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TCH, supposed to be 2-4' today. Perfect for a run to Detroit! If I get out of work early enough I am heading out. Testing Bravos with a big boat. :whistle:

Quote:

Originally Posted by POWERPLAY J (Post 3780448)

TCH, supposed to be 2-4' today. Perfect for a run to Detroit! If I get out of work early enough I am heading out. Testing Bravos with a big boat. :whistle:

It will be freezing out there today!! I'm out. Hoping for Indian summer but today is not a good looking day! 2-4s are pushing the fun limits in my little boat. Running fast in 2s is awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdchildhood (Post 3780232)

Why did mine grenade in 7 hours behind a 525 in a 22' boat? I guess because I run it hard on big water :/.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdchildhood (Post 3780414)

I bought the boat new. The 1X had maybe 200 hours on it with the 496 HO and most were on inland lakes with no air. Now I boat mostly on Lakes St. Clair, Erie, Huron and the Rivers. I run hard and fast I run just under wide open for periods with bursts of WOT. I do get a lot of air and try to work the throttles but I can't always synchronize rpms when running in mixed up water. I'm talking speeds of cruising 65-70 with lots of runs over 80 and top end of 83-85. I like to run my boat hard. I guess that's why I blew my 1X. Now that I have 8 seasons under my belt with this boat I run it even harder. The 525 EFI is a "racing" engine, isn't it ;).
Anyway, it's no surprise that my upper gear set quickly called it quits. What is amazing is that the XR seems to be so much stronger but with straight cut gears it seems that all of the power is being loaded onto 1 or 2 small gear teeth the entire time. No wonder those gears are so expensive.
I'm surprised at all of the Bravo 1(X) success stories from boaters claiming big power and hard running and airing out in boats heavier than mine. Yup, really surprised to hear that. Kind of like putting a BB in front of an alpha.

Not sure why all the sarcastic answers. You are the perfect example of someone asking too much from a B1 anything, and therefore calling it junk.

The OP is in KY and mentioned small inland lakes, a far cry from giant Great Lakes you boat on. He also mentioned his driving style is far different than the style you are bragging about. Your advice does not apply to him.

The others that have big power and are making B1's last are obviously doing something you are not. Also anyone with twins has a huge advantage for work load per drive over a guy with a single.

LEt's try an experiment. For your daily commute, every time you stop but your vehicle in neutral and floor it, then slam it into drive to get going. Get back to us on how long the drive train lasts

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4bus (Post 3780488)

Chill out dude. I'm not being sarcastic. YOU:chill-pill: are.
Do a search on here for stories about all of the blown up Bravos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdchildhood (Post 3780487)

It will be freezing out there today!! I'm out. Hoping for Indian summer but today is not a good looking day! 2-4s are pushing the fun limits in my little boat. Running fast in 2s is awesome.

This is one of the best times of the year! Jeans, hoodies, and life jackets.

I have found small wheel lots of rpm and they will live .

I have found amsoil to work the best flood all the water over the top you can.

On my race boat i run a stock bravo with a 1.65 gear in race trim a 24 pitch prop and i spin it to 5400 rpm at 70 mph at 6800 rpm it will go 86 mph with the same prop put 30 pitch prop on it and turn it 6800 rpm and it runs 92 mph.

The above drive lasted 2.5 years racing, testing, pleasure boating a little and loto speed runs to the tune of about 40 hrs

My point being they will last longer with rpm a smaller wheel and good wrist control no hole shots and dont let it free wheel back into the water after it leaps out and a little luck.

And by the way that was with 700 hp 655 tq but it did give up in the port huron race this year.

I have to agree with Gary, that is exactly how I have been able to make mine last, smaller wheel, more RPMS, and never ever gas on till well after the boat is up on plane and the hull has "dried up" gas on about 80 MPH, 12 years no problems Again "Knock on wood" I know it is due to blow anytime.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdchildhood (Post 3780414)

uuumm..... XR's arent that great, this collection is from 2
boats, 1 w/ 575's one w/500efi's.

2 of them broke off teeth and busted the case, 1 cracked and shearded the cone
off the gear, the rest simply pitted/chunked out.

And neither one of us had drive problems til we got boats with XR's

With XR's, either you get a good set that might last a while, or you get
a set that winds up in a collection rather quicky....I've seemed to have found a couple of decent sets ....I've been lucky enough not to have to add to the collection in the last couple of years. ( knock on wood)

From what I have been told the "set-up" is key. Pre-load on bearings, shimming, etc. This includes "set-up" from the factory as some seem better than others.

My friend went with the X drive over the XR based on the opinion of a knowledgeable member on this board, who stated the newer XR gears don't seem to be holding up.

Interesting discussion. For the record, my XR upper is the old, non swept back style. I've been told they are stronger. I know that any Bravo style drive run hard is like skating on thin ice. I was pointing out that after my repower my Bravo 1X lasted 7 hours and my XR something like 200 hours and still going. I change the oil once a year with the best Mercury oil and do not run a shower.