I can't see them lasting 500 hours, the gears are still soft like an xr and will wear out/pit over time. Maybe 200-250 hrs. Regardless of that a bearing should not fail at less than 30 hours. Many others have had great success with this drive so let's see what they do.

The gears are from a mercury NXT transmission

So you have talked with Imco and they're telling you that it hasn't ever happened before with the SCX? Are they being helpful/supportive? Any chance they will replace it?

Nopper marine in Fairhaven Ma has taken the drive all apart cleaned boxed and shipped everthing that is ruined to Imco have been in contact with Dave there this will be a true test of customer support

Interesting...
Because I am planning of going to SCX's for my winter upgrade.
Speaking from experience... That You are in the best, most honest hands with Nopper marine.
Hopefully Dave @ imco does his part.

+ 1ooooooooo

I hope they do right by you, seems like this is happening more and more lately............

Do you have anymore info on the 2 you have seen? Pics? What boats they were on?

Did Imco do anything about the problem?

When I owned a Mobile tool business I learned a little bit while Touring the factory.

Impact sockets are actually softer then chrome sockets to absorb the shock, but they are also thicker. If you use chrome on a impact gun it will wear the gun out faster. If the Impact socket was to hard it would shatter. Just like fiberglass in a boat flexes so it does not crack over every wave.

So I do not think its fair to say "the gears are still soft like an xr" in a negative way. There is some engineering that goes into gears that neither of us know enough about.

Should there be a drive that last longer for us high performance boaters, YES. Should fuel be lower, YES. But we the people choose to keep paying so why should anyone change that?

Oceanoutlaw.....Pretty sure they are not the same Gears as the NXT transmission.

I have read (but have no proof) that the NXT Transmission uses parts from the Bravo XR but mounted sideways instead of vertical.