The big outdrive score

Hey guys, I have a little update for you all. I have been looking for a replacement outdrive for the Sea Ray for a while for two reasons. One is the fact that the lower shaft of my Bravo is twisted due to a impact at some point in its life, and second I wanted to see if I could rebuild one. I soon found out that even a decent used drive was bringing close to 1500 bucks. So when I saw a rebuilt bravo one on CL list for $500, I was intrigued. I called the guy expecting him to say it was 1500, not 500, but that was not the case. This guy owns a marine shop on Possum Kingdom Lake, which if anyone heard, most of the lake acreage burned last year. He lost his shop to the fire, and is now working from a trailer on his land trying to make ends meet. When I asked him why he is selling it so cheap, he just told me he needed to make it though the winter, and he found selling in volume works better for him right now. Who am I to argue. He gave me a receipt with the serial number on it, and a six month warranty. I know that probably means nothing, but I asked around that area, and he seams to be very well known, and liked. 

Anyway, I bought it from him and we headed home. On the way back we drove around the nice part of the lake where all the vacation homes were, and the devastation from the fires last year is stunning. There are entire neighborhoods of luxury homes gone, where only the foundation is left. There is a place called "Hells Gate" where some really nice homes were, and there is almost nothing there. My tender hearted daughter started checking back tears as we drove through the devastation. Guys, it looks like a bomb went off. 

So on we go. We got home and I had no time to mess with the drive, but yesterday I build a little pressure tester thanks to the post in the adult only section. She held 9.5 PSI for 20 plus hours. I turned the shaft a few times, and it did not drop a bit. So that checks out fine, and the great oil was not muddy, so I may have just lucked out. 

I do have a big question for you Merc guys. I have read differing opinions on pressure testing a dive. Some say you should vacuum test it also, and others say you only to that on Volvo drives, and Mercruiser will not hold a Vacuum. What is best practice?

Her are some pictures from the trip, and the outdrive

This is my artsy side. I thought this picture tells the story of the dependent relationship a car has with oil.

Almost every tree out there was burned

This once was a high end neighborhood

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The lakes level is way down

More of the devastation

However, they are rebuilding, and things are starting to get back to normal

I could not resist taking a picture of the boat.

So now some pictures of why I went out there. The new Outdrive

And here is my little pressure tester. I found it in the adult only section. I used a gear oil refill tube from sierra with the metal fitting that attaches to the drive, not the plastic one. I then cut the line in half, added a T fitting and then added the gauge. Once that was done I used a air fill nozzle for a car tire with the fat bulb end cut off. I then added clamps, and viola! 

And some video. I have upgraded to a MAC and Final Cut pro, so let me know what you think about the new videos quality.

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