Clutch & Cam Alignment - Easy Turned Frustrating

[pallni]

Hello,

What I thought was an easy task to replace the oil seal and orings on the shift shaft has turned quite frustrating. The Bravo 3 drive is separated from the boat and I cant seem to get the shift cam to properly seat against the clutch (or so it seems). The cam seems to want to turn port side once the shaft is seated through. This means when I try to put the rear cover on, the spring as already cockeyed port side instead of straight on. This doesnt seem normal.

The cam will move left and right when it is free from drive but not when its back together. It doesn't looked damaged but I'm not an expert. Any help would be much appreciated. I've been googling and youtubing for days.

 

[alldodge]

If I'm understanding correctly

When the drive is removed the linkage is pulled out so drive is in REV, Its easiest to place the shift cam toward starboard so there is less tension from the dedent ball

A Bravo drive doesn't like to shift without the drive shaft moving. Just a small amount of movement can make it shift easier

 

[pallni]

Thanks for the reply. The shift cam and linkage are unable to move past center towards starboard when assembled. Only center and port side. But mostly port. I understand the clutch moves up and down to engage the fwd and rev? Is it stuck in gear when I disconnected?

 

[alldodge]

When the drive is removed it shifts from neutral to FWD (mistake it my previous post)
With it not moving to starboard, try rotating the drive shaft to see if that frees it up

 

[pallni]

Thanks. Yah. I definitely tried that. It always comes back to the semi port side position. I do notice spinning the prop only turns the universal joint one way. Spin the prop the other way and the joint doesn’t respond. If that means it’s in gear.

 

[alldodge]

I'm unable to figure out how the issue has developed along with you

The cam is in the same position?

 

[pallni]

Yup, that’s the culprit that’s been keeping me up at night. It has some dull marks in it where it seems like it rests in the center/neutral position and that’s how I’m inserting it. It doesn’t really line up with the shaft when I insert it then and then rolls port. I’m not comfortable doing any adjustments to it. So, the mechanic is lookin more likely :-/.

 

[alldodge]

Can you post some pics?

You just removed the top and rear caps to replace the seals, you didn't remove the drive shaft, right?

 

[pallni]

That’s correct. I first removed the drive and replaced the prints on the universal joint and upper unit. Put that back on and then I removed the top and rear cover, and replaced the o-rings and the blue bottom oil seal that separates the cam from the linkage assembly.

I did put the covers back on to take it to the shop.

 

[pallni]

Here’s a pic. I’m able to get it to align closer to center than the pic. But it doesn’t go past center at all and seats most comfortably in this position full port side. Which makes aligning the spring very difficult.

 

[alldodge]

Your doing this with the drive still on the boat?

Pull the drive and try it, should work much easier. The clutch is probably partially engaged

 

[pallni]

Hi alldodge. Thanks again for troubleshooting with me. I originally performed the task with the drive on the boat. And thought that was the mistake. So I did then pull the drive off but same result. So, I believe the clutch may be in gear and preventing it from seating as normal. The boat doesn’t turn on though since it is in gear for me to be able to return it to neutral.

This is was really my first attempt to service my own boat anymore than opening and closing. So, I’m a newb. Is there a way I can return it to neutral with or without starting the boat?

 

[alldodge]

Remove the shift shaft and cam assembly from the drive. Turn the drive shaft and see if you can move the clutch (in between the gears) up or down and get it centered. Also see if the timing marks will align by rotating

Also does the cam center when removed?

 

[pallni]

I definitely tried aligning those marks and inserting the cam at that alignment. The shaft would only go through the openings with more force than I wanted to give it to keep it in the centered position. And then still wouldn’t move starboard past center. which I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to do.

The Cam moved freely when not inserted. It does not appear damaged when comparing to online photos. But I don’t have a trained eye.

 

[alldodge]

Something isn't right, I did the same repair a few years ago and no issue at all. Mine is a newer drive but you can see mine is shifted the other way (it shifts that way when drive is removed). I also removed the top cap

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/eng...rives/10147291-after-22-years-and-this-is-all

 

[pallni]

Thanks... under no circumstances does it go the direction in your picture. Something else is going on. It’s only 3 or 4 parts going back together so, there’s not a lot of combinations to try. Sucks.