I think that's the best thing to do also! :cool-smiley-011:

I often wish I got a TRS boat cheap and put some Konrads on! :angry-smiley-038:

However, I don't agree that the Konrad is the answer for a bravo. TRS to Konrad is the way to go, it's what it's designed for! :cool-smiley-011:

White Knuckles: Trannies are Borg Warners C-72s/Velvet Drive

Flashhat: Gimbals can only be pulled by removing the motors and removing the 8 nuts from the inner gimbal plates.

You need a stud remover to pull the old studs and start making calls to Bam Marine, Speedmasters Inc, Doller Marine, or Offshore Perfomance Specialties for a set of new studs if needed. All 4 of these shops stock plenty of TRS parts.

When I did my external steering I needed extra long studs to mount the Marine Machine wing plates on the drives and they charged $25 each.

Konrads are defintely the way to go if you can afford to pay $10,000 per drive. If you can afford $20K then have both drives gone through and resealed. They really are bullet proof if you maintain them by proper throttling and fluid changes.

Actually, this is incorrect. The gimbals can be removed with out pulling the engines.
All eight fasteners are accessable, the two nuts located under the transmission ears (BW only) are the only ones that can be a bit of a chore but not too bad with the right tools.
I've found that a Snap On semi-deep 3/4 socket and a wobble drive extension works to start removing, after several full turns, switch to a 3/4 flex-socket and you're there.
Been involved in many TRS/Konrad conversions, most twin engine boats can be completed within a days work.

If anyone is interested, shoot me your address in a PM and I'll send you out the installation manual. This procedure is well documented.

Kurt

Kurt

Kurt, I never tried that. Did you support the tailstock/trannie, then remove all the nuts on the inner transom plate?

In the past I've removed the gimbal rings but never the whole assembly with the engine in the boat.

Now all Konrad has to do is come up with a #6 replacement that bolts up to the #3 hole and I'm all set.

Cigarette's and other serious offshore TRS boats are usually fitted with motor plates front and rear, if this is the case, there's no need to support the tranny. I've done a few Fountains that just used the "ears" of the TRS tailstock for the rear mount. These configurations must be supported before pulling the gimbal. The Konrad TRS conversion retains the existing innter transom plate.

Kurt

There's certainly a lot of interest for a SSMVI replacement but I don't see it happening too soon.

Our SSMIII/IIIA conversion is fully competed and works perfectly along with a few more mph to boot! Just got home from Miami testing the first conversion. More to come on this !!!!

Kurt

I would assume that if you had a merctrans set up you would have to pull the engine...I know that I have not been successful at even tightening all 8 nuts let alone removeing them.

I would go ahead and pull the motors regardless of if you can do it with them in or not. They come out so easily and it makes everything else so excessable. With them out you can replace damaged or old hoses pumps etc.

Is the III conversion a TBA thing? I was unaware there was any activity on this product. Pics/specs?

yeah kurt spill the beans man, dont make me tell the guys about your poop story... :eek:

There are three threds going on about it. There is one in the General area, another in the news area and I think yet another in the drives area. They said it worked out very well. Bam I think it was did the work.

Konrads are the answer. a replacement drive to bolt right to your existing Gimbal is less than $10,000 new with warrenty.

Just a note been building drives for over 35 years. Done lots of different coatings. Coating does not change the strength
of a gear. It only helps with break-in. Hardness is what helps
with strength.

I had TRS on my 38 and the 3 blades were crap. No low end and bad out of the water. 4 blades worked better. Also, what power are you running? Up to 500 or 600 HP without blowers, TRS will hold up if maintained. Konrads are interesting, however, as noted above they are expensive as a swap over from TRS or even 3's if you consider their price in ratio of the cost of the boats that they are going on.

How's the boat running with the Konrads today?

Frank, I don't belive this boat was ever finished.

Kurt