Convert or replace?
 

Is it more cost efective to convert a 1998 bravo 1 drive to an xr gear set or buy a complete xr drive from the clasifieds? Will a new xr drive bolt to my old transom assembly? Is one route better than than the other??

Last year a buddy spent alot of money converting 2 bravos to XR gearsets......in May he blew the floors out of the upper on one of them, in June he blew the top cap off the other one. Ruined both of them. Turned out to be a big waste of money since the cases aren't as strong as the XR cases. Now he has 2 blown up bravos that he could have sold if he had just bought XR's in the first place.

Thanks for the info. That is the kind of info that I am looking for to help me make a decision. Can any one tell me if a new xr drive will bolt up to an older transom/gimble assembly?

I say we run the piss out of your boat this weekend and see what it takes to actually ruin one. Then bolt up an alpha for your s-charger next yr. :signs069:

Yes it will bolt up. There is a conversion kit with a different gimbal bearing and a few other things.

I thought I ran the piss out of it every weekend! :D Thanks for the info Griff, Is there a certain vendor who sells the kits?

I sell the bearing conversion kit.. ;) Jamie / Lakeside

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I would consider contacting Max Machine Worx. They can machine your current housing to accept a steel tower/cup so the XR gears ride in steel, not aluminum. They call it a power tower. I have had no problems with mine so far ...

I have converted several B1's to XR, and installed numerous steel towers in B1 cases Depending on how it is done, it is just as good if not better than an XR. But you have to compare apples to apples to know if your money is getting the best bang for your buck.

Feel free to give me a call to discuss your options.. wheather you buy elsewere or not.

D*ck
616-403-1006

Max Machine worx uses std bravo cases and installs their steel towers,its STRONGER then a stock xr tower,the case is identical other wise,too bad your buddy didn't take his a step further,Smitty

I'll ask.....I thought he had a tower put in them but not sure. (and it could have been someone elses towers???)

Unless you have steel towlers don't even think about it.

Thanks for the input guys. Do the satndard bravo xr's have the steel tower built into the case or is that a bennefit of an aftermarket upgraded drive?

A std bravo xr has mercs version of a steel tower, but it is more of a short,stubby steel insert. It is definately a step above a std bravo's aluminum one that either shears off or becomes deformed once you get the rest of the parts to hold together. On the other hand the best steel tower which is built by max machine worx extends thru the whole upper and uses the benefit of its length (about 12") for its rigidity. They are proud of it though and charge a small fortune to install one,Smitty

cstobe,
All the Merc XR drives have a steel tower in the case as standard equipment. I have not seen one fail as of yet. I have seen a gear welded to the tower but the tower did not fail, just got very hot when the gear bearing failed..

My steel towers have 2" of thread on them, better than the XR Merc tower, but not as good as Max Works. Although I have not had any failures with my towers, and I dont charge an arm and/or a leg to do it.

Smitty, isnt there a change to the bottom of the case that was a problem when you tried to put a spacer in between the upper and lower with the Max works tower?

D*ck