Bravo 3 upper driveshaft bearing kit confusion

[dmitchell]

Greetings!

I'm having a bit of a problem and hoping someone here can sort this out.

I need to change the bearings on the input shaft (behind the pinion gear) on my Bravo 3 upper.

The drive:
2:20 SN 120164

All of the parts lookups I can find show the proper bearing kit to be a Mercruiser 31-86763A2.

I went to my local dealer and ordered that part and it was delivered in a sealed box. The problem is it's very different from my old one.

The bearings look to be the same and the space looks right. but one of the bearing races is totally different.

Pic's below - The new stuff shows the race looks like it has a spacer on top - Any insights?

Thanks

Dave

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Bravo 3 upper driveshaft bearing kit confusion

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/11/11a3r5x.pdf
check page 3A-8

 

[dmitchell]

Re: Bravo 3 upper driveshaft bearing kit confusion

That looks exactly like mine.

But the race in the kit for item #5 is totally different.

Here's a new picture showing the difference.

Thanks

 

[presley2]

Re: Bravo 3 upper driveshaft bearing kit confusion

I have rebuilt a number of newer bravo threes. The race you are showing with the notches is the race used with the pinion bearing on product at least 0LXXXXX and newer. I am not exactly sure off the top of my head when they made the switch I just know for certain that is the race used on newer product. In fact I rebuilt a Bravo 3 Upper today serial number 0WXXXXX and that is the race used with that application.
One thing I have personally run into is just because the MerCruiser Part Guide says a bearing kit or a gear repair kit will fit a particular serial number group or year does not always mean it will there are misprints. That is not to say that this kit will not work with your drive.
Do This:
1) Have the dealer you purchased the parts from check and see if the original part number for you kit superseded to a new number.
2) If that does not answer your question have the dealer check for a service or parts bulletin related to this bearing change.
3) If all else fails your dealer can call MerCruiser Technical Service and they will know if the bearing kit you purchased will work with your serial number of drive.
DO NOT guess make sure the newer style bearing will work before you install it. If an incorrect bearing is used you could destroy that drive. The dealer that sold you the parts should be able to help you. Start with him or her first.
4) If the dealer cannot help you MerCruiser has a customer service phone number and polite customers with technical questions do get passed over to dealer tech service.

Hopefully this helps.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Bravo 3 upper driveshaft bearing kit confusion

presley2, Good information there and welcome to iboats.

Dmitchell I looked up your information on your Drive Serial Number 0M120164, Model number 5441500LS, Manufacture Date: 12/05/2000. And from what I can see you did order the right part number 32-86763A2 BEARING ASSEMBLY, Tapered Roller SN# 0M198372 & Below, And if you had a higher serial number then you would have needed part number 32-86763A04 BEARING ASSEMBLY, Tapered Roller SN# 0M198373 & Up.

I can tell you part number 32-86763A2 has not superseded.

Depending on how far you went into changing things out inside the sterndrive there may be a service bulletin you need to see that was within your year of the drive you have.
The service bulletin number is 2001-17 called Bravo Gear Change, Like presley2 suggested, You may either want to talk to your dealer about this bulletin, And maybe have them print you a copy of service bulletin number 2001-17 That is if they think it would apply to your situation you are having, And if they can't help you, Then you could call MerCruisers consumer Contacts technical service, And they should be able to help you out better also. If you need their phone number let me know. Good luck with it.