I've spent the whole day on the phone dealing with the repower. I guess I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on the Mercury Racing HP525's. I'm just a little concernered about the gimbals and drives. How stupid am I if I stay with the Bravo X drives. I'm pretty easy on this boat. I'm not saying I don't run wide open once in a while, But for as getting out of the whole I don't think I've ever pushed the throttles wide open.

There will always be a weak link and that will be yours.

If you can upgrade I would because the XR's will hold up much better.

I'm like you in that I'm way over powered now for the XR's but I plan to try it and see what happens. I expect outdrives to be my largest expense over the next few years.

Good luck and keep us posted.

P.S. You may want to contact Dick Tryce "Mr Gadgets" here on the board and see what he thinks. He is one of the best outdrive people you will find and he will give you the straight facts.

not exactly the same motor but..dads 33 outlaw, 500 efi, bravo one drives, first drive replaced at 400 hrs, and we like to run itjust be easy out the hole.

Well that's probably a good comparison. The 35 is heavier, and what, a total of 100 more horse, but the X is a stronger drive than the plain Bravo 1 right. I think I'm going to gamble and stay with the drives I have. If I do blow one I could always upgrade the uppers to XR's at that time if I don't crack the cases. My buddy runs a 382 fastech with 500's and Bravo 1's 250hrs. never a problem. and that boat has to way 2000# more.

I'd run the X's.

If you wanted to upgrade something on them,
they make a top cap now that has a steel tower in it.

That will help hold the driven gears ( especially the
L/H rotating drive) in place a little better.

Like I said over on MWBP, XR's can be broken too,
I'm living proof, and I'm pretty good on the sticks
......at least that's what my passengers say

I've been looking around at XR uppers. I'm gonna take my chances. It's not like I'm going to get anything for the X uppers anyway. Thanks for the input!

There is an XR gear set for the X upper you can get. The actual gears are the weak point in the X upper... I had X drives and converted them to XR gears - I think they were $485 a set call BAM Marine. If you do this, you need a special seal for the yolk - ask and they will tell you. The other weak point is the 1 inch shaft which I twisted like cursive handwriting. I replaced that with the IMCO 1 inch aerospce propshaft. These are cheap fixes that will save you some downtime. I run two Raylar kits and wasted an upper and a shaft and since I replaced them (different times) I havent had any problems. For around $700 a drive it is a cheap fix to get you to the next HP level.

Thanks for the info. How do I get a hold of them?

Rules to making a drive last:

1) Easy out of the hole
2) Easy on the throttles at all times. "Don't hammer it"
3) KEEP YOUR PROPS IN THE WATER
4) Know where you engine makes peak torque and don't cruise at that RPM
5) Prop slip can me your friend as for drive life
6) Change you drive oil frequently, inspect the used oil and use a real good synthetic like Royal Purple

BAM is a good source you can find there website easy on google. I have bought a lot from them but when it comes to outdrives you cannot beat Dick Tryce "Mr Gadgets". He knows his stuff and will help you with information, parts, repairs and complete drives.

Phone 616-403-1006
email: [email protected]

$ 485 a set..... BAM's price for the 3 gears now is $ 1,567.93 ( item # 20)

http://www.tiedealers.com/DealerTool...%20diagram.pdf

last set I bought was in the $1300 range.

Got a part # or kit # ?.....if they are available for
$ 485, I'll buy a couple.