Damage to Bravo I outdrive due to fishing line -interpret mechanic's feedback

[Augoose]

My father called me today and knowing that I frequent the best boating forum on earth asked me to post a question!

About 2 years ago he turned in his boat, a 2001 Stingray with the 4.3 merc and Bravo I, to be put up into dry storage and winterized. During the routine maintenance the boat yard told him that they had found fishing line wrapped up beneath the prop. They removed the line and then replaced the "bearing" and the "seal", but added that the fishing line was wound up there so heavily that it caused the outer casing of the lower gear unit to change shape. This change of shape allegedly now prevents the seal from sealing correctly and thereby allows some seepage of the gear unit oil, so much that over the course of one albeit short season enough gear unit oil leaked out that my father had to add about a quart to the reservoir in the engine compartment.

Not wanting to intentionally introduce additional fuels, oils and/or contaminates into the lake, he is looking for second opinion and solutions. He trusts the boat yard but they have made several simple and accidental mistakes in the past, so he just wants to be sure.

Has anyone heard of fishing line actually causing the outer casing of the lower gear unit to change shape or become damaged so that the seal won't seal?

Thanks!

 

[dubs283]

never heard of that one, i find it hard to believe that fishing line could cause that type of damage considering the seals have line cutters built into them to prevent fish line from entering the seal

even if there were enough line to cause a seal to leak there is no way that fish line could cause the gearcase to warp

time to find a new mechanic

 

[achris]

never heard of that one, i find it hard to believe that fishing line could cause that type of damage considering the seals have line cutters built into them to prevent fish line from entering the seal

even if there were enough line to cause a seal to leak there is no way that fish line could cause the gearcase to warp

time to find a new mechanic

Agree completely. And think about this. Fishing lie is nylon. Bearings are steel, and case-hardened steel at that... Can you really see a piece of nylon damaging a case-hardened steel bearing? Nope, neither can I.

 

[Augoose]

It definitely sounded strange to me but I wanted to run it past some others as well. Thanks all!

 

[H20Rat]

I wouldn't say impossible... Line will destroy seals, and obviously let water in. That will take out the bearings, which left for a season, will possibly destroy a case. Had it happen pretty much exactly like that to a co worker with a bravo III drive.

 

[DaveG55]

I don't see fishing line damaging the steel bearings.
But, I could see where enough of it, wound tightly enough could damage an aluminum housing casuing enough distortion/groving/??? to not allow a new seal to seat properly and allow leakage.
What I find odd is that no water was found in the outdrive oil.

This brings up a question though. Did Mercruiser often put a Bravo outdrive behind a 4.3? If so, why? I thought that the Alpha was more than strong enough to handle the 4.3 and then some.

 

[dubs283]

if there were enough fish line wrapped around the propshaft to cause gearcase damage the operator would notice a definite difference in operation long before any damage like that occurred

the shop is obviously trying to cover a screw-up on their end - i have seen first hand stories like this all the time

 

[alldodge]

Not fully understanding what warped and going forward with a different theory, I might have to say it may be possible. The part I think we are discussing is part number 41641A8, which is item 31 in the below link. The bearing carrier is not made of harden steel like roller bearings and races are. This item is softer and if there was enough line on the shaft it could produce enough heat to wear into the carrier. With this I will also add that if the shop doing the work did not have the correct tools to disassemble the drive they could have induced the problem. Sure could use some pics

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...28Brave+One%29

 

[dubs283]

The bearing carrier is not made of harden steel like roller bearings and races are.

correct

but any reputable shop would have found this to be the issue and replaced the carrier as well, not made up some hard to believe story about fish line causing warpage of the gearcase

 

[tpenfield]

My father called me today and knowing that I frequent the best boating forum on earth asked me to post a question!

About 2 years ago he turned in his boat, a 2001 Stingray with the 4.3 merc and Bravo I, to be put up into dry storage and winterized. During the routine maintenance the boat yard told him that they had found fishing line wrapped up beneath the prop. They removed the line and then replaced the "bearing" and the "seal", but added that the fishing line was wound up there so heavily that it caused the outer casing of the lower gear unit to change shape. This change of shape allegedly now prevents the seal from sealing correctly and thereby allows some seepage of the gear unit oil, so much that over the course of one albeit short season enough gear unit oil leaked out that my father had to add about a quart to the reservoir in the engine compartment.

Not wanting to intentionally introduce additional fuels, oils and/or contaminates into the lake, he is looking for second opinion and solutions. He trusts the boat yard but they have made several simple and accidental mistakes in the past, so he just wants to be sure.

Has anyone heard of fishing line actually causing the outer casing of the lower gear unit to change shape or become damaged so that the seal won't seal?

Thanks!

That story set off the BS alarm big time . . .

If the lower unit were distorted in such a manner, it is unlikely that they would be able to install the new bearing carrier assembly, which they obviously would have to replace.

I would think more likely, they installed the bearing carrier assembly wrong and are not looking to fix it on their dime.

 

[alldodge]

Easy does it dubs, since the story has been transferred twice there is a possibility that not everything is fully understood. Just trying to explore all options

Edit: very good point tpenfield

 

[midcarolina]

First........ I have no idea of the mechanics or the boat yard integrity, or even it what they say is reasonably possible. But what I do know is there has been a trend of most service/repair industries to go to what is commonly referred to as performance based pay.....
What this means in many shops is the mechanic makes his determination of the repairs necessary, the work is quoted if approved the mechanic affects the repairs and gets paid a portion of the total quote. or a commission + pay rate

Put it like this a man can make 25 bucks an hour working on a set rate.......but can move to another shop and make 2K a week working on performance based pay........the potential for customers getting screwed sky rockets.