Imco SCX Set Up
 

I finally got to test some with the SCX on Sunday. It took forever to get here because of one thing or another. I was able to find SCX's used with 1.5 lowers. I will note that all SCX lowers are -2( save the new SCX that they appear to be releasing which will be -4) I was also fortunate to find some SCT lowers with #6 shafts thanks to Sonny Spectre.
Mr. Gadgets was able to hook me up with gimble rings, helmets and new shift cables and lots of good advice. Imco switched the SCT vertical shafts for SCX shafts.
My set up originally was Imco extension boxes and XR drives with 1.5" spacers on standard length lowers. 1.36 ratio. The propshaft was pretty deep for a cat. It was .5" above the bottom. The props I used last year were Maximus standard large diameter 34's. These props were a good fit but did not load the engine really at all. I would need to go to the 1.1 gears to use them. The props worked well with good overall handling and brutal accerleration.
I put the bravo prop lowers on first with the Maximus props on. No spacers. This is 3.5" up from my set up from DCB. My guess was that it would not come on plane. It planed very nicely and handled about the same. I could tell that drag was reduced greatly. My GPS speedo was doing crazy things, first wouldn't work then started wouln't change speed, etc.. figures when you really need it. Lake Cumberland still had a fair amount of drift and I didn't run it hard.
Pulled the boat out and swithched to the #6 lowers and put on some Merc. Racing forged 16.5" x 40" x 18 rake props. I expected to maybe have some issues going in and out of gear with that much load. The SCX's shifted in and out of gear silky smooth and Eddies efi kept them from dying. All and all dock friendly. The boat came on plane nicely without using the tab. Would stay on plane very well. Still accerlerated well. Hop was worse at 80, had to use significant tab to eliminate it. The lake was completely smooth though. Might need some smaller diameter props.

All in all I was very impressed with the SCX, there new sizing to -4 should allow them to be used on a wide variety of boats. I think after looking these drives will need to be set up much like NXT's do as far as drive height. Thanks to Sonny, Dick, and John O. for their advice.

Glad to hear that you got to run it and all seemed to be as or better than expected!! I am sure with some setup time, it will get better!
Glad I could be of help.. keep us posted on how it goes. And thanks for the update!!
I still have not gotten to my motor and will have setup after it is finished.. but it is next on the list!!!

Dick
PS, Pics are awesome!!!

Great Thread!
 

I recently purchased a 32 B skater with Imco SC's and 525's. I have been watching the SCX threads to see if I want them. Please keep us posted!
Thanks
Steve

Thanks for the info and the awesome pics!

Another photo of the bravo lowers from side. Shot of propeller shaft height. Measurement is not accurate due to trim angle being negative. I plan to sell the SCX lowers and props and commit to the #6's.

Here's a shot of the original set up of the DCB. Prop depth at the bottom of boat or slightly lower. 3.5" higher.

Here's some photos Sonny shared with me on his Spectre. Running this high with bravo props can lead to thrown blades. Hering made him a set to fit the SCX 1 7/16" prop shaft.

It seems the Number 6 props on the smaller cats have really increased hop speed range and amplitude. Is this what you are encountering?
Thansk
Steve

Steve,
I would say yes to this at this point. My tunnel tab is able to take it away. I'm going to try some 16 x 40 x 21 props which should remove some of it. Sonny is using herings which are cleavers with good charcteristics.

what ratio are the scx lowers, maybe I asked before I dont remember,and why again did you go with the sct instead of using the scx big shafts ?

Thanks! Keep me posted.
Steve

I found some used sct lowers with the number 6 shafts so I needed to change them to scx vertical shafts to get them to fit the scx upper.

Any updates?
Thanks
Steve

We went out on Friday for final calibration of the engines ecm's. We calibrated for about 2 hours. Eddie got the engines perfected. Idle at 825 and shift in and out with the 6 props well. The lake was completely flat but the set up seemed to work very well. The boat comes on plane well. Turns better. Stays on plane at a very slow speed. All hop could be eliminated with tab. Could blast right past hop with acceleration. Everything feels very smooth, no vibrations, I think the props will do. I was unable to find any smaller diameter props to test. The set up, all in all, seems better than the Bravo set up. One of the SCX drives coming off the trailer would delay shifting going into reverse. We took it off and it will go to Imco tomorrow. I want to make sure it's right. I am very pleased about the set up.

Great!
Thanks
Steve

Glad to hear it is working out for you!!

Great info!

Thanks for sharing :drink:

Chris

will the scx fit on the xr gimble.Is the xr gimble strong as the
imco gimble.

I was wondering the same about the ITS gimbal. :confused:

The SCX requires helmet change but the helmet will fit the XR gimbal ring. I highly recommend the IMCO ring as it is much stronger than the XR. It doesn't really make sense to not make this piece as strong as possible for safety's sake.

yes it will bolt up :)

No plans from IMCO to build an upgraded ITS gimbal ring?

I'm sure they will in time, I have to admit I'm pretty impresed with the way imco has approached things over the past couple years. it used to be they wouldn't warranty anything and results were scant, but they have really stepped up and engineered and are standing behind them.

Problem with shifting was a long shift cable and not the drive itself. I also forgot to mention that after running the temperature of the drive was very cold. Their internal cooling system works great.

Did your boat slow down like everyone else's seems to switching over from a B1 drive?

No, but I'm set up just over 2 inches above the bottom in shaft depth. My bravo set up was 3.5 inches lower. Actually is more
efficient now.

i know of two boats here that have done the scx upper and sc lower and the speeds have remained the same.

Make that three. No change.

4 & no change in speed

What temps did you see?

No temperature probe. After a long run I laid my hands
on the upper case. It was same temperature as the lake.

I thought you had gauges and had a real # for us. Once you slow down and the drive is submerged in the water it cools down very fast so without a gauge it is impossible to come to any real conclusions about temp.
The Bravo shop has temp gauges for your drives.
Glad it is working for you!!

Friend of mine runs his SCX's hard and never sees the temps over 160*, with temp sensors in the fill holes.. and gauges.

PM me some info. I am very interested. Will be putting in the oil soon.

This is due to the water jacket design? I have never seen a comparison cutaway view bravo vs. SCX. does one exist?

With those temps he could run any oil and have great results, what power and how big of boat are we talking about?

Done!

Now dont be selling my guages and sending units again.....LOL :coolcowboy: :party-smiley-004: :evilb:

Anyone want to buy a rebuilt B1 that hasn't been paid for yet! :evilb:

lmao