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Outboard problems

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Norm2u

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I took my boat in because the gimbal bearing went out on a bravo3 drive. I took it in to the local dealer and while removing the out drive they broke the gimbal housing by using a chisel to pry on the drive it appears low where the metal gets thin. They claimed this would of happened no matter who removed it and that they can not be responsible for it breaking. I don't have any experience with removing these so is this a common problem when the bearing is seized and who should be responsible.
 
" They claimed this would of happened no matter who removed it and that they can not be responsible for it breaking." BULLCHIT. I would be pissed beyond belief if somebody broke my boat and then had the nerve to say that. I would go in there and raise hell.
 
That was the claim that it would have been broke no matter who would have removed it. This is a large chain and they said that they attempted to remove it properly so there not responsible.
 
You never use a chisel to separate housings.that only applies blunt force to that particular area.If you cant separate housings,the least you can do is inform the owner,before you go too far,and advise him/her that "while all reasonable steps will be taken,there may be a case of breakage"and then at least they are informed.and you can discuss options.Everything we have ever broken in my years in garages,weve had to fix for free.
 
Norm2u said:
That was the claim that it would have been broke no matter who would have removed it. This is a large chain and they said that they attempted to remove it properly so there not responsible.
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... Is this a Saltwater barge,..??
Has the drive been properly Service, per manual Time tables,..??
How Old a barge,..??
 
The boat is four years old and has 60 hours. I don't think the drive was serviced properly at my last dealer witch by the way went out of business last summer. So I can't know for sure I always dropped it off at the end of the year and said service and winterize it. I'm learning the hard way what to look for. I guess what bother me the most was first they denied they broke it then said well it would of happened anyway. I just wandered if it's normal to use a chisel and hammer. The metal was pretty thin at the bottom of the housing. By the way it's only in freshwater a 24 footer.
 
heres a couple pictures.
 

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Lawer first, then the shop telling them to make good. Outdrives are not removed by the "hammer and chisel method" .there are other less destructive methods.
 
They gave me a 3000.oo est. to fix it that I thought was high so I took it to another local stop a friend recomended who was able to repair it for 1500.00. Soon as took it over to the other shop they were the ones that initally told me it had been broke by the prying. The new shop said there was tricks to get off a stuck drive. When I went back to the other shop to talk to them about it they said the other shop was just throwing stones. They ended up ofering me a free winterization at the end of the year because they wanted to kep me as a customer, which I declined because I felt that you don't take your boat to a place that you don't feel you can trust.
 
Whatever you do, don't lose sight of the parts that are damaged.

Contact the Mercury Complaints Department, if they have one.

Record all your conversations, by making notes, etc. Dates, times, who spoken to, etc.

Have the parts inspected by an independent party, like a School Shop Teacher if nobody else is around.

Then start stirring.

If the chisel marks are still evident, guard them with your life, as these will be good evidence if it comes to a court case.

Bruce.

PS. No wonder I do my own work.
 
Easy enough to find out, and if yes it's certified then the chain will guard with it's life the certification, merc will get on them, they will have to make good.

But don't allow that shop that did the damage to fix it let merc tell you who to go to as long it's a different shop.
 
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