Looks like I snapped the upper shaft of my XR this weekend.. split the drive and the coupler was melted onto the upper shaft and metal was raining down everywhere. fluid looked great though.. :-)

I am going to need at lease the shaft and quite possibly a few other items. Anybody out there got some good pricing and suggestions.. do I go back with standard merc stuff.. any after market makers?

the upper gears look good so far but I have not removed them yet.. I should know more by tomorrow.

Update:
Pulled the upper apart. Looks like the upper shaft snapped right at the coupler and took out the bearing in the process. Case seems fine as well as upper gear set, cone clutch, ect..

Should find out tomorrow if any metal worked its way to the lower

Looks like I went through my 2nd set of lower gears in less then 8 months.. one tooth chipped.. every other looks perfect.. what the heck?? switched to a 5 blade prop last year.. also went to merc green gear lube (from ams oil) . other then that no changes in the last 5 years..

5 blade prop killed my drive, are you running a shorty lower? if not do you need a 5 blade, i went from a hydro 5 blade to a hydro 4 blade and like the 4 blade more.

Call the Bravo Shop good prices.

Get rid of the 5 blade and your drive problems will go away.

Your PM box is full. I have an XR vertical shaft in good shape I'd sell for $50.00. PM me your details if interested.

I used to go through an outdrive every other year or so using merc green. Then started using Amsoil severe gear I think its 75w-90 and those problems went away, knock on wood! been three summers now and alls well. Same with a buddy of mine, he has Chief HP500-502 and I'm running 515 a .060 over HP 500 and another buddy with a 496. All three of us see one or two shavings on drain plugs at lube changes about half way through season with very little discoloration. Where before the merc green would be black as all get out and shavings galore. It's my personal opinion that merc green stuff is junk! Oh we all run four blades, mine 28P Bravo and my buddys Are running 26P, Hey! they are in the bussiness of selling parts and service!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is just our determination, your results may differ! but you or ANYONE can't prove different to us!....................................Rjr........ ..................

We use REDLINE Heavy Duty Shock proof Oil. From the Dirt Racing days I learned how much cooler this RedLine runs compared to others. After a heat trial with Synthetic gear lube you had to wear a GLOVE to pull the rear gears out of the axel and you needed to be quick if you didn't want to get burned, went to Amsoil Synthetic and you could pull the gears out w the glove and not burn yourself but they were hot, Then went to RedLine and you could pull the gears with a glove and hold on to them and inspect them for as long as you needed to and could barley feel any warmth. I run the redline and no issues to date and my motors make 773hp, and 762 Ft/Lbs, I run the boat in the 600-650 hp RPM range in a 35 Fountain. RedLine is pretty incredible stuff. Check it out.

http://www.redlineoil.com/

I ran this motor-drive combo since 2006.. 2006-2009 (early 09) I never had an issue.. ran a simple 26p prop, BUT had 1.25 gears in the lower.. never able to break 4800-5k rpms.. boat ran good.. loaded up at idle.. also ran amsoil gear lube in it.. never an issue..

went to a 5blade last year and switched to merc green fluid.. (last spring). did not notice an issue with the drive till aug with burnt fluid and large metal on the magnets. lost a tooth or two on the lower.. figured it was time.. I did put over 200 hrs on the drive.. rebuilt the drive this time with 1.5 ratio..labbed the prop at halls in FL..

I got 24 hours on it this year.. again lost a lower gear tooth.. also snapped the upper shaft.. (thank goodness the gears in the upper are still perfect)

I am thinking of switching back to a 4 blade from BBlades soon.. ..
Should I go back to another fluid in the drive? I have heard the cone clutch likes the merc fluid better for shifting?? what about R. purple fluid?