Is anyone using or upgraded to the Merc 861523A7 long steel hub bravo coupler? What kind of horsepower are you pushing through these? Any more maintenance required using these?

Thanks,
Kevin

Not for sure on the part number but i put a long coupler about 8 hrs of boating ago no problems keep it greased running about 600 hp through it I changed mine because alum. one stipped all the splines out

Thats the information I'm looking for. I have a 37' OL and looking to upgrade the coupler and I run 650 HP blower motors and I want to make sure these things will last.

I had the stock Bravo coupler (Aluminum spline) and found it to be very worn. I had about 30 hours of running hard in a class 6 raceboat-approx. 500 horsepower. While the engine is out, I thought this was a great time to upgrade to the steel spline. I'm surprised merc doesn't eliminate the aluminum coupler???

I have heard that a couple of the racers have had these fail at the rubber part, then come apart violently. Now that is in a race situation but obviously having an aluminum insert strip beats having the gimbal and drive trashed. Merc is now superceding all of the Blue motors to these couplers and I just put 2 on my boat. I took one off that had about 100 hours and it looked great, no sign of spline wear or rubber damage.

I had 150hrs on one in my 28 Pantera with about 560hp. I sold the boat to an oso member and never heard about any issues with it.

I have the original one that comes in a 2001 500efi,I replaced one because the splines started to wear and the new one spun alittle showing signs of slung black melted rubber in less that 30 hours. I replaced it with the long style steel hub.
the original is still holding up and the new one has 2 seasons on it. This is with 868hp in my Hustler 388


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...-build-up.html

I have the steel hubbed couplers, 800+ HP, 260 hrs and no problems.

Words of wisdom learned the hard way. Replace steel splined coupler EVERY time you break a drive. When they fail they gernade.