Drive in gear

[Her Diamond 2]

Hi all,

My marina just completed bellows and steering pins on my 2004 300 sundancer with bravo 3 drives. They launched the boat and when I started it up to go out for the first time I noticed that the starboard drive was in gear. When I shifted forward and reverse, the drive did not go into neutral, forward or reverse. It just revs the engine but no more forward thrust. I played with the neutral button on the side of the throttle and it appears disengaged. I also find it strange that the engine will start in gear since it would not in the past. I’m thinking they did not connect the throttle cable when installing the outdrive. Any ideas. Your help would be appreciated.

 

[Nater Potater]

When I shifted forward and reverse, the drive did not go into neutral, forward or reverse.

Forward, neutral, and reverse are the only three options available. What exactly does the outdrive do?

It just revs the engine but no more forward thrust. I’m thinking they did not connect the throttle cable when installing the outdrive.

If the engine revs, then the throttle cable must still be connected. We need a bit clearer explanation of what exactly is not correct. What is the outdrive doing when the shifter is in:
Forward
Neutral
Reverse
Knowing those unknowns filled-out, we stand a better chance of diagnosing your trouble.

 

[Thornton69]

Sounds like a warranty call. Possibly something in the shifter was damaged or maybe it just needs a cable adjustment.

 

[unsalted]

Sounds just like my recent symptoms and issue where drive was stuck in forward. In my case the cable had popped out of the B3 because the shifter arm was damaged. If you had you issue from the moment of launch after bellows replacement then I would strongly suspect that the shift cable wasn’t clipped in when they put the stern drive back on. I could start mine even though it was in gear because I believe the neutral lockout sensor is actually in the shifter handle, not in the stern drive linkage. So as long as my shifter was in the neutral position then sensor was happy and let me start the engine.

I would take it back to your marina and have them check it out. You will have to haul it out to check the stern linkage and I bet they would cover this cost and the work as warranty for their previous work.

 

[Her Diamond 2]

Thanks for help. I’ve contacted the marina and they will take a look.