something out of warranty. I've never owned a new boat, so I haven't a clue what's covered.

 

[achris]

I suspect Merc will spook at a warranty claim. They'll call it an installer caused problem.... and suggest you take it up with the installer.

 

[AnthraxBird]

When my coupler failed, the rubber was intact. The aluminum splines however got turned into dust.

 

[Bondo]

Sounds better, more information is always good. I suppose a dry coupler could do that in that amount of time. That could be an installer failure, no grease somehow.

Ayuh,..... A dry coupler will turn to dust, really quickly,..... at idle speeds is the worst,.....

That would, I'd think,fall on the hull manufacturer,..??......

 

[GA_Boater]

Ayuh,..... A dry coupler will turn to dust, really quickly,..... at idle speeds is the worst,.....

That would, I'd think,fall on the hull manufacturer,..??......

Yep, since Bryant gets crates of motors and drive to install. It may end up as contest between Mercruiser and Bryant, but you will probably be the one footing the bill. Hope it does work out in your favor.

 

[Bryant calandra]

Anthrax bird,
when your coupler turned to dust, where the symptoms the same as I described in my original post?
a sudden quick rev and then no action when shifting to forward or reverse, just Reving when you gave it throttle.
No smoking, no burning rubber smell, no clanking, no shaking or anything. Just suddenly nothing!!!
sound familiar?

 

[Rick Stephens]

Anthrax bird,
when your coupler turned to dust, where the symptoms the same as I described in my original post?
a sudden quick rev and then no action when shifting to forward or reverse, just Reving when you gave it throttle.
No smoking, no burning rubber smell, no clanking, no shaking or anything. Just suddenly nothing!!!
sound familiar?

That is how spline failures happen with anything that uses splines. One day it is just free spinning.

 

[muc]

Yep, since Bryant gets crates of motors and drive to install. It may end up as contest between Mercruiser and Bryant, but you will probably be the one footing the bill. Hope it does work out in your favor.

Being a 2015 model, that coupler should have been greased at least 3 times since it left the factory. This is a lack of maintenance problem. I find it hard to believe anybody would think this is a defect in materials or workmanship.

 

[nola mike]

Good point. Unless OP can somehow document that it was done...or that a marina had pulled the drive for service, and failed to grease. Although I'd think it would take a lot more than 2-3 seasons to wear the grease off. Mine looks pristine whenever I pull the drive.

 

[AnthraxBird]

Anthrax bird,
when your coupler turned to dust, where the symptoms the same as I described in my original post?
a sudden quick rev and then no action when shifting to forward or reverse, just Reving when you gave it throttle.
No smoking, no burning rubber smell, no clanking, no shaking or anything. Just suddenly nothing!!!
sound familiar?

I unfortunately bought the boat super cheap knowing it had a bad coupler. The coupler was destroyed because they did not align the engine with the bearing and outdrive. It did have aluminum shavings from the coupler in the boat, though.

 

[Bryant calandra]

Guys, here is an update on the coupler bearing issue.
After a long time in the shop, I finally got the boat back. The mechanic showed me the coupler bearing had stripped. I saw the bearing, and yes, it had stripped indeed. When I asked why, he indicated the alignment apparently was not correct.
He realigned everything when putting the engine and the outdrive back in and on.
The coupler issue was under warranty and I was not charged for that repair. Thank you!!!!!
It fell under warranty by less than 1 month- I lucked out there...
The boat feels great. drives wonderfully. very happy with the new coupler being installed. I had him replace the impeller in the water pump while the motor was out and checked the gimbal bearing as well. he said everything else checked out good. I'm back in the water and enjoying the summer.
Thanks for everyone's input and information.
Very informative.

 

[AShipShow]

Glad you got it all fixed and at no charge to boot!

 

[hoowahfun]

Wow, great ending to the story. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[Jason F]

I had a similar issue with my 2015 Bryant Calandra here in San Diego. Had it pulled out of the water for bottom paint and a 200 hour service. Much to my shagrin the coupler needed replacement because whoever assembled it failed to grease/lube the drive shaft. I trust my mechanic and he told me to come down and take pics and is willing to chat with anyone about it cause he thinks someone owes me money for the part and what I paid to get it fixed. I reached out to another local Mercury service company who did some warranty work on it and who ironically just had to replace a coupler on the same boat (2015 Bryant Calandra). Turns out it was for the exact same reason, Drive shaft was bone drive and just stripped it. I get no response from Bryant and the dealer I bought it from is also not having luck getting in touch. My next step is to get a lawyer involved.

 

[scoflaw]

I had a similar issue with my 2015 Bryant Calandra here in San Diego. Had it pulled out of the water for bottom paint and a 200 hour service. Much to my shagrin the coupler needed replacement because whoever assembled it failed to grease/lube the drive shaft. I trust my mechanic and he told me to come down and take pics and is willing to chat with anyone about it cause he thinks someone owes me money for the part and what I paid to get it fixed. I reached out to another local Mercury service company who did some warranty work on it and who ironically just had to replace a coupler on the same boat (2015 Bryant Calandra). Turns out it was for the exact same reason, Drive shaft was bone drive and just stripped it. I get no response from Bryant and the dealer I bought it from is also not having luck getting in touch. My next step is to get a lawyer involved.

So you have a 4 year old boat with a coupler that's never been greased and this neglected maintenance is someone else's fault ?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Much to my shagrin the coupler needed replacement because whoever assembled it failed to grease/lube the drive shaft.

Howdy,

Welcome aboard.

Well first of all, your problem is unique (to you) and it might be better to start a new thread instead of tagging onto someone else's thread.

Now, having said that, it appears that you bought the boat new in 2014, 15 or 16?

My question would be to the dealer you had service it every year since you bought it. Mercruiser recommends removing the drive every year to check the alignment.

Before re-installing the drive, the person servicing it would apply spline grease to the yoke before putting it back together so it would/should have been greased every year since you bought it so it's more a dealer "thing" vs a Mercruiser "thing" if it wasn't.

Regards,


Rick

 

[muc]

Being a 2015 model, that coupler should have been greased at least 3 times since it left the factory. This is a lack of maintenance problem. I find it hard to believe anybody would think this is a defect in materials or workmanship.

Maybe I should retract my earlier statement?
Kind of sounds like MerCruiser might have forgot to tell Bryant Boats that they need to grease the shaft before they install the drive.
But it is a good idea to pull the drive every year.