What do we know about Yamaha stern drives coupled to 315hp Yamaha diesel engine? Circa years 2000 and 2012. Are the drives robust, go bust, super smooth or clunky etc. TIA.
Only "hear-say" but I've been told the routine (200hr) maintenance cost for the drives is horrendous. Talking thousands rather than hundreds.
However I've no doubt you'll get some first hand advice from someone who's used them.
The yamaha drives are very good in use the problem is they stopped selling them several years ago so parts backup has been poor at times and the situation will only get worse I don't think servicing is much worse than an equivalent mercruiser or Volvo drive there's only a little filter in the top box to change which you don't on a merc or Volvo.
The trouble starts if you have a clutch failure it means a complete strip down to clean out the residue and finding someone to do it and the parts may be a challenge
Great drives but my concern would be future maintenance and parts availability.
That said if you do have a complete failure it's not too difficult to replace with one of the bravo range of drives
Okidokey, thanks for that. The maintenance isn't an issue at this end, parts possibly.
Re this clutch failure lark, does the clutch go bang or is it gradual slippage which eventually need attention?
The clutch failure can be simply caused by a blocked filter which causes reduced hydraulic pressure and clutch slippage, once the clutch starts to slip it will burn out quickly. And deposit the remains of the clutch plates into the drive which necessitates a complete strip to clean out.
If you can shut down the engine you may get away with simply cleaning the filter (which you cant do in the water) but if your miles from home the temptation and maybe only way to get back is to limp in with the drive slipping
I've had bravo drives for years and currently have 2 behind 315 yanmars
I've also got a hydradrive behind a 240yamaha on my delta and the hydradrive is the only drive I've had fail and needed to come back on the auxiliary.
I've had both types of drives apart and while the yamaha is technically the superior drive the simplicity and ease of repair makes me prefer the bravo over the yamaha and I intend to swap the hydradrive for a bravo when I get chance
RIB Saffron
