Broken thin cables (wires?) on bravo 3 outdrive

Spyderweb

Up to boat again today to continue buffing, waxing and touching up outdrive.  While cleaning up the outdrives I noticed 2 broken thin cables at forward end of one of the drives.  From looking at other one, there appears there should be 3 thin metal cables, roughly 6" each.  1 each is attached to the forward end of a trim piston and then go to a common fastener. 2 of the 3 are broke, and one intact end (with eyelet still on) is attached to nothing.  What are these for?  I'm guessing it has something to do with anti corrosion system.  I had new bellows put on last Fall.  Might this be a common thing to break when removing outdrive?  

Michael T

From what I see they look like continuity cables for anti corrosion.....and the black plastic housing looks like a Mercathode unit. 

Spyderweb

So probably pretty important to get replaced?

rasbury

Looks like someone  put the out drive back on and did not attach. When I pulled mine, I broke off the head of one of the screws and as of yet,  have not fixed and need to.
Yes, look for the holes and find some ss screws and attach!

Willhound

Yes, continuity wires for the Mercathode system. Keeps all parts of the drive connected to help stave off corrosion. 

PickleRick

If the bolt is broken off in the housing id drill/tap a new hole right beside it and call it a day. Unless you keep it on a trailer or lift i wouldnt launching it without them.  Corrosion can happen swiftly even in fresh water.

Common to break, common to forget about.  

aero3113

That’s what I did on my 242, just drill a new hole and tap if the head on the screw pops off. You can see in this pic what I did.

Spyderweb

I think I'll contact the marina that I paid $5,000+ last Fall for winterization, storage, and a bunch of work that involved taking off the drives and see what they can do.  Thanks guys.

rasbury

Good move

J3ff

Mine also broke since they put it back together.