I have been researching this and wondering if it is cost effective in the gears of an XR. What are your experiences? I'm running 525's/XR's behind a Black Thunder. I know these drives are the weak link on this boat. I have gotten 250 hrs on the SB drive with out touching it. The P drive was apart last yr for a clutch problem at 170hrs. Gears showed some wear and we decided to turn them around. I got another 80hrs out of them and now I broke a gear. Wondering if it is going to be cost effective to look in to having the Cyro/Rem Finishing done.

I used that process for a few years, probably 6 sets of gears and finally gave up. I feel the gears are really hit or miss, either you get a set that lasts or one's that start pitting within 20 hrs or so.

I do not think you will get any more hours out of XR gears than you are already getting no matter what you do to them.

Get a spare drive

Ya, I'm thinking the same thing. I thinking SCX is going to be the way to go.

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If its is an option Do SCXs

Cryo and REM approach the problem from two different angles.

The purpose of cryo treatment is to convert austenite retained within the microstructure to martensite. Tempered martensite is most often the desired microstructure for surfaces such as gears. This retained austenite can be the initiation site for subsurface contact fatigue cracks. Converting the retained austenite can make the parts more robust to contact fatigue, but only if there is retained martensite in the microstructure. It's hit or miss.

REM treatment reduces the contact stress by smoothing the surfaces and reducing sliding friction. If there is a sliding component in the gear mesh (most gears have this), then you may see a benefit, but only if the surfaces are a finer surface finish than what they would be after break-in.

From others reports it sounds like it works for some, but not enough to be certain it's worth the money.

Several expert rebuilders have told me they do not see any longer life on XR gears using /CRYO or REM.