Outboard motor with bracket assembly

An outboard motor comprising a drive unit, and a bracket assembly adapted to mount the drive unit on an associated watercraft, the bracket assembly including a swivel bracket carrying the drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis that extends generally vertically, the swivel bracket having a tubular section that extends generally vertically, the drive unit having a steering member that includes a steering shaft section, the steering shaft section extending through the tubular section of the swivel bracket and defining the steering axis, the steering shaft section including an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, the middle portion being positioned between the upper and lower portions, and the steering shaft section having at least a first inner surface extending from the upper portion to the middle portion and at least a second inner surface extending from the lower portion to the middle portion, at least one of the first and second inner surfaces being tapered over at least half of its length, wherein the bracket assembly further includes a clamping bracket supporting the swivel bracket and the drive unit for pivotal movement about a tilt axis extending generally horizontally, the steering shaft section further includes a top portion above the upper portion, the steering member further includes a steering lever section that extends generally forward from the top portion of the steering shaft section, the steering lever section comprises a web portion extending generally parallel to the tilt axis and at least one reinforcing portion extending generally normal to the web portion.

An outboard motor comprising a drive unit, and a bracket assembly adapted to mount the drive unit on an associated watercraft, the bracket assembly including a swivel bracket carrying the drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis that extends generally vertically, the swivel bracket having a tubular section that extends generally vertically, the drive unit having a steering member that includes a steering shaft section, the steering shaft section extending through the tubular section of the swivel bracket and defining the steering axis, the steering shaft section having top and bottom portions that exposed beyond at least a portion of the tubular section, the top and bottom portions being attached to the drive unit, the steering shaft section further having an upper portion below the top portion within the tubular section, and a lower portion above the bottom portion within the tubular section, the tubular section including upper, lower and middle bushings, the upper bushing pivotally supporting the upper portion of the steering shaft section, the lower bushing pivotally supporting the lower portion of the steering shaft section, and the middle bushing contacting and pivotally supporting a middle portion of the steering shaft section between the upper and lower portions, without any clutch disposed between the tubular section and the steering shaft and between the upper and lower bushings.

An outboard motor comprising a drive unit, and a bracket assembly adapted to mount the drive unit on an associated watercraft, the bracket assembly including a swivel bracket carrying the drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis that extends generally vertically, the swivel bracket having a tubular section that extends generally vertically, the drive unit having a steering member that includes a steering shaft section, the steering shaft section extending through the tubular section of the swivel bracket and defining the steering axis, the steering shaft section having top and bottom portions that exposed beyond at least a portion of the tubular section, the top and bottom portions being attached to the drive unit, the steering shaft section further having an upper portion below the top portion within the tubular section, and a lower portion above the bottom portion within the tubular section, the tubular section including upper, lower and middle bushings, the upper bushing pivotally supporting the upper portion of the steering shaft section, the lower bushing pivotally supporting the lower portion of the steering shaft section, and the middle bushing pivotally supporting a generally circular middle portion of the steering shaft section between the upper and lower portions, without any clutch disposed between the tubular section and the steering shaft and between the upper and lower bushings.

An outboard motor comprising a drive unit, and a bracket assembly adapted to mount the drive unit on an associated watercraft, the bracket assembly including a swivel bracket carrying the drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis that extends generally vertically, the swivel bracket having a tubular section that extends generally vertically, the drive unit having a steering member that includes a steering shaft section, the steering shaft section extending through the tubular section of the swivel bracket and defining the steering axis, the steering shaft section having top and bottom portions that exposed beyond at least a portion of the tubular section, the top and bottom portions being attached to the drive unit, the steering shaft section further having an upper portion below the top portion within the tubular section, and a lower portion above the bottom portion within the tubular section, the tubular section including upper, lower and middle bushings, the upper bushing pivotally supporting the upper portion of the steering shaft section, the lower bushing pivotally supporting the lower portion of the steering shaft section, and the middle bushing pivotally supporting a middle portion of the steering shaft section between the upper and lower portions, wherein the tubular section of the swivel bracket and the steering shaft section of the steering member defines an upper space therebetween above the middle bushing, the tubular section of the swivel bracket and the steering shaft section of the steering member defines a lower space therebetween below the middle bushing, and at least the middle bushing defining a passage through which the upper and lower spaces communicates with each other, without any clutch disposed between the tubular section and the steering shaft and between the upper and lower bushings.